Did you do this as a kid when you got presents? My mom ALWAYS had us write thank you letters to everybody who gave us anything for our birthdays and Christmas, and I still do. As a kid I thought it was a waste of time because I told them thank you at the party or on the phone, but I guess it's nice to get an actual note that somebody took the time to write to thank you for your gift.

if you have kids do you make them write them too?

Supernova wrote:

Did you do this as a kid when you got presents? My mom ALWAYS had us write thank you letters to everybody who gave us anything for our birthdays and Christmas, and I still do. As a kid I thought it was a waste of time because I told them thank you at the party or on the phone, but I guess it's nice to get an actual note that somebody took the time to write to thank you for your gift.

if you have kids do you make them write them too?

Yes and yes. At least if they didn't thank whoever gave the gift in person.

My parents made me call and tell whoever 'thank you for the gift.'

No, I never wrote thank you notes. If they were not there when I received the gift they gave me, then I would call and say thank you. If they gave me gift in person, I'd tell them thank you right then.

I would thank them right there when they gave me the gift.

The only time I've ever written thank you notes is when I got my graduation gifts. Any other time, I would thank whomever when I received the gift.

Yup but now I send an e-mail for the most part, unless it's to someone elderly. I always wrote thank you notes to my Grandma.

My parents always had me call or thank them in person when the gift was given. Now, I make my son either call if it is one of my friends that sends something. Otherwise, from relatives, he sends a note, and I take a pic of him with the gift (unless it's money) to include.