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Gifted godchildren

Lucky godchildren!

Raffaella Barker

Wednesday, 12th December 2007

Christmas is when godparents come into their own, says Raffaella Barker

Life has its fairytale moments, and second only to the swooning kiss with the knight in shining armour comes the heartwarming day when someone asks you to be godparent to their precious offspring. It is a fairytale moment because the offer comes and is accepted with mutual sparkle and joy, promises are made on both sides, generosity is unleashed in the godparent and off you go happily ever after into the future.

Fast forward a few years, and just as the knight’s armour has rusted and he seems to have forgotten about swooning kisses, so has the godparent/child experience altered. The tiny infant has undergone a seismic change from golden delicious babe in arms to taciturn teen, possibly with piercings that make your eyes water and a breathtaking lack of interests or hobbies. This is the creature you have to buy a Christmas present for.

In my case, there are seven of them, and although not all of them are silent or even teenage, they all require special thought at Christmas to make up for the fact that I hardly ever remember their birthdays and that I am not the millionaire godparent who will die and leave them a fortune or an island.

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