Reader marybt posted a great comment yesterday asking about my disdain for photo thank-yous:
"I had some made by Shutterfly that have my kid's picture on the front and say thank you. But then we actually write a note on the inside. How is that tacky?
I'd hate to unknowingly make some faux pas.
BTW, my daughter will be 2 next month. I already have her color on the thank you notes so that she gets into the habit."
So, first, let's give some major kudos to marybt for: a) teaching her child to write thank yous, and b) including a personal note.
What marybt is doing (photo+note) is acceptable and nice. She's saying thank you and including a photo.
To clarify: Photo cards are not inherently evil; it's when they are sent solo in place of a thank you, sans handwritten note, that they are evil.
My classless (but not immediate, thank god) relatives have sent something like this, instead of writing a thank-you.
I'm with marybt -- photos are nice. In fact, I'd love a picture of the kids, your wedding, whatever -- as long as you make a minuscule effort and write "thank you, I love the $100 check you gave me."
Shoving a photo into a card and mailing it off is not effort.
