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Talk to me about Baptisms
I am not a very religious person, but DH and I are both Catholic... not exactly practicing. We do want to baptize the girls at some point, but my sister just decided today that they are going to baptize my nephew in TWO weeks, and asked if I wanted to do it with them. So my questions are:
1. Does it HAVE to be a big blow out, let's have a party, invite the whole family ordeal? Or can we just do it with a few close relatives and make it special in our hearts?
2. How the heck do you choose Godparents? I know they are suppose to be a religious influence in their lives, but again... we are just not a very religious family.
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Re: Talk to me about Baptisms
You can CHOOSE to do it however you want for your girls!
We did her baptism when she was 3 months old, the Sunday of my birthday. It was totally a small thing, just both sets of grandparents. It doesn't have to be a big party or anything.
We chose DH's brother to be a Godparent, he is a religious, caring person that will be great for her growing up.
We're keeping it small. DS's is this Sunday, actually. DH and I aren't super religious but he was brought up Catholic and liked the idea of godparents. So I chose my sister as DD's and my step-sister as DS's. To me, godparents are people who will remain in your child's life and will be a positive role model/good person to have around.
Honestly, I'm just seeing Sunday as a nice family gathering where DS can be honored- we're doing a joint one w/ our nephew, since the boys are one day apart. Easier to plan, and DH and his brother are the godfathers for each other's kids.
No -- it can be whoever you want. 3 other female friends and I are the godparents for our friend's son. He was baptized in the Lutheran church.
I know one person who had her mom as the godparent of her son.
My oldest SIL had her two other sisters as her DC#2's godparents. My FIL is strict Catholic and didn't like the idea of the "Two Fairy Godmothers" as he puts it, but everyone just told him to hush and get over it.
FWIW, I think that unless you're very religious (as in, really belong to a church and attend pretty much every week) it's gauche to have a big "thing" for your child's baptism. Fine -- have the child baptized, but keep it simple. So I am all for the low key baptism.
DH and I are also not very religious people. He's Catholic and I'm Christian. We decided to baptize Bella Catholic because his whole family is Catholic. I want her to be able to do 1st Communion, etc. and let her decide what religion she wants to practice. My BIL actually was raised Catholic and now is a Christian. Her Godparents are practicing Catholic's and I wanted them to be part of her life and to teach her things that I can't. If my mom was still alive, I probably won't have baptized her Catholic, because my mom was a very religous and she wouldn't approve. I actually feel guilty, because before my mom passed away, she said she wish she could be around to teach my children about God and she wanted me to continue taking them to church. Til this day I haven't and I feel so terrible. I actually just baptized my nephew on Sunday. My SIL choose DH and I even though we don't have the same religion or even married in a church, the priest was fine. I know as a Godmother what my duties are. Even though we don't have the same religion, there is only one God and I plan to still teach him and my own child about God and his reasons for dying on the cross for us. Okay now that I ramble on and on, to answer your questions......
1. yes you can have a small party. We did that for Bella and my nephew. It was just family. 30 people are so.
2. You can choose anyone you feel that will be a great role model and support for your children. Like I said above, DH and I are not practicing Catholic/Christians, but obviously my SIl felt that we would be great Godparents for her child either way.
I hope that helps a little and sorry if I talked to much.
that's cool you are doing them both at the same time. We had big parties for both of our baptisms. We have to invite everyone in my family because they think baptisms are just as important as weddings. I have been to ones that are just close relatives and friends though a few times. I even went to one done in a backyard.
I would choose people who are very close to you and will be in the your girl's lives to be Godparents. We chose my brother & bf for one and my brother and sil for our other. Your church, depending on how strict they are, might require the godparents to attend a class or that they be the same religion.
We did a small private ceremony with just family, My FIL is a deacon in the Catholic church so he was able to perform the ceremony at the church where I was baptised, communion, confirmation, and married! It was really special.
In the Catholic church one godparent at least has to be catholic. You need to also check with your church because you usually have to attend a class or do a meeting first and if you aren't attending regularly they may make you hold off and attend some church before they will allow you depending on how strict the priest is. The Catholic that you chose if they are not a member of the church where you are having the ceremony will need to have a letter from their church.
My DD's godparents are my husband's cousin that he grew up like brothers with and my sister. It is a lot to take care of but worth if it is something that you feel you want to do
Carter James