Letter writing dos and don'ts?

[Lyrics]

Curious about letters/cards.  Read a few things and just want to have it all straight in my head before I start sending my daughter letters.

I read the page on here about letters (good thing, I already bought her a card with glitter on it!  Will save it for A school)

1.  Colored ink...bad idea?

2.  I saw somewhere that they have to show all pictures to the RDCs, is that correct?  Somewhere I read to tip to print pictures on regular paper and write a letter around it, so I bought a cheap color printer to do that.  Do the RDCs make them open mail in front of them?  Will they know I sent a picture if it's on regular paper?  (I guess this ties in with #1, I think I read somewhere that if they get something with colored ink, they get IT?  So should I stick with just black ink around the pictures?  My daughter loves different color inks, so I bought a pack of gel pens I was planning to write rainbow letters with...)

3.  Card envelopes, do they get IT for colored envelopes?

Any other tips for writing dos and don'ts??  I don't want my kiddo to have to do IT for every letter I send!

[AmandaHisNavyGirl]

Hey lyric this is the website I used. Hope it helps

http://moms-of-marines-support.com/Emotional-Dos-Donts.html

[outi]

I sent cards and letters every day of the BC....one a day. And got family to do the same....that is the important part...upbeat , encouraging, no pictures , regular letters , regular cards, no pictures, might make them cry...:-)

[lemonelephant]

Pictures are fine--even real photos if you don't send a lot of them and keep them small.

[Lyrics]

My daughter specifically asked for pictures, and I promised to send some, so I will.  I'm pretty well versed in the military  (hubby is career Army) but boot camp is a new experience.  (Hubby and I were good friends when he went to basic training 23 years ago, but I don't remember if I wrote him or not.  I did write him once he got to his first duty station, and he's still finding confetti that I tucked in the 25 cards I sent for his 25th birthday, haha.)

Anyway, more concerned with what will draw attention to her mail, I figure she'll have a hard enough time without Mom causing her push-ups or whatever ;-)

[1Bodyprof]

Plain, white, regular letter size envelopes, nothing to draw attention on outside, inside anything you want.

[lemonelephant]

Check out Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.

1. Avoid red ink, but most other colors are fine.

2. Recruits only have to show the RDC pictures if they think they might be questionable if found. It saves room in the A/B drawer to print pictures within the letter. The only things that the recruits must open in front of the RDC are packages and any envelope that is larger than what would take a 49 cent stamp. Colored ink is fine unless your recruit indicates otherwise. You can send colored pictures--actual photos or those printed within a letter. (Rub your hand over the paper after the ink has dried. If there is any transfer, then you need to use different ink, but if thee is no transfer, then it is fine as long as then content is appropriate.)

3. If your recruit indicates not to send colored envelopes, then don't; otherwise don't worry about it. Some RDC's will give IT for colored envelopes and others don't care.

If your recruit needs help getting ready to be a Sailor then the RDC will find reasons to give her IT. If she happens to get IT due to something you send, just don't do it again if she lets you know, but know that you helped her to become stronger and better able to pass the things that lie ahead.