Stingy godfather

[Anonymous]

So, we picked one of my husband's best friends to be the godfather to our child.
He never gifted the child for the baptism. He also did not buy a single present for the child's first birthday.
He is very nice and warm guy but apparently very stingy.
It's not so much that I care about presents but mostly about the thought of doing it for one's godchild.
In our tradition, godparent has a really special place in a person's life. God parenting is considered a very spiritual bond and gifting is part of it.
Anyhow, I am really disappointed. Mostly for my child. I wish I could undo the whole thing and pick another godparent but it's too late.

[Anonymous]

WWJD?

[Anonymous]

Wow...

[Anonymous]

Is he from your traditional background? Could it be he doesn’t know the expectations? In my culture the godparent is picked for faith.

[Anonymous]

Uhhhh, he's a guy.
And if he's a single guy, he's never gonna know to do that on his own.

You've gotta adjust YOUR expectations.
I'd rather know that he's reliable and dependable than about silly gifts.

[Anonymous]

I never heard of godparents buying gifts. if he’s a wonderful person isn’t that enough?

[Anonymous]

Are you sure he's aware of the tradition?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never heard of godparents buying gifts. if he’s a wonderful person isn’t that enough?

Actually, in our tradition godparents gift gold; either a small chain, pendant, coin etc.
But even if he didn't want to do that he could have bought a board book for bday or some such small thing.
He is middle class and totally comfortable financially. He is just stingy.
Stingy with money, stingy in heart is the truth about stingy people. I wish I could go back and pick another godparent but it's too late...

[Anonymous]

You obviously do care about presents - leave it alone. You want gifts for your precious little one, buy it yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure he's aware of the tradition?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

It’s stuff, op. Let it go. Focus on having him build a relationship with the child and having a special place in your family and your child’s life. That’s what matters. Your baby will know nothing of these gifts.

[Anonymous]

You sound like an ungodly materialistic piece of work. Your kid will need a grounded godparent with strong values to compensate for the morally bankrupt example you are setting.

[Anonymous]

You are extremely selfish and petty.

[Anonymous]

Didn't he receive Godparent training?

The purpose of a Godparent is to be a spiritual parent to a child. Not to distribute material goods. Of course, I know that tradition demands gifts, but clearly this person is not aware of it.

I don't think you can ever raise that subject with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God parenting is considered a very spiritual bond and gifting is part of it.

I don’t think you have a very good grasp of spirituality.