yep, still childfree here

[baratron]

I had a nightmare this morning which involved a friend of mine (unspecified) dying, and bequeathing me their child to bring up. So I became instant parent to an 18 month old boy called Jake who wouldn't stop shitting his nappies. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

Dear friends, when/if any of you become parents, please note that I am very happy to become the type of godparent who provides extra presents and trips to the zoo to your offspring - but in the event of your untimely demise, I don't want to have to bring them up. I only like children I can give back at the end of the day!

Comments

[clawfoot.livejournal.com]

People have somehow gotten the mistaken impression that "godparent" means "will raise the child if the parents die." It doesn't! The only responsibility a godparent has is to make sure that the child is raised in the appropriate faith (whatever faith the parents decree).

[ailbhe]

It is impossible, under the law, to bequeath a child. All you can do is recommend guardians. Other people, who may or may not be related to the child, are entitled to contest that guardianship. The guardians are entitled to refuse.

I don't know whether trusteeships can be contested, but they can certainly be refused.

Mind you, the couple who agreed to be named guardians in mine and Rob's wills are childless by choice now and plan never ever to have any of their own! But they were happy to agree to take over from us if necessary. We asked, and then we asked again later after they had thought it over. And then we asked again.

A.

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine is getting very moody - and I really wanted to joke that she was probably pregnant.

(I didn't make the joke, thankfully)

I think though that the godparent as "disaster recovery plan parent" is pretty much why they exist. However I don't know of any cases where it was exercised.

I have met my godmother just a couple of times in my entire life. (She lives in Athens and I forgot to try visiting her during the Olympics).

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

Ah - I see. Thanks. (I was one of those people who had assumed the wrong thing then).

[a-musing-amazon.livejournal.com]

Maybe its just the sort of transference that you get in dreams.

Given what you have been posting recently about the drains, I think you might wan to rename your house "Jake".

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Until you said that, I would honestly have sworn blind that either the Alternative Service Book or the Book of Common Prayer in the Church of England specifically said that in the baptism service. (I used to get bored in church hearing the same old service week in week out, and would speedread through the rest of the book and through the Bible). But I've just spent half and hour with Google, and apparently, you are correct.

I wonder where the misunderstanding came from?

[baratron.livejournal.com]

I believe you've got it in one, there :)