Are Thank You Notes Still Necessary?

I have a confession. My mother didn’t make me write thank you notes as a child.  That doesn’t mean manners weren’t expected. I mostly received gifts that were given in person and I knew an immediate “thank you” was absolutely required – not only because my mom would be furious if I didn’t speak up, but also just because I understood it was the right thing to do.

I’d always heard and read about mothers who were very strict about thank you notes. My daughter even received a handwritten thanks after attending a classmate’s birthday party.  It made me wonder how other parents feel about the practice of sending written thanks, so I polled my friends on Facebook.

“Thank you notes are so old fashioned!”

” If they receive the gift in person, a verbal thank you is all I require,”  Lynn Edler, Texas

“I get them to phone and speak with the person and thank them personally. I do the same. I do write the odd thank you note but generally not for gifts. More for teachers or others who have gone out of their way to be helpful,” Alson Smerk of Ontario, Canada

“I try, but sometimes I make a video of the child saying thank you to send the person instead.” Alice Rines, Florida

“Like good manners, thank you letters will never go out of style!”

” When they are young, they dictate them, and I write them. I take gifts hostage until they are done. When they are older, they write them or I take the gifts hostage.” Gale Perkins, Missouri

” I make it a crafting extravaganza by giving them glue, different texture papers, and a variety of stamps.” Vicky Feliciano, Florida

” My parents always made us and I kept it up.  I’ve found thank you cards to be useful in maintaining relationships and ensuring future gifts!”  Lauren Payne, California

Amanda Morales of Florida and Brett Stevens of Pennsylvania love the idea of thank you notes, but aren’t great about ing to make their kids do them.  I get it – I’m not motivated to do this and I only have one child – they each have three!  Amanda, Brett and I aren’t raising foul mannered heathens, though.  We require the child give thanks.  It just might be in person, on the phone, through a text or via video.

What are your thoughts on thank you notes":true}