Thank You Notes

Do you write thank you notes? Have you taught your kids (read: made your kids) to write them? I do and I also make Mason do it, too. It's a dying art, handwritten communication and manners as well. It's good manners to say thank you, and it's even nicer when a thank you note comes in the mail.

Here's my take on it, when someone goes out of their way to do something nice for you or to purchase you a gift, the very least you can do is send a thank you note. Emily Post notes that a thank you note is necessary if the gift giver is not present to thank personally, so when grandma or grandpa sends Mason a gift, he needs to write them a note that we mail to them. This is important for a number of reasons in my way of thinking. First, it gives Mason some practice writing and properly formatting a communication - the card and the envelope to mail it. Second, everyone likes to get happy mail, and mail from your grandkids is the best kind. Finally, it lets the sender know the gift came. Of course we call when something comes and Mason verbally thanks the sender, but I think it's important to send a note, too. Oh, and let me add, it shows grandma and grandpa that their teaching us about the importance of etiquette is being shared down the generational lines.