write you a song
Originally uploaded by Allie Holzman
Tis the time to think about the holidays approaching and giving and receiving gifts.
I am a big fan of teaching children to write thank you notes on real cards that they put in the mail. Paper thank you notes, phone calls, and emails are all appreciated, especially from one adult to another.
Yes, email thank yous have their place but there is a lot to be said for paper cards. It is very charming to receive a thank you note in the mail from a child.
We keep them for a while, put them where they can be seen as reminders of a child's thoughtfulness, and it takes a bit more time and has a cost, as opposed to email.
When my kiddoos were little I kept a stack of thank you cards at hand, and I still do, for me to use.
They can sign their name to a store bought card or draw a picture on a plain piece of paper.
Here is the quote I read that got me started on this line of thought today.
"An email thank you note says that you care enough to do the very least." -- Jodi Smith of Mannersmith Etiquette.
I think that is humorous.
Don't get me wrong, I love receiving any thank you, whether a phone call, email or a snail mail card.
Still, I advocate teaching little 'uns to send cards in the mail.
My two cents worth, or three cents worth, adjusted for inflation.
When the kids were little I would make them write a note before they got the gift. My daughter writes thank yous to this day never writes one! lol And I am guilty of emailing thank yous.
ReplyDeletesandie
I always think of a Thank You Note
ReplyDeleteas a note filled with grace.
Smiles, Dottie
I agree about "real, paper" thank you cards. (Unfortunately it's w-a-y more than 2 cents worth these days though....)
ReplyDeleteI still send cards, thank you notes, and personal letters, and think it's worth the ink and stamps. I don't feel any less for anyone who doesn't do it. I think it's a real personal thing. And I love the flow of ink, and the look of cursive.
ReplyDeleteYes, real paper, real cards, real thank yous...
ReplyDeleteI try to send a personal thank you for every gift I receive. I also encourage my Grandgirl to do the same! Nothing like Real Mai!
ReplyDeleteWarmly,
deb
Oh, you are so right! So right! But like so many others, in recent years I have too often resorted to e-mails for my thank you notes. Your post just might get me back to writing REAL thank you notes. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteLinda
You're so right. We were never expected or taught to write thank you notes as children (and I'm 75!)It's still hard for me to remember to do this. How awful and what a confession
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this, Terra... written thank yous are the best. blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteWe do that at our house, too. Anytime they get a gift and at the end of each sports season they write old style thank you notes.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you Terra, we always wrote thank-you notes when we were kids, and still do. It's becoming a lost art. I love the quote, perfect!
ReplyDeleteThat's nice!!!
ReplyDeleteI like writing personal letter, but posting them is quite a problem
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of Thank You notes. I made my kids write them when they were little, but it didn't seem to stick with them.
ReplyDeleteThey never write Thank You notes now a days.
Snail mail thank you cards hold so much more intent than emails or phone calls do. It's like being able to hold in your hands the thoughtfulness and gratitude of others. So wonderful that you teach children the importance of hand writing thank you cards.
ReplyDeleteI'm in total agreement Terra. A lot of parents nowadays wouldn't think to send a card or note..... it would be great to see the kids get back to old time etiquette and traditions. I actually quit sending money and gifts to my nephews when they got old enough to say thank you,.. but, never did....
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think it rude not to at least hear acknowledgment from somebody to whom you have sent gifts....
You are absolutely right! It's a very important skill to pass onto children.
ReplyDeleteHi, I often receive notes/colored pics from my great nieces. They are so special to me and I cherish each one!
ReplyDeletesad to say...I'm guilty of email thank yous too...and my Mom did try so hard to teach me to write proper thank you notes and I have over the years (but BC...before computers)!!! my son never learned to communicate with paper or email...I used to send him emails that said "did you die and somebody forgot to let me know?" because I hadn't heard from him in months...he never responded to emails and if I called he was usually trying to get his two oldest kids to bed (he was going through a divorce)...so I applaud you and all who send thank yous and write REAL letters...you're great and history will thank you for doing so :)
ReplyDeleteI am sooo with you! I hope handwritten notes eventually come back into style! They mean so much, because they are so far a few between!
ReplyDeleteCarol
Howdy Terra
ReplyDeleteAmen to handwritten thank you notes !!!!
I am so happy to see your post .
What a wonderful way to encourage us all as the season of giving which brings about recieving
is at hand .
Thus bringing us back to thank you notes :)
Oh Terra I wish I could thank you properly ,but you know my heart !
Blessings to you and yours .
Until Next Time
Happy Trails
Absolutely!
ReplyDeleteThough, I admit, on certain occasions I resorted to email, even Facebook to send my greetings and thank yous. We are using the phone less too; what a shame.
I love getting snail mail. I think the time it takes to write cards and letters is well worth it. Maa
ReplyDeleteI so agree....I dearly love to receive a handwritten note. It does show that they took the time to thank you in the proper way.
ReplyDeleteLike you, any thank you is appreciated.
xo bj
Oh, I do agree with you! any thank you is appreciated, but a written note is a treasure indeed!
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed at Hallmark lately that the thank you notes beat regular notes at least 3-1? Someone must be buying them. I just got a thank you in the mail this week.
ReplyDeleteI like the thought expressed - as well as the adjustment for inflation. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping in at Cranberry Morning. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
Yes, this does tie in with my post today! There is something so special about holding a note in your hands that someone took the time to write, stamp and mail. My nephews have always sent thank you notes, their mother did a fine job of teaching them!
ReplyDeleteI agree - paper is best! And writing a thank you note is such an important thing to teach our kids!
ReplyDeleteI agree Terra. It is always a bit more special and fun to receive snail mail :-) Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Kisses,
❤Ana
Such a good thought--it is so important for kids to learn to say "Thank You". A note is always a welcome surprise to receive in the mail. Mickie :)
ReplyDelete