Equivalent of being a god child..

[heather.beach@optusnet.co]

My husband is not religious and refuses to have a christian christening as he feels it would be hypocritical. I have no problem with this and we plan a naming ceremony instead. We plan to ask two friends to be sponsors and involve grandparents and aunts and uncles as well.

For the two friends, my question is, whilst we could call them guardians, mentors or supporters, what would the child be called by them? At the moment "I have a god child" rolls off the tongue...what would be the equivalent? My Mentee? Ugh. Any ideas anyone? "My special child?"

Also does anyone have examples of vows both family and supporters can make?
ta v m
Heath X

[flower]

Can't help you heath...but I had a Buddhist blessing for my son and we asked my cousin to be his 'Godmother' for want of a better word.
What about Guardian??
Beats me!
O's mom.

[Baby Girl]

My girls are christened catholic and their godparents are not catholic so they have catholic sponsors. They call these people Uncle/Aunty whoever and they call them whatever they like. Usually god daughter rolls off the tongue quite easily. One of them calls our girls his precious ones. He introduces them as these are my precious girls Nyssa and Sienna. And these are their parents Kelly and Vu. It gets a few funny looks every now and then but most people get the gist.

[heather.beach@optusnet.co]

"Special child" is lovely! My friend who is going tobe asked, just suggested "godless mother" and "godless child" I think she is joking.... :o

[Baby Girl]

I hope she was joking - that is awful.

[Shelly68]

Both my girls had naming days and their 'godparents' are called Guardians.

[angelcarmie]

We were in the same suituation as your hubby. We are not religious and so therefore didn't think it was right to have a christening but wanted to do something to celebrate her so we chose to do a naming day in our parents backyard for her. We are going to plant a tree for her to look after, doing a candle lighting and as she will be 20mths on her naming day we are organising some balloons for her to release.

We chose to have support parents instead of godparents as we want them to always be there for her and to support her in life.

[sugar n spice]

My kids are christened catholic and there god parents are my sister and my dad and they just call them aunty and grandad. I don't feel that you actually call them by the god parent, guardian etc term.

[Shelly68]

Mine don't call them Guardian either,

They are in fact their Aunt and Uncle also.

Guardian is just the term referred to at the ceremony.

[Naggy]

Hi Heather.beach

We had a 'welcome ceremony' for our son as we are also not religious. I felt it was a nice name for the ceremony as the purpose was to really welcome him to the world and our family. We called our chosen friends/relatives 'guardians' but when he speaks to them he calls them Aunty and Uncle. My husband is Chinese and this is how you refer to anyone older than yourself anyway!

Here is an extract from our ceremony re: the guardians; (sorry hope it's not too long for the post)

An important tradition in our culture on these occasions is the responsibility accepted by the Guardians. In this age of the so-called "nuclear family", when many of us live to a great extent isolated from our family and friends, Guardians have perhaps an even more important role today than they have had in the past. XXX and XXXX have invited their good friends, XXXX and XXXXX and XXXX’s cousin, XXXXX, to act as XXXX’s Guardians.

Are you, XXXXX, XXXXX, and XXXXX, willing to accept the invitation of XXX & xxxx to act in the capacity of Guardians for XXX?

Guardians: "We are".

Will you stay close to XXX?
To the best of your ability, will you guide him through life
So that he may know the best way you know?
Will you touch him with your wisdom?
Will you try to be a good influence
By your own way of living,
And encourage him to observe worthy principles of living,
and decent treatment of his fellow-human beings and all other creatures, great and small?

Guardians: “We will”

As Guardians, you are to undertake a special and lifelong interest in your guardianee. Could the parents and Guardians join with me in touching XXX and I ask everyone here to repeat the following words after me:
We welcome you XXXXXX
We wish you a healthy long life full of love and happiness
May gentle thoughts and loving deeds be with you always
A future that is special, with hopes and dreams beyond Thanks everyone.

We then lit a candle, there were other little poems etc.

Hope this helps

Naggy

[our little treasures]

My dd had her naming day and she had 4 pecial mentors that will give her good advice when she is older...... My Sis in law calls her GOD CHILD and we dont mind if the others call her this!

[Riley's Mum]

This response may be coming a little late. But "Guide Parent" may be an option. It sounds similiar to God Parent, but is more in line with the non-religious tone and role as mentor.