Hellobee Boards

@aprild: i would either ignore it or just say okay. I don't think you really need to go into details.

In that case, I've said, "Oh, no worries at all! We love sending them whether we get them back or not! Glad to hear you got it. How are y'all?"

I actually have had to be on the other end of this, as well. I know it's not proper etiquette but we prioritize cards to our very large families and our close family friends... and we get cards from friends that we can't reciprocate without ordering like 200 cards. I do think most people send cards without worrying at the reciprocity factor!

As someone who does not enjoy or care to send cards, I would not be offended by your original response or really any response unless you told me you were offended

But I also would never text someone and apologize for not sending a card in return, I don't think they are required and I wouldn't expect one in return if I sent one (I did last year). so maybe I'm just full of bad manners.

@aprild: this is random but we were watching my so called life yesterday, and the mom was complaining about getting a card from someone unexpected, "oh no! Now I have to send them a card, they weren't on the list! If we send it now it's gonna look like we just added them cause we got their card!" Or something like that. Such a different mindset! I feel like people don't think like that anymore but maybe I am totally wrong?

I wouldn't comment that you know this is a busy time of year--that presumes that they would otherwise send a card. But, there are other reasons not to send one besides time. I like others' suggestions more along the lines of "no worries, it's good to hear from you! how are you"

fwiw, we never send cards, and neither do our parents, though we receive many of them. for us, we're Jewish and it seems very much like a Christmas-thing even when they're general holiday cards (or even when they come from friends who aren't religious or even are Jewish). Dh is very against the idea of sending them for that reason, and I like cards and would enjoy making one but don't feel as strongly as he does, so we don't. He's also against sending paper birth announcements too, though, which isn't a religious thing at all but he just feels is a waste of time/paper since almost all people who we would send pics to are on social media. After lo1's birth, I made thank you cards with a pic of her, so there was a pic sent out via snail mail anyone for people who sent gifts, and he thought a separate announcement was redundant.

@MaryM: I agree.

I haven't sent cards in several years but I enjoy receiving them. I always send a message saying something along the lines of "thanks for the card, we didn't send any". Usually I get a "glad the card made it to you, how are you doing" type of response.

@aprild: No cards this year?? Awww! I miss your face!! Text me a pic. ️️