What am I expected to do after receiving a graduation card?

Bohne · Posts: 2784 Location: Germany

Yesterday we received a graduation card from my husband's (and I suppose my) niece.

I have never met her, never heard from her.
I think my husband has seen her as a baby, before her parents split up.

Now we get this printed card with two photographs but without any personal notes in it. Not even a signature.

Is this just something you do, and don't expect anything?
Is it an attempt to get in touch with family?
Or are we expected to send a gift?

With my husband gone, I have no idea!

I quite like the idea, that she just wants some contact, but would there not be at least a handwritten sentence?

mismi · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 3:05 am Post: 3227847 -

We get many of those each Spring. It is just their announcement that she is graduating. Of course if it is someone we know well, or family we send a small gift. We have received them from folks we barely know and do not send anything.

I don't like that they don't personalize them either. But seems that is just the way it is done now-a-days.

I say do what you feel. It is your husbands brother or sisters daughter - so maybe just a small amount of money or a gift card to a place where she can get things for her dorm room for college. Doesn't have to be something big.

At the very least it would put you in a good position for getting to know her better.

mis

jespah · Posts: 25460 Location: Boston, MA

Or you can just send a card that says Congratulations and see if anything else comes of it.

Eva · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 12:50 pm Post: 3228628 -

Where does her family live, Bohne? Customs can differ.

I'm in the southern U.S. We always send a gift if it's family, even distant cousins. Doesn't have to be really expensive, though.

We have friends who live in the northern U.S. who think we're crazy. They only buy gifts for people they know well.

Bohne · Posts: 2784 Location: Germany

She lives in Alabama

Bohne · Posts: 2784 Location: Germany

Also, we decided that I will send her a congratulation card, while my husband is going to send her some money (I assume). He said, he's got to make up for not being a very good uncle for 18 years.
Turns out that he has actually NEVER seen her, not even as a baby.

And he's only got two nieces from his side of the family (and one from mine)

parados · Posts: 8332

The graduation announcement is pretty standard fare. You send it to all your relatives and hope they send a small gift (money) back.

Do you have to respond? Probably not but what's $10?

or $50 or $100 if you can afford it?

mismi · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 1:57 pm Post: 3228737 -

Bohne wrote:

She lives in Alabama

So do I!

Well.. like Eva said - we send gifts to family - nothing too extravagant but if your family, we send it!

JPB · Posts: 13769 Location: IL, USA

Bohne wrote:

Also, we decided that I will send her a congratulation card, while my husband is going to send her some money (I assume). He said, he's got to make up for not being a very good uncle for 18 years.
Turns out that he has actually NEVER seen her, not even as a baby.

And he's only got two nieces from his side of the family (and one from mine)

perfect!

mismi · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 2:03 pm Post: 3228746 -

Good grief Bohne...I got to "she is from Alabama" and never read further...that is great. So sorry