Do your kids have Godparents?

[busybee995]

Recently had a baby and wondering if Godparents are still a thing nowadays...?

No they don't. They might have friends who have been asked to take a special interest in the child and be expected to take some moral and friendly care of them but they aren't godparents if there's been no baptism.

Yes because DC is baptised. Otherwise they wouldn’t, obviously.

Yes and they don't give a damn about either of my 2 DC

Some do. Often for......educational purposes! Mine have what I rather tweely called Special People. They are still around over 20 years later-they are known as the Esspees. And

I don't for my children as I am not and never have been religious.

But then I am, what she calls a 'fairy godmother', for my friends child- she wanted a similar relationship for her daughter as a godparent role - the care, moral guidance, support and adult that thay felt connected too outside of the family etc. She grew up in the church and had valued godparents of her own but felt she couldnt baptise her daughter after that.
I have more of a relationship with my 'fairy goddaughter' than other friends children- always send her presents on her birthday and christmas and easter eggs, I babysat for her a lot when she was younger. Now she is an older teen she has my number and texts me often -, sometimes about friends and boyfriend drama, I have been to a couple of gigs with her and I took her to an appointment to get a contraceptive inplant - things that she wants an adult but not necessarily her mum for. (Her mum knew about the implant she just found it embarrassing to talk about it)

Sort of. At least, that’s what DC call them because it’s a phrase people understand. In reality they are important figures in their lives who made a promise at the naming ceremonies of each to be a mentor, friend and supporter of the child.

Youngest DC is very close to her “godmother” and has days out with her.

No but our will and life insurance has named people who will take them (and be paid a monthly stipend type thing) if we both cop it.

No, not christened and I don't believe

I suspect your friend may have had a "naming day" ceremony. If so, they're not strictly Godparents. Godparents are children who are Baptised.

for children who are Baptised.

Mine do. They are baptised (although I am not Christian). TBH i wish we had not bothered. They are friends of DHs and wet lettuces and not remotely interested in the DCs.

We have guardians appointed in our wills and they are completely different people.

No, but I think our son is the odd one out of all the friends. DP and I are both atheists, anyway, and DS has not been christened or anything, so it would probably be irrelevant.

No we're not religious so didn't have a christening. We have people named in our will who we want to look after DDs if the worst happens but no-one who plays an active godparents role

Are you planning a christening?

My children have what we called, depressingly twee-ly, Special People. They are still in their lives decades later.

I have 5 Godchildren, now grown up.
They are not religious. None of them had a church wedding and none of their children have been Christened.
My own children all had Godparents but no church weddings and grandchildren haven't been Christened either.

Yes. They were christened in the Catholic Church so each have 2 god parents.

No. We wanted the dc to choose whether to be baptised or not when they were older so we had a thanksgiving service for them when they were babies rather than an infant baptism so no godparents.

No, am an atheist, the thought has never even crossed my mind.

My DC were christened as babies and have godparents. They’re closer to some than others. I’m also god mother to two friends’ daughters and was touched to be asked.

Yes, because they were baptised so had to have godparents and at least one each had to be catholic. DC1’s godparents are relatives so we see them regularly but they don’t treat her any differently to other nieces/ nephews. We have only seen DC2’s godparents once since her baptism. None of their godparents are the people named in my will to care for them if we die, that was a seperate decision.

No, we are not religious in any shape or form.

we do however have a clause in our will stating guardians if anything were to happen to either of us. So legally covered.

The message about God parents is defunct and historic when it comes to guardianship.
It’s religious, for spiritual guidance with zero legal standing.
A great party is expect but unless religious, not worth much.

My DC have been christened and have godparents. I'm also godmother to two children and attended their christenings. Many of my friends are atheists and their DC don't have godparents.