https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:39:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983804 Sun, 14 Dec 2014 09:26:57 +0000 Mae 1983804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just ask your friend what she envisions your role being. I know of at least three ways that people treat the whole godparent thing: </p> <p>religious godparent- The original intended purpose. You are making a pledge to the family and God that you will help to raise the child in the church.</p> <p>guardian godparent- Some people use the term now to give to those who would be guardians if anything happened to them and it's more of just a special relationship thing. </p> <p>honor godparent- In my family godparents are mostly given by ritual and generally to siblings of the parents. It does not mean that they will necessarily be guardians nor do those people have to be religious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983754 Sun, 14 Dec 2014 08:46:02 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1983754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats God mommy!</p> <p>I was extremely close to my God mom growing up. She lived near us and I saw her quite a bit. She was my parents' back up for emergency school pick ups, we had sleepovers, she spent many Christmases with us, and was just a fun person. My parents were really open so I didn't need to share secrets with her or rely on her for advice, but I think that is important- given Godkids a good moral direction and sound advice. When we moved away in HS, she was there at my graduation and even helped me settle in to dorms my second year at college- my mom moved in my first year. Realky, she was a surrogate parent without the heavy lifting.</p> <p>We weren't religious so there wasn't any of that component mixed into our relationship. If something happened to my parents I am pretty sure my brother's Godfather would have been approached to raise us since he was more well off and had a family/ support system of his own.</p> <p>I have God kids by default, but my husband is a God parent in name only, but at least he sends gifts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983713 Sun, 14 Dec 2014 07:33:23 +0000 Anya 1983713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a godmother, and it wasn't a religious designation at all for my family, it was a special relationship I had with someone. Basically my godmother took a special interest in me and was a role model for me over the years. Many people use "godparents" as a secular role and it sounds like your friend might be this way too, but I would ask to be sure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983635 Sun, 14 Dec 2014 00:02:00 +0000 yoursilverlining 1983635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: we are godparents in the cultural way; both their family and our family are non-religious. Our expectations are to be an available resource for questions about ethics and morality and questions about religion(s), to be a trusted adult for our godson to come to if he doesn't want to come to his parents (although we wouldn't hide things from his parents, so I don't know fully how that would/will play out), and to generally be around and present in his life, for his entire life in an active role. We live on opposite sides of the country so we don't get together often, but my husband calls his godson often (at least weekly), and we buy gifts for him, etc. Hope this helps!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983561 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:33:37 +0000 blackbird 1983561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: ah. In that case, unless she has specific cultural things that are important to them, I think it's generally a nice way to honor you as family and keep you involved :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983559 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:33:08 +0000 Eko 1983559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>God parenting refers to you agreeing to help foster and bring god into the child's life. There is actual no legality in custody of the children unless they have a will that says you would be the guardians. The idea also is that if something does happen to the parents then you would be responsible for ensuring the child learns of god, his teachings, etc. god parenting is a completely religious act. If you are a god parent thee should be a baptism and you are make your commit to these things to god. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983558 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:30:47 +0000 Arden 1983558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: It isn't a religious thing for them, which is why I guessed it was more cultural? We also will have guardianship. I know she had godparents (but they lived on the other side of the world) so it's traditional for her family even though it's not religious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983555 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:27:27 +0000 blackbird 1983555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: huh....what religion are they? My niece and nephew have godparents and they are Lutheran....sometimes I think people have godparents just to honor people, too, which is nice :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983553 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:26:08 +0000 Arden 1983553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Yeah that's the context I usually hear godparents in, but we aren't Catholic and neither are they so that's why I'm drawing a blank on what's expected. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983551 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:24:50 +0000 blackbird 1983551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually there's a religious component to it-DH is the godfather to his catholic best friend's boy and we've discussed that if anything happens and we take in their son (we've been asked to be the guardians if anything happens to them), we know we will be introducing him to Catholicism, even though it is not our faith. We also send gifts and cards and stuff. We see them all when we can</p> <p>Ask your friend-I know mine would be happy to give me her expectations! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983548 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:23:16 +0000 Arden 1983548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should also mention - my friend is Black/Beliezian/Chinese, so I'm not sure if there are any specific cultural differences relating to godparents from those specific cultures? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/godparenting#post-1983544 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:21:04 +0000 Arden 1983544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My best friend just had a baby, and me and DH are the godparents. I'm thrilled and I adore her, but our family cultures are quite different and I'm kind of wondering what the expectations are of me, as a godparent. I want to make sure I'm fulfilling what my friend envisioned for the role. I didn't have godparents, and it's a somewhat foreign concept to me. </p> <p>I intend to send her birthday and holiday gifts and cards, visit as much as possible (we live long distance), and of course keep a strong relationship with her since we'd get custody of her if (God forbid) anything happened to them.</p> <p>Are there any other "godparent traditions" I should be aware of, that my friend might be expecting? :)<br /> What was your relationship with your godparents (if you had them)? </p>