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AIBU?

AIBU over choice of godparents?

47 replies

Glittertrauma · 17/03/2019 21:30

Mamas, I need some outside perspective on a big dilemma.

My partner is from a very close family and has two sisters. One of them, who I'll call Sister 'A' and his mum, I have always had an amazing relationship with and genuinely love. They made me welcome into the family from the first day and we're very close.

The other, Sister 'B', there has always been problems with. She has just never liked me and has taken every opportunity over the years to undermine me, make me feel belittled and just generally be a spiteful person. The things she has done over the years would fill pages. I honestly feel like I've tried again and again to build bridges and support her when she's needed it but I've finally had to give up over the years and just accept that not everyone will like you.

After many years of being a bit hurt and confused, it's gotten to the point now where I just actively dislike her and avoid her as much as possible. She honestly makes my skin crawl. My partner is aware of this. He doesn't deny that she's been pretty spiteful sometimes but at the end of the day, she's still his sister and he loves her, and I respect that. So far we've rubbed along at family occasions etc.

Now, I understand this isn't everyone's preference but for me it's important to baptise my children and for them to have godparents.

When Sister 'A' (the lovely one) had her first child, we were asked to be godparents. For her second child, she asked the Sister B to be godmother. Then we had our first child, and we asked lovely Sister A and her partner. Sister B then had three children in very quick succession. For the first child, she asked Sister A to be godmother. For the second two, she asked my partner but not me. I must admit I was upset - we don't get on, but it I felt it was quite a public snub.

Partner was amazing and said he wouldnt do it if I didn't want him to as he didn't think it was great behaviour from her. Decided I couldn't let him do that, as he loves his sister, so he is godfather.

Now I've had my second child. Following the family 'pattern', it should be that Sister B is my LG's godmother. I violently don't want this. I can't stand the woman and I don't want to give her the honour. I actively dislike her and even though I appreciate its all just symbolic can't stand the thought of offering her.

She was bridesmaid at my wedding and she was so vile about it and toxic her behaviour cast a shadow over the day, so I really dont want her invoked in anything else.

In an ideal world I would be completely NC with her but for the fact I wouldn't ask that of my partner.

However, my partner feels we 'should' ask her, particularly as he is godfather to hers.

Should I give in to what he feels is the 'right' thing to do even though I really don't want to? It's really upsetting me.

OP posts:
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SheRaTheAllPowerful · 17/03/2019 21:33

Stick to your guns, it would be different if you were her child’s godmother but she’s already shown her colours.
You should pick someone else!

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cunningartificer · 17/03/2019 21:34

No. Don’t ask someone you don’t like and respect to be a godparent. It means something more to you than a social ritual. Is there no one close on your side of the family to ask?

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MinorChef · 17/03/2019 21:35

Nope, don't do it

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dragonsfire · 17/03/2019 21:35

They are already aunties do not need to be godparents to!

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Ellieboolou27 · 17/03/2019 21:36

Don’t do it op, if she cant treat you with respect and be kind then definitely dont let her have the privilege of being godmother.

She sounds vile and there is no way I’d let her!

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Goldmandra · 17/03/2019 21:36

Absolutely not!

Being a godparent is a responsibility, not a right. It's clear that she couldn't support your DCs in any way as she hates you so much.

She has made it clear that you aren't good enough to be her DC's godparent so YANBU to refuse her the honour of being godmother to your DC. She hasn't followed the expected pattern herself because she excluded you.

Tell your DH that you've gone along with trying to keep the peace up until now and you will again in the future but this would be a step too far.

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ohfourfoxache · 17/03/2019 21:37

Erm, no

She doesn’t get to be a toxic bitch and godparent. The 2 don’t mix.

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NoooorthonerMum · 17/03/2019 21:37

I'm assuming you don't have a sister or very close cousin you could ask to be godmother? If she has 100% definitely been horrible to you (and not just stand off-ish) and it's not just a mutual dislike then I can totally see how it would be incredibly difficult to offer it to her. Who is the alternative?

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Lovelylugs · 17/03/2019 21:38

She has snubbed you twice. I would feel absolutely no guilt over not asking her. Why should you when she has been horrible to you? Also I'm sure you would like your child to actually gave a nice kind godmother not someone nasty and spiteful?

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HappyBumbleBee · 17/03/2019 21:40

Ask sister A again. If it's questioned just explain you want your DC to have the same godparents xx

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Starlight456 · 17/03/2019 21:41

No I wouldn’t have B

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Xyzzzzz · 17/03/2019 21:45

Nope I wouldn’t ask her. I’d chose someone else. She wants to make a fuss let her.

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Spiritinabody · 17/03/2019 21:48

I wouldn't ask anyone I genuinely disliked to be my child's Godmother. I would expect the GM to be someone the child would look up to and admire.

If you think of it in terms of who would look after your DC if anything were to happen to you and your DH, would you want his DSis to do that?

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WorraLiberty · 17/03/2019 21:53

I certainly wouldn't want her

But your child has two parents and your DH (knowing how vile she is to you) accepted the 'honour' of being godparent regardless.

So I can see why he may want to return the 'favour'.

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Happilyacceptingcookies · 17/03/2019 21:56

Don't ask her if you don't want to, choose anyone in the world that you want!

However it goes both ways...you regarded it as a snub when sister B asked your partner and not you but she was just doing the same and choosing who she really wanted.

Your families may operate differently but in my family I would view by siblings different to my in laws and wouldn't view it as a snub if DH's brother asked DH to be a godparent and not me, in fact to me it makes more sense.

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PossiblyPFB · 17/03/2019 21:57

Please don’t!!!!! DD has 3 sets of godparents due to unusual circumstances. One (the original) set are amazing, forever people that are dear. However there were extenuating circumstances and we chose badly for some additional godparents and now are stuck with that. It’s awkward.... in the end I’m addition to our dear friends we chose some of our very best friends from the time when Dd was born, who we were super close with. One couple is now divorced and we don’t speak to the wife anymore as she turned out to be a bit of a sociopath, and the other set we rarely see, so while they do make an effort to an extent it feels like an obligation on their part that is embarrassing to release them from.

You say you already know she’s toxic, so just don’t. Choose lovely people who genuinely will be there and will pray for your child / be present for them throughout their life. It’s about your child, not about someone’s “turn” to be a godparent. And it’s highly unusual for related parties to be chosen I’d say as well- as others have said, she’s already the child’s aunt! Please choose well! Smile

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cinderfeckinrella · 17/03/2019 22:08

I'd ask sister A again, I'd go down the same godparents line. Never easy but she already snubbed you which was nasty.

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peanutbutterandbanana · 17/03/2019 22:09

Why would you choose someone who hates you to be godmother to your children? If anyone says anything you just have to tell them: 'She hates me and I'm sure you can understand she has thus ruled herself out'. She didn't choose you and so you don't have to choose her.

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HJWT · 17/03/2019 22:12

If have same as the first, if anyone says anything just say you wanted it to be the same...

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Mummymummums · 17/03/2019 22:19

No way! Time to make a stand on this - you had her as bridesmaid and she couldn't be decent.

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Glittertrauma · 17/03/2019 22:20

Yeah. I agree it is a little odd to be both aunty and godparent - but that's just how it's been done in his family so far.

I don't have any siblings myself I could ask.

Myself and partner have close friends we'd both like to ask. One of the friends we'd like to ask, who was best man at our wedding currently lives abroad and we're not sure he'd be able to come back for it. Another is a childhood lifelong friend of mine.

Then there's a couple who are close friends of ours who are godparents to our first child. would like to just have them, partner feels his sister 'should' be asked as well as the friends, mainly as he's godfather to some of her DC.

I would dearly love to be as close to Sister B as I am to his other sister and their mum, and honestly think I have tried over the years, many times. But she's just poisonous. Even partner has said he thinks she had an issue with me 'taking him away' from her - even though that was never the case. We have always been very involved with his family. I could understand her being a bit protective but this is not normal. Also I met partner nearly 15 years ago and she is still the same!

However I do feel sorry for my partner as I appreciate it must be hard being stuck in the middle.

OP posts:
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Starlight456 · 17/03/2019 22:25

Re friend abroad . My Ds’s godmother had a terminally ill df at the time . I spoke to minister about what could be done but was told someone could stand in if she couldn’t make it.

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jellybeanteaparty · 17/03/2019 22:28

Does your sister in law B happen to have a lovely husband you could ask ?

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Cherrysoup · 17/03/2019 22:31

A friend of mine had someone stand in for a godparent who couldn’t make it. Choose your friend, not your nasty sil.

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HJWT · 17/03/2019 23:27

@Glittertrauma not really OP, he is only stuck in the middle because he choses to be! He should of told her to grow up a long time ago!

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