I heard an interview last week with a woman who had given birth in her 60s. In it she explained her need to surround her new baby with as much support from other adults (of various ages) as possible. To do this, she christened her child and nominated for them 37 God Parents.

Thirty. Seven.

You’re not sure if you even like 37 people, are you?

But this mother, possibly prompted by her own age, thought about the future needs of her child, the support both of them might require throughout their lives, and the skills and strengths of those around her. Selecting a group of trusted people and then welcoming them into the wider community of their family. It’s a beautiful idea. After all, it takes a village, right?

I am nobody’s God Parent. (I’m assuming that this is because I am vocally non-religious, not that no one would trust me with their child.) But my sister has so many God Children that we’ve joked in the past that her and her husband are Widnes’s answer to Elton John and David Furnish. Seriously, I’ve lost count. (Incidentally, she is caring and responsible and, therefore, most definitely has not).

I’d like to be though. Someone's God Parent, that is. I love the idea of having a (slightly) formalised role in the life of a young person I didn’t birth myself. It’s the God bit which makes me stumble. And I’m not the only one. The most recent stats show that only 10% of babies in the UK are christened …….. leaving 90% of them (potentially) flapping about all clueless negotiating life without such formalised guiding influences.

Ok, so I’m exaggerating for effect (I do have form). But there’s no reason why a parent can’t nominate such people anyway. In fact, doing so is a central pillar of what we celebrants offer in a Naming Ceremony.

You can do what you want in a Naming Ceremony (that’s the point), but most people opt to make promises to their child and to invite selected others to do so too.

God Parents by any other name.

In fact, by any name at all ……. Fairy God Parents …….. Supporters …….. Life Champions …….. and my own personal favourite …….. Sparents.

It’s a thing of beauty to commit ourselves to the life of someone else. To pledge our on-going support to them. To say that we’ll always be there. It’s a shame if that’s limited to just the 10%, isn’t it?

If you'd like to know more about Sparents, Naming Ceremonies or other ways in which to celebrate your off-spring (either before or after they've sprung) I'd love to chat ....... enquiries@kirstiecelebrant.co.uk



Photo credits: Isaac Quesada, Jay Chen, Joice Kelly, Marjorie Bertrand and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash