How To Create A Less Offensive Christmas Card In Your 30s and 40s

Hint: don’t talk about what the woman is “busy with.”

I am not sure anyone exactly understands the point of the annual Christmas card, but it seems like the big ideas behind it are:

• A form of connection
• I want to show you that my family is doing well and beautiful
• I want to list some accomplishments
• I want to give a general life update in these “crazy times”
• I want to show you my kids and remind you how old they are

There are a lot of interesting sociological elements to the annual Christmas card, notably:

What it says about male relationships: I cannot tell you how many people I have in my phone where the only text I receive from them annually is late November and they ask for my address. The reason? Their wife is putting together the Christmas card and they want to get me on the list. It’s nice to be included — don’t get me wrong on that — but it’s hysterical how many guys just exist in that 11–12 month arc of communication, many of whom probably refer to some of those textees as “one of my best friends.” I’d much prefer a follow-up text about Mahomes and Allen or something basic, but I don’t usually receive it.