DEAR MISS MANNERS: I truly believe in thank-you notes when you receive a gift. However, I have a problem. How can you be politically correct and polite when writing a thank-you note for a recalled baby gift? I know that I cannot be the only parent who has this problem.
Do I just write a standard thank-you for baby’s gift, or let them know that I will be returning the toy and what I plan to replace it with? Or thank them for the lead-infested toy by name?
I do not wish to make the giver feel bad, as it was not their fault.
GENTLE READER: Then maybe do not lead with “lead-infested toy.”
Just as you would not mention in your thank-you letter that you subsequently returned a present, Miss Manners sees no need to mention that it was returned on your behalf. If the giver gets wind of the toy’s fate and asks about it, you may say, “Yes, we heard, but you were so sweet to think of us. My reaction was that Micah shouldn’t be putting that dollhouse in his mouth anyway, but I suppose better safe than sorry.”
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
This is not difficult. You say "thank you for thinking of us" and send the card. If they later ask about the toy, then you can inform them it was recalled, but you are enjoying the replacement.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
