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  3. Daughter in law birthday

Birthday wishes for
your daughter in law.

Use her name, say the one thing you love about her, and wish her a good year. That is more than enough.

In-laws, siblings, old friends who became her friends. Pick the group that fits, use her name, and write the wish only you could mean.

Create a cardRead a sample card

Everyone's words in one card.

Updated

A mug. Happy birthday to the one who knows how everyone takes their tea.

Happy birthday. We are glad you are ours.

From Rosa

I am proud of you. Not just today. Happy birthday.

From Sam

We are glad you joined this lot. Happy birthday.

From Aisha

Pick a design

  • Pop birthday card. Happy birthday.
  • Tasting the wine. We tasted six. We remember four. Happy birthday.
  • A big ice cream. It is bigger than your head. That is the point.
  • A roast potato. Happy birthday. Have the last roast potato.
  • A birthday cake. Make a wish. The smoke alarm is part of the show.
  • Marker lettering. Happy birthday. First round's on you. "us" is crossed out and "you" written above it.
  • Dinner together. Table for two, cake for one. The birthday rules.
  • Marker lettering. Happy birthday. I got you a card. "present" is crossed out and "card" written above it.
  • A party hat. Happy birthday. The hat is not optional.
  • A speech bubble. Happy birthday to our favourite person in the group chat. Don't tell the others.

The question

Each writer gets a question.

One at a time, about Sam. They answer in their own words, or write without one.

Who they are to you
  1. Something Sam did this year that you still think about.
  2. Words of Sam's that you have caught yourself using.
  3. A day Sam made better just by turning up.
  4. Something Sam taught you without meaning to.
  5. A small thing about Sam that nobody else would notice.
  6. The story about Sam you tell most.
  1. The moment you knew you had a proper friend in Sam.
  2. Something Sam did that only a friend would.
  3. A thing you still laugh about together.
  4. The time Sam turned up when it mattered.
  5. Something Sam knew about you before you said it.
  1. Something Sam did for the family that went unsaid.
  2. A habit of Sam's that you have caught yourself copying.
  3. A memory of Sam from when you were younger.
  4. Something Sam put up with from you.
  5. Something Sam taught you, mostly by example.
  1. A small thing Sam did that you noticed and never mentioned.
  2. The moment you knew.
  3. Something Sam did this year that made things easier for you.
  4. A thing about Sam you would not change.
  5. Something Sam carried that was yours to carry.
  1. The thing you go to Sam for.
  2. Something you picked up from working beside Sam.
  3. A bad day at work that Sam turned round.
  4. Something a new starter should be told about Sam.
  5. Something Sam did that made the job feel worth doing.

Or write without one.

Birthday wishes for a daughter in law

Pick your group, add her name, and sign.

From a parent in law

  • Happy birthday. The day our son brought you home, this family got better. We hope you feel that today.

  • You are easier to love than we expected, which is the nicest thing we can say. Happy birthday.

  • Happy birthday. We are glad you are ours.

  • Thank you for being exactly who you are. Happy birthday, with all our love.

  • We picked a good one when we picked you, even if you picked him first. Happy birthday.

From a mother in law

  • Happy birthday. I could not have chosen better for him, and I have tried to imagine it.

  • You make this family calmer and funnier at the same time. Happy birthday.

  • Happy birthday. The door is always open, the kettle is always on, and you are always welcome.

  • I am proud of you. Not just today. Happy birthday.

From the wider family

  • Happy birthday from all of us. You have fitted in here from the very first dinner.

  • We are glad you joined this lot. Happy birthday.

  • Happy birthday. You have the patience of a saint and we have all noticed.

  • You make the big occasions better just by being there. Happy birthday.

  • Happy birthday from the whole family. See you at the next one.

From her partner's friends

  • Happy birthday. We were suspicious of you at first. We got over it quickly.

  • You put up with all of us and still come to things. Happy birthday.

  • Happy birthday. For the record, you are the sensible one.

  • We are glad he found you. Happy birthday from the rest of us.

Short

  • Happy birthday. Glad you are in the family.

  • Happy birthday. You brighten this family up.

  • Many happy returns. Love from all of us.

  • Happy birthday. Enjoy every bit of today.

What not to write

Do not bring up anything about the wedding, the in-law adjustment period, or how long it took to feel like family. Today is her birthday, not a review.

Do not write about how much she means to your son rather than to you. She is your daughter in law. Write to her, not about her.

Do not mention anything she did not choose, including how she fits in with existing family traditions or who she reminds you of.

Keep it warm and short. A long card can read as an occasion to perform feelings rather than share them.

One card from the whole family

Everyone signs from a link, and it opens on her birthday.

  1. 01

    Set her birthday.

    The card opens that morning. Nobody sees it before she does.

  2. 02

    Send one link to the family.

    Her partner's parents, siblings, old friends. Each person writes once, in their own words.

  3. 03

    She reads it on the day.

    Every message carries a name. One card, everyone in it.

Create a card

Questions

What do you write in a birthday card for your daughter in law?

Her name, one true thing about her, and a warm wish. Keep it short and mean it.

Should a mother in law write something different from the rest of the family?

A mother in law writing her own message can say things a joint card cannot. The first time she came for dinner is worth more than another love from us both.

Is it better to sign from both parents or separately?

Either works. Signing separately means she gets two real messages. Signing together is warmer if you usually do things as a pair.

Part of group birthday card.

More guides

Somebody has a day coming up.

Create a card

Everyone's words in one card.