[mom2GRLC]

I've thought about creating a family newsletter to update not only my family but my kids birthfamilies as well. Not sure how often I'd send it out. What are your thoughts. Is this a good idea or bad?

If I did it I would probably send it out like every 3 months and it would only be like a one page front and back. With a few recent photos and updates. I'd say monthly but i just don't think that would be possible for me?

[taramayrn]

As long as it wasn't replacing the regular form of contact I would love to receive something like that.

[ourdreamcametru]

We set up a website for our daughter to keep not only our out of town family updated but also her birthfamily. Everyone loves to visit and leave little notes in the guestbook and I love putting pictures of all three kids on so everyone can keep up with our lives. I think it is a great idea. We also send update letters and pictures three times a year as well as talk on the phone and visit once a year.

[mom2GRLC]

I just started one of those sites but realized it really won't work all that great in our case because not many people (involved) are really into computers , e-mail and that sort of thing. Some don't even have access.

Believe me that would have been much easier and much less expensive. Because I could also keep an online photo album and they could view it and print out any pictures they wanted.

That's why I figured maybe a newsletter might be better. It could reach everyone and would actually be something you could keep and hold onto. It might be the same thing for everyone....but at least it's something tangible.

[mom2GRLC]

Well, in all honesty I thought of this because too often I send so much stuff to birthfamily and NOTHING or hardly anythign to my family. I just feel it would balance out the family relationships to keep everyone equally involved and updated.

[mom2GRLC]

also .....we live far away from our family....so we actually have much more direct contact with our kids birthfamilies as well.

Sometimes I feel guilty for focusing so much on birthfamilies and not enough on the relationship my kids should be building with our extended family.

I just feel we need more of a balance in our lives. Sending the same thing to everyone (in my mind) seemed to help do that.

As it stands right now we had already decided to just send birthfamily stuff once a year to each of our kids birthfamilies on their birthday. We of course will still do this....but in between time I thought this could be a good way to keep EVERYONE involved and updated on our family as a whole.

[Fran27]

I like the idea! The webpage is great too.

That being said, the thing that bothers me a bit is that the children might want some privacy and not want everyone to know everything that's going on in their lives, especially written on paper that way. I know it would have bothered me if my parents had done that, but again I'm not the kind of person that likes people showing off their kids on Christmas cards either.

Pictures are always great, but when it comes to giving details about the child's life, I would be brief.

Just my opinion.

[mom2GRLC]

My kids love taking/sharing pictures and hearing/telling stories about them. I don't see that being a problem with my kids. At least not now while they are young.

[gigigeorge]

we did a website too, it's a great way to stay connected and save all those trees !!!

gina.
www.aidancharles.com

[bajj]

Originally Posted by mom2GRLC

Well, in all honesty I thought of this because too often I send so much stuff to birthfamily and NOTHING or hardly anythign to my family. I just feel it would balance out the family relationships to keep everyone equally involved and updated.

I am guilty of that too! Yes, I think a newsletter would be a good idea. I know a lot of people who do that in place of holiday cards. I tried to start a family newsletter but it never seemed to work for me. I am good at sending letters and pics to birthparents of my children, but not to my family! My dh started a website and our families keep up with the boys that way.

[mom2GRLC]

Originally Posted by gigigeorge

we did a website too, it's a great way to stay connected and save all those trees !!!

gina.
www.aidancharles.com

how did you create your own website like that? I started one on yahoo 360 but I'd prefer one more like yours.

[gigigeorge]

It definitely doesn't replace regular contact but with a busy toddler it is much easier to download pics to the website than make 6 copies and mail them off to everyone (which requires a trip to the post office with said busy toddler!)... we do send pics however, just maybe a couple of the best ones that can fit in a regular envelope. Also the pics are sized so that they can be easily downloaded, and our birthmom has a photo printer so she prints some out that way too.

As for creating the website, it is hosted through go daddy for $3 a month, and registry name is $10 a year and I used Microsoft Frontpage to develop the site. It was tons of fun and everyone loves having one point of contact for collecting notes and pictures.

Hope that helps

gina.