Parents entrust them with the apple of their eyes. The godmother and the godfather are supposed to be referents for their godson and to accompany him in the important stages of his existence. Chosen by the parents, they are often a member of the family or a close friend, who will be approached with a view to a religious baptism or in a completely secular setting. And this Sunday takes place the festival of the godmothers and godfathers, certainly with commercial aim, but which is also the occasion for the godchildren to testify their affection to these guides in their life.
Because for many of them, these tutors had an important place, especially in their childhood. As Chloé testifies, who responded to our call for witnesses: “My godmother was very present and spoiled me a lot (leisures, hugs, gifts). A relationship that I did not necessarily have with my parents. David also benefited from this strong support when he was little: “My godfather and my godmother contributed to my education, they are like second parents to me. “ Ludivine, 25, also remembers with emotion all the moments she experienced as a child with her godmother: “I took the plane every summer to go and spend holidays with her, from the age of 6 years. She made me discover a lot of things: her region, places and activities that are important to her. And how not to mention his many phone calls and all his attentions and little words for my birthday and Christmas? »
“I can tell her everything without her repeating it”
As for Tiffany, she emphasizes the intermediary role played by godparents: “In our family, they are very important in alerting parents to various problems that the child may encounter at school and with friends. Or help them understand their desires, fears and complexes. Because the child confides in these adults more easily than in his parents”. In adolescence too, these adults can also be allies, as is the case for Tiphaine, 16: “My godmother helped me a lot when things were not going well. When there was war at home with the parents, she always took me to her house. I can tell her anything without her repeating it to everyone. We go to Paris together, we look at the stars and we do a lot of other super cool things”.
In some cases, the godmother and the godfather even act as parental substitutes. A situation that testifies to Andréa, whose godfather played central: “He replaced my absent father. I hope he’ll still be there to walk me down the aisle if I ever get married. For Yveline, it was her godmother who gave her the love she needed: “I loved her like a mother. Especially since mine didn’t love me and mistreated me. And that my father died when I was a month old. My godmother guided me so that I could live a healthy life. »
“We even still have slumber parties! »
Then in adulthood, some have managed to maintain very close relationships. This is the case of Ludivine: “We try to see each other at least once or twice a year. My godmother and my godfather also both made the trip this summer to come and see our new house. And we call each other very regularly. At the moment, they follow the pregnancy very closely, via photos and videos. “Andrea has also always been able to count on her godmother: “She was present in all the major stages of my life. My parents couldn’t have chosen better. »
Sometimes, the ties even gain in intensity over time, as Chloé testifies: “The relationship with my godmother has strengthened. Now that I am an adult, we are even more accomplices and she has become my confidante. We try to see each other once every two months over coffee, for a walk… We even have pajama parties! ” And it is in the event of hard knocks that certain godparents show that they are true allies: “When my father died a few years ago, my godfather was very present, then he a bit of a buffer between my mother and me at a complicated time for both of us”, testifies Ophélie.
“The fact that I am an atheist and on the left caused her to cut ties”
But not all godchildren are lucky. Because the parents have sometimes been very mistaken in their choice of the lucky ones. In most cases, because the latter did not really take their mission head on… “They had the role of ghosts”, sums up Laetitia. Ditto for Charlie: “I have a godfather and a godmother whom I saw at my baptism when I was six months old, I never saw them again. I am not a godmother, but if one day this role were entrusted to me, I would take it very seriously, because you don’t entrust your child to just anyone! “, she believes.
Sometimes the ties have loosened over time, as for Céline: “My godfather no longer has any ties with me and that’s fine. As for my godmother, I have very few contacts. To choose, I would have preferred not to be baptized as a baby and to be able to choose my godfather and my godmother, so that it would serve some purpose. “Laura’s godmother, who played her role well when she was a child, then distanced herself: “The fact that I am an atheist and on the left has caused her to cut ties. I find that it was not a very wise choice on the part of my parents, because she does not share any common value with the education they gave me. “A mistake that she will try not to commit with her own children!