It isn't the card per se that bothers me, but the postcard with a generic typewritten sentiment, put in an envelope that was run through the printer -- it seems impersonal and unthoughtful to me, missing the original intent of the holiday card. Especially when the only personal "touch" that occured was the sender licking the envelope. (Can you tell I got a lot of those?) Speaking just for myself, I'd rather receive a thoughtful email or note after Christmas, than a generic photo card before the holiday. I know personalization takes time: thinking of something specific to each recipient on my list, which isn't that long, required inspiration from the vine.

I think the "best" child bearing age must be a moving target, different for everyone. My admittedly jaundiced view of latter years children comes from watching a second, later (but not significantly late) pregnancy, and comparing/contrasting the relationships and child-rearing strategies of each child, and also watching my mom with her godchildren (my favorite youngest cousins). She had us young (too young), and by the time she was helping with the cousins, we were grown and she was out of the young child groove, even though she was only in her early 40s.