I finally sat down to write out some thank you notes last night. Yes, I'm still a firm believer in the fine art and etiquette of handwritten thank you notes. Normally, I give myself a month to write them out upon receiving a gift or other kindness. This time I really fell off the wagon. These were thank yous for ALEX's birthday well-over a month ago. I also did my birthday thanks and a couple of anniversary thanks as well, saving on postage that way!
It took a long time, because I include personal notes in each card, but I'm glad I did it. The gift giver knows you received your gift and that it was appreciated. And who doesn't like getting mail in a colorful envelope with an actual stamp and return address label on it? I mean, my heart flutters a little bit when I see a real card or letter peeking out at me from amongst the bills, political flyers, and other junk mail!
I stock-pile thank you notes and blank notecards specifically for this purpose. I cruise the clearance rack at card shops, drug stores, and Target. As I was making my way through the stack last night, I realized I'm missing some really cute blank notecards. I grabbed them off the dollar rack at Target (seriously! 8 super cute notecards for $1!!!! who wouldn't scoop them up) and now I can't find them! I dug around, looking in drawers, trying to think where I stashed them and can't find them anywhere! One pack was brown and green argyle, and the other was brown, pink and blue polka dots. They were so cute! I really hope I find them soon!
Most of the time, I'll have Alex scribble a little bit in the card, but last night I didn't get them started until well after he was in bed. As he gets bigger I'm going to sit him down and teach him the fine art of the Thank You note. I think it's an important skill to have.
*****UPDATE 8/21
I located the missing notecards! They were in my old desk in the basement. A desk that is rarely used, so I have no idea why I put them there. And I was TOTALLY off on the colors. Blue and pink argyle (very preppy) and pink/brown/green plaid. Whew. Haven't lost my mind. (and picked up another pack of the argyle one's for a buck at Target!! Such a deal!
24 comments:
Oh, I am so with you! I am thankful that both my girls are old enough to write their own notes now. And even take the initiative to do it. A proud mommy moment!
Is it wrong to get upset to not get a thank you note? I have certain relatives that I *know* don't send them. Makes me want to not send anything at all if it won't be acknowledged. But I send anyway. And try to take the high road - not successfully :-)
I agree!!!
I'm a firm believer of thank-you notes. My mom made me do them, and I do them, and I now make my boys do them. They hate it, but I think it's so important to take that extra time and energy to personally thank people for doing things for you or giving you something.
You go, girlfriend!
Thanks for visiting me Monday for my SITS day!
Oh, I'm glad I found your blog. I definitely need help in the prim and proper categories. I get the same flutter when I see pretty envelopes- now I just need to remember to send some myself! Hmm. Somebody better do something to make me thank them, and soon. These things take practice.
Completely agree. I write thank-yous for all gifts... my 7 year old is now old enough to write them herself. I still write out the ones for my 5 year old but she will sign her name to them.
And I stockpile notecards too! Well, all stationary for that matter... birthday cards, Christmas cards, blank notecards, etc!
Oh thank you cards....this reminds me to send some out pronto!
Thanks for showing some comment love on my guest post over at Angie's(seven clown circus). I'm glad someone else could relate to my story:)
I love making Thank you notes. I usually do so with my scrapbook stuff so people know I not only wrote in the card, but made it too. I hope you find your cards!
I love stationery...could go broke buying it. Have you ever been to a Tuesday Morning? They always have tons of discounted note cards. Now, I need to derive inspiration from you and use my stash!
Thank You cards are so important. I hope they always exist!!!
I got the CUTEST set (like 25 cards!) at Michael's... all different patterns and super cute.
AMEN!! I too grew up in the era where personal, handwritten, on note card thank you notes were written for all events. No e-mails, no phone calls. Hand written notes.
I'm so glad to see that so many other people still feel the same way...
Rock on.
Very important stuff, these thank you notes. I'm glad you've started your kids early. I still write out the addresses and stamp the envelopes for my boys (pathetic, I know) because they tend to be pretty lazy. Way to go, Ms. Manners.
I think we were separated at birth. I could have written the same post.
I am also a believer in handwritten, sincere thank you notes. Where did the virtue of gratefulness go?
Also, you won an award over at my blog. Come pick it up when you have a minute!
I do thank you notes, too. They're not that hard to do and they brighten everyone's day.
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I'm such a slacker jerk when it comes to Thank Yous....and when I recieve them from someone... I feel like a bigger jerk.
Nothing better than some sweet words written by mommie(or daddy) but the scribbles from the wee tots can be sentimental.
I like your blog!
I bought some of those cards too! I was raised to write thank you notes, too. Now I write them for Miss Pink and have her sign her name.
You are so good. I do love getting little notes in the mail. I usually wait untill the kids are napping so I can go get the mail by myself in case there is anything exciting like a thankyou card. I feel so bad I missed you day on SITS, congratulations. Life has been a little hectic and I haven't been a very good blogging friend, sorry.
First i wanted to say thanks for your kind words about my kitty. It meant a lot.
Secondly I applaud you for sending out thank you cards. That's something I intend to pass on to my daughter as well.
I so fail in this category. I for the life of me, never got to do it for the past 2 years. I'm so bad at it. Maybe next year :)
Hi there! Surfed to your blog from Ambers and what a neat blog this is! I, too, love writing 'real' thank you notes to folks. It seems to be a growing lost art though, doesn't it? My son now uses blank note cards, etc... to write his, but when he needed help a few years back we always got neat ones from MD Anderson, Children Hospitals website. Super cute and the $'s go to a great cause! Happy almost the weekend to you! Leslie
Awesome! I also believe in the handwritten thank you card! To me it truly shows you appreciate what someone gave or did and took the time to put it into words!
I usually have a stash at my desk as well and find some great ones at Michael's and Marshall's.
I agree that thank you notes are really important, and a great opportunity to let recipients know how much you appreciate or admire them. I'm really thankful my mom instilled in me the gnawing guilt (and I mean that in the best way) that won't let me rest until I've written a thank you note. I am trying to pass on this good etiquette, but it is difficult sometimes when my children resist. But I know it will be worth it when they are grown and receive acts of kindness with a grateful heart!
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