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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

godparent snub

684 replies

trickychalice · 09/07/2012 17:56

Namechanger here. I know, I know, the most middle class of problems, but tbh I am really quite hurt at the moment and would like a little perspective.

I have 3 ds. The person I have always considered to be my bf had a baby girl a few months ago. We were at school together, went travelling together, have always been a double act. She lives a few hours away. When I had ds1 she was the first to visit at hospital and I made her his godmother before we left hospital. I was her matron of honour.

Her and her dh have always struggled financially - a lot. When I had ds3 I saved all clothes/crib/bugaboo to give her. She was supposed to come and collect it before her baby was born, but for some reason couldn't, so we packed up all ds and drove 4 hours to give it to her (stayed the weekend). I am very sentimental about my stuff, but thought I had given it totally open-heartedly to help my bf. I must admit that I assumed it would be used by a much loved godchild.

Long story short, I have just seen christening photos on fb (she called me at the weekend and didn't mention that her dd was being christened - she knows that I would be hurt about this- hence not telling me) and I see that another friend is godmother. Obviously it is her choice as to who the godparents are - and I know I would be flamed for suggesting otherwise, but I am still v hurt. She rang me just before the baby was born and was v upset shopping for stuff and asked if I could lend her a pram - I rushed ds out of the bugaboo (I know I sound a dick talking about the bugaboo, but its just to show that I gave her quality stuff that I can ill afford and could have sold for some much needed cash) and into a mclaren so that she could have it. It honestly wasn't supposed to be a poisoned chalice, but I don't think she should have asked in the knowledge that I wasn't going to be godparent.

The person she has chosen is a very fun, old friend of hers, but she would be disingenuous to suggest that this friend has been a better friend - trust me I just know she hasn't. I think I am disillusioned that there is so much empire building in these decisions - she has always been slightly in awe of this friend. There are friends that I have been a bit Hmm about not being asked to be godparent to their kids, but I wouldn't have dreamt of saying anything. I am only pointing this out to show that this really does feel different.

I don't really know what I am asking - I know I will be told that I can't possibly dictate who people choose - it is there choice and is made for many different reasons etc, etc, but I guess I need to know if my feelings are valid? Should she have spoken to me and explained things? Mentioned it when she called at the weekend? Not accepted the stuff?

I have drafted an email - short, factual, but stating my hurt and that I don't know if our friendship can recover. This is not meant to be manipulative, but they have a trip planned and I cannot possibly act as if nothing has happened.

Please be gentle - I know that there are far, far more serious problems out there, but this is my small rather humble one for the day. I have namechanged because I am anticipating a slating and am probably a bit ashamed that this has upset me so much.

OP posts:
trickychalice · 11/07/2012 21:41

And I am not distancing myself from the baby. You have extrapolated that from nothing I have written. I have said I won't behave like a gp to it. Because I am not. I cannot believe people find that weird.

OP posts:
trickychalice · 11/07/2012 21:43

And I will not even rise to the hand-me-down jibe. That has been covered many times over. I'll leave now because I'm boring myself and most definitely everyone else.

OP posts:
KitchenandJumble · 11/07/2012 22:28

No need to justify yourself to me. I have drawn my conclusions from what you have written, that's all. It's a completely unknown world to me, but it is obviously alive and well for many.

"Hand-me-down jibe"? I'm afraid you've lost me there. Again, I simply can't comprehend the expectations placed on giving/lending a friend some baby equipment. But to each his/her own.

2rebecca · 11/07/2012 22:52

I can sympathise with the OP. I'm not religious and would refuse to be a godparent even if offered the post although I'd happily do an atheist equivalent.
What would upset me here would be a good friend not discussing the christening of her baby with me, not explaining why I wasn't invited to the christening or why I hadn't been chosen as a godparent if the friend thought I might like to be one.
I've also never been to a christening where no friends at all were invited. Usually longstanding best friends know each others families well and don't care if they are the only nonfamily member there. Christening services are usually open to allcomers anyway.
I think the OP hasn't helped herself by involving bugaboos etc in the same post as it did come across as her trying to buy herself godparent status and although I'm not a godparent most of my baby stuff went to friends and relatives. To me giving your friend a pram and being a godparent are 2 unconnected issues.
The friend hasn't been a very thoughtful or considerate friend, so I can understand why the OP now feels that she'll never feel the same way about the friendship again. She was thrown over for this other friend.

fratcher · 11/07/2012 22:52

No good deed goes unpunished,my dear. Your erstwhile best friend has taken you for granted; perhaps, secretly, she feels resentful that you can afford 'good quality' items for your baby and thinks that you are patronizing her by passing them on. Or maybe she is just an ungrateful cow, in which case you are better off not being committed to 18+ years of expensive Godmother Gifts.
Put it behind you and don't let this hurt gnaw away to the point where YOU become the villain of the piece.

clam · 11/07/2012 23:05

Why are so many people determined to misunderstand the OP?

"My bf surprised me many years ago when she asked someone else to be gm to her first born, I don't remember feeling hurt like you"

Trickychalice has said several times now that in the general run of things, she would not feel hurt either, and has other good friendships where there has been no such problem. But this friendship felt different to her, hence the hurt. And she's tried to explain why. But to be honest, I think she's wasted her time as it seems to have provided ammunition for people to make unfounded assumptions about her whole character.

I think the whole thing's been done-to-death now really.
Good luck, OP.

iloveACK · 11/07/2012 23:33

I'm with you Clam - good luck Op.

lovelydogs · 12/07/2012 10:15

How arrogant of you clam to declare this has been "done to death now" yet here you are quoting me and correcting me, inviting a comeback isn't it?

I am not determined to misunderstand the op I have read the entire thread and understand and have sympathised with the op.

Just because I said I didn't feel hurt do you really think that directly translates to I don't understand why the op is hurt? It doesn't.

The fact is in my situation (hold on, sorry, are we not allowed to post unless our situations are identical?) my best friends child and I have a great relationship, (far more so than she does with her God parent) simply because I am best friends with her mother. Jeez, I love her as much as my own!

If this is ammunition and unfounded assumptions on the op's character I'm baffled I really am.
Next time I'll check with you clam to see if I'm allowed to post. Grin

clam · 12/07/2012 16:18

684 messages, and most of us are now repeating ourselves. So yes, I do think the subject has been well and truly aired. And my comment was in a new paragraph, hence not directly aimed at you, lovelydogs, for a comeback. Although you're welcome to keep going if you like, of course.

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