When you get married you feel like you will be writing thank you notes for the rest of your marriage. I was one of the rare people who actually enjoyed writing them. I took the time to personalize each note to make sure every friend knew how much we appreciated their gifts. I even thought about starting a 'thank you note' business. The concept: I would write other people's thank you's for them so they wouldn't have to stress. Like many of my "amazing" business ideas...i never did it.
Now, after having a baby, I realize how STUPID that business idea was because there's nothing I would rather do less than write a thank you note. Here's the thing...I'm so grateful, don't get me wrong, of all of the wonderful gifts that people sent. I really am so overwhelmed with how many people reached out to us after Sadie was born. So, in advance, if you are reading this and you sent us a gift, I thank you so much. The problem is, you have a baby and the gifts come come in and your free time goes out. So how and when are you expected to thank everyone?
It's really a mystery.
To add to the challenge of the whole thank you note process you get calls from your parents and your in-laws that their friends are asking if you received their gift. The intention is good. They just want to know if you got the gift, but guilt kicks in that you haven't sent (or really even written) their thank you note yet. I don't think anyone really expects you to be speedy with thank you notes once you've had a baby. I mean let's be honest, taking a shower everyday is a huge accomplishment. Even if people say you don't need to write them a note, you do, and you have to kick yourself into super newmie mode to get them done. Just another one of the many amazing things that we newmies tackle.
Once I managed to find the time to write my thank you notes (no, I'm not finished with all of them yet so if you are thinking 'she never sent me one,' it's on it's way) the challenge was trying to figure out how I wanted to write them. For so long my mom and I used to think it was so bizarre when people would write baby thank you notes from the baby. Who are these people kidding, like anyone really thinks a newborn LOVES the clothes you got them? Wouldn't it be amazing though if babies came out of the womb and they could really help you write your thank you notes. That's my mission with baby #2 (which probably won't be for a very very long time:)
Before I had Sadie I completely agreed with my mom, but then something changed and before I knew it I was writing my thank you notes and signing them 'love, Sadie.' I don't know what has happened to me. You become a newmie and it's like you speak this new, totally cheesy language. I couldn't help myself...'I love my new towel so much! Bath time is my favorite!' or 'I love when mommy dresses me in my new outfit!' What can I say? I have officially become one of those people. I'm not ashamed.
So, when you get my thank you note don't judge. I'm a new mom who just happens to have a baby that REALLY loves the gift you got them.
