My Funny Picture

Is it me or is it weird to send pictures of your kids to people who don't know them?

I have a large extended family. My husband does as well. I hate to say it, but every year one of my second cousins and one of his send pictures of their kids to us every year. I have never seen these kids in life, only correspond annually with cards. Hate to say it but usually these pictures wind up in a a box somewhere or in the trash.... Is it odd that they send pics to family who really don't know them or their kids that well??

Public Comments

1. Yeah... that's always kind of struck me as odd. Like, I don't really care how fast your kids are growing up--I've never met them in the first place. So, it's not just you!
2. Family is like that, I'm sure their very proud of them lol
3. Well, I guess they are proud of their children and you are family, after all.
4. no, its not weird. thats your family. just put them in the family photo album for later. show them to your kids if you have them so your kids get to know that side of the family. its just a way of seeing part of the family that you dont get to see that often or rather never.
5. I used to wonder about this. It's a tradition that acts as a snail mail version of Facebook. Check in once a year. Keep tabs in an easy non personal way. No one cares that the cards go in the trash. Its just a small moment to acknowledge everyone. I get 1 christmas card from my mom and don't have any extended family. I would love to receive well wishes from anyone who cares enough to send them. Rituals are good. Kids grow fast. It's not so terribly odd in my mind. You can certainly ask to be taken off the list. You could say it is for environmental reasons and would prefer to have the pictures via email. It would be a bit bah humbug of you but no one will likely care that much either way.
6. Well since you do sort of correspond with one another I don't see anything wrong with sending pictures of you children to family members, its when you send pictures of your kids to friends that you don't really talk to any more then that gets awkward. But I don't think you're weird for thinking that way either.