Ask Melissa - Our Etiquette Savvy Mom

Dear Claire -

Having a new baby doesn't give you much time to do anything for yourself, especially during the first few months.  Although it would be great if we didn't have to write a thank you notes for gifts received, this just isn't the case.  A handwritten thank note is far more special than an email or phone call.  Sorry to say, but etiquette dictates you take the time to write a thank you note to each person who went out of their way to buy your son a gift welcoming him into the world. 

This thank you note doesn't have to be long and each one should take no more than 2 - 3 minutes to write.  Three sentences will do:

1) Thank the person and state the gift. 
2) Say something nice about the gift and lastly,
3) Thank them again and end with a nice closing. 

When you have ten minutes, write three thank you notes.  Do this each day and in a week or two, all of your thank you notes will be complete and you will have one less chore weighing on you.