Godparents who don't remember...

This is really annoying. Let's face it here in the Philippines nowadays, being a Godparent is a one time deal. They just show up with one great gift during the baptism and you are lucky if you still see them christmas time or if they even make an effort to remember the birthday of their godchild. Being a Godparent is serious stuff, you are being entrusted by the real parent that if something happens to them you can take over in rearing the child, but i don't think many people think of it as such anymore. Don't you notice a trend in Godparents, you see 10 pairs of Godparents, it is very commercialized, no longer solemn. It's a pity because it is your child who will take the heat when her supposed Godparent not live up to her end of the bargain.

I must admit I have slacked off a bit with this too. I am so glad to read your post, and you are so right. I will make my plans to see and do something special for my Godchild because it has been a while and I feel terrible now. Thank you for this and shame on me. I will not let this happen again.

Godparents are not nearly as important in the USA as they might be in Europe. I used to be they were like the child's sponsor at baptism and that's all. If something happened to the parents the godparent's might take the child in. of course this concept does'n't work now because the state will step in iof need be, to decide who is BEST for the child, which often will not be the godparents. There are no expectations for godparents these days here. In Europe and South America you probably find more interaction because the concept is used to create "kinship" or "chosen family" ties. When that is the case, I bet you see alot more gifting and interaction betweehn the god parents and the birth family. Hope that helps!

Yes , this does bother me . If I was ever asked to be a godparent I would take it as an honor so don't understand these people that don't remember or can't even pick up the phone to speak to my child and just see how things are going in their life . I never picked a godparent for the gifts or money they would recieve . I just wanted someone who I thought would take part in my child's life and yet for my son we picked two people who don't even know he is alive . The godfather called to talk one day and asked how the other children were doing and didn't even seem to have any idea who our son was . He asked when we had him and didn't even remember being the godfather . He thought it was funny when my husband explained to him who are son was and he couldn't remember , but I didn't find it in the least bit funny . Obviously being a godparent to him meant absolutely nothing .