YOU’RE KIDDING!
Each day is an opportunity to learn…but there are some things I wish I didn’t know!
The latest “insight” came in a small envelope in the mail. It was a thank-you for a hand-knitted baby gift, a gift I spent hours making. It wasn’t a traditional thank-you note with a gracious acknowledgement of my thoughtful gift. No! It was a “thank-you card” with spaces to be filled in. The first line had “Dear” followed by a line. The sender filled in my name. Second line: “Thank you for the___________________.” (Type of baby gift was added.) The sender didn’t even have to put in the period. How easy! The third line stated “It was so sweet!” The sender didn’t have to bother with this assessment. It was preprinted. (I wonder if all the gifts she received, such as diapers, spit cloths, etc. was “sweet.”) Finally, there was a “Love,” and then a line on which the sender added her name, her husband’s name and the baby’s name. Whoa! This sender really doesn’t know me well enough to use a closing of “Love.” But “Love” was the only option available on the pre-printed thank-you card.
I know new mothers are often overwhelmed. But this was a first child. There are no other little ones at home vying for attention. And don’t new babies sleep a lot? Wasn’t there just a few minutes available for a gracious, hand-written note? After all, I gave my time and money to have a “sweet gift” for the newcomer. Don’t I deserve more?
In these times of searching for the easiest and most efficient way of doing things, this preprinted thank-you card may be considered acceptable. After all there are those impersonal, pre-printed holiday cards. I, however, don’t think that ease and efficiency should replace good manners. I’ve learned the hard way—I took a survey of friends young and old—that I may be alone in my belief that this thank-you card was tasteless. “It’s better than not getting anything at all,” one peer said.
What is your opinion of this type of acknowledgement for a gift? Am I being too hard on the young mother, who, coincidentally had an easy delivery and was up and out shopping three days after the birth? I am interested in knowing if I’m way off track or if the new mother is. I’m always open to learning something new!