Do you always send the Christmas cards and buy the gifts?

That says everything about the bond with your family

It was the quest of the season. I stood every afternoon at the local Bruna to see if there were any fresh supplies of Christmas cards. They couldn't be too sweet and frilly for my classmates, but they also had to be grandparent-approved. I described each card with a glitter pen and when Sinterklaas was gone, they went in the mail. Sending Christmas cards was an activity in itself, just like finding the ultimate gift for under the tree. Are you the one in your relationship or family who makes sure that neighbors, grandparents, and distant acquaintances receive an envelope with a December stamp on the mat? That's excellent news. For you.

In my relationship, one thing is certain: if we send something, I send it. From a card to a pair of dancing Christmas helpers with our heads mounted on them via the app. I am the sender, although his name (or head) is of course also on it. And that turns out to be good for me, but less so for him. Women are better at keeping families together than men, according to research among families where a man and woman are involved.

The distance of men to a family is often greater than that of women. The simple reason is that (even in 2022) women are still responsible for almost everything in and around the house. And even though this is not the case for me, I am still the head of Christmas cards. Although I must admit that the Christmas cards from two years ago are still sitting in the cupboard with fresh December stamps. So apparently, I'm not that good at it either. The only one who is guaranteed to receive a card from me every year is my grandma, because she is my grandma. It's that simple.

But what about that distribution? Experts say that it is a cautious first step in strengthening family ties when men themselves send a card or buy gifts. It's not that a relationship suddenly becomes intimate, but the effort someone makes is greatly appreciated. So to the man reading this: just spend an afternoon in that crowded center and send a card. It will make the people around you happy.

A girl laughing while holding a cup with a building in the background Dear, if you're reading this, you are writing the Christmas cards this year.

Source: Psychology Today