[Trouble-]

Normally, we try and do follow up phone calls with a verbal thank you, but this year unfortunately I was not in the room when the kids tore into the in laws gifts, and now I don't know what came from who.
Also, DH and I are from big families, so there are lots of grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins to thank for multiple gifts, it just all gets too much for me to keep track of.
Also, my niece received a present from an aunt with an instruction to call the aunt to thank her for the gift written on the card. Isn't that a bit OTT?
What do you do?

[BadCat]

No, we don't bother. But nobody ever sends gifts, if they have to send they send cash. It requires no thought and no special thanks as far as I'm concerned.

The aunt instructing someone to call and say thanks is well out of line.

ETA: Of course we thank on the spot for gifts given in person.

This post has been edited by BadCat: 05/01/2013, 11:57 AM

[AntiBourgeoisie]

I did cards this years. Only because we had three Christmases with various large groups of people and while I would have preferred for gifts to be given one at a time and the givers thanked, it ended up being a big free for all.
I felt that making cards was the only way I could get the kids to demonstrate gratitude, an think about the gifts they were given, and who gave them. Besides, home made cards are an afternoons cart activity on hot days!
I did not write anything specific in the card - just a 'thank you for my present'.

[Oriental lily]

No.
If a present is given to one of the kids that I didint see be opened and thatthe child thanked the giver I will verbally say thanks next time I see them.

It's generally pandemonium with gifts and wrap flying everywhere on Christmas day and it's impossible to keep track of everything.

The expectation of a formal thanking is silly.

[Etcetera]

Yes, not saying thank you is rude. Most people are on FB, or a simple text message would suffice.

[skylark]

I do a thank you, with child involved if possible, I will do it via phone or text or email though, I don't do written thank yous at christmas as I have already done cards and sent gifts myself and really I think everyone has had enough of getting christmas "stuff". I can never keep track of what people got either, but that doesn't stop a thank you happening.

[Heffalump]

DD rings people up to say thank you.

She also loves talking to everyone and anyone so a win/win there - mum gets to have a coffee in peace while DD sits on the phone and everyone gets an enthusiastic thank you for their present.

She's also quite skilled at getting people to identify what they gave her which is just as well because she has no idea who gave her what as she opened everything before I got there!!

[unicycle]

I would explain i wasn't in the room when the gifts were opened and ask what they gave in a phone call then get the kids to give a verbal reply. to the aunt who would like a thank you card, i would ask for an email address and have the kids give a response that way. maybe an ecard?

[nationalvelvet]

I think its nice to thank those that have sent you a gift.
Perhaps you could just send a thank-you card and say thanks for thinkig of us - we really liked the gift..
Maybe just let the aunt know what has occurred....I am sure she would understand kids and unwrapping presents LOL

[YodaTheWrinkledO...]

I took photos on the phone of the kids opening their various gifts and sent the pic and short message on the same day. All done and dusted on the day. Easy peasy, particularly since we don't have too many people to thank for gifts.

OP, in your situation, if you want a chat, make a quick phone call. Otherwise, an email or short note would be fine. Make it generic if you don't know what they got from which relative.