What exactly does being a godparent entail?

[Earlybird]

A good, but fairly new friend has asked me to be one of the godmothers to her little girl. It's flattering and am very pleased to be asked, but before I reply - what exactly would be expected of me? Officially and unofficially. What makes a good godparent?

It depends on whether its in the traditional sense or not. The idea of a godparent is someone who would help you raise your child in the christin faith but also someone who realistically would take up legal guardianship if anything were ever to happen to you. I'm a godparent and I take it very seriously, I don't push the faith side as the parents aren't into it but I make sure I am a part of their life and as they grow older make sure I am a person they trust and can come too. When we chose godparents for our little one we chose people that our a big part of our life and that we would be happy to entrust our child too and that we know are going to help 'raise' and protect our children.

I agree with countto10. I am godmother to 5 children (3 in one family and 2 in another) ranging in ages from 15 to 10 months. Neither of the families are particularly religious, so I don't go down that road with them, because to be honest, neither do I! For me, it's about being there when they need someone to talk to, if they can't speak to their parents, remebering them at Christmas and birthdays, and just generally being a part of their lives.

I take my role very seriously and I love every minute of it. I'm always talking to them, visiting them and just being around.

I hadn't seen my eldest godson in a little while (very long story so won't bore you with it) and when I saw him again, he was smoking!! I was horrified and told him to put it out. He said to me, it's alright because mum lets me, and I told him (jokingly) that I didn't care and to put it out.

His mate sitting with him said to him "who the fck does she thinks she is?" and my godson turned round to him and said (and I didnt approve of the language but was touched all the same) "fck off she's my godmother". He then put his cigarette out and doesn't EVER smoke in front of me

I also think when friends ask you to be godparent to their children, it is the biggest show of respect in terms of you as a person and your friendship with the child's parents.

15 Years to 10 months I meant

Echo Countto10 & loopylou0612. have 3 godchildren and take my duties quite seriously (or did before I emigrated) love them all to bits and they always know I here for them