ISO: Advice for a First Time Godparent

Jamie Reidy solicits tips on being the best Godfather possible.

In a few hours, I will stand on the altar in a Catholic Church and watch as the priest baptizes Tegan, my beautiful Goddaughter (she’s the one with the pacifier).

This is a development that has surprised many people. “Are there no other men in California?” “This is, like, some kind of reality show, right?”

I completely understand the skepticism; not a lot of 41-year old bachelors get asked to serve as a Godparent, let alone one who has puked from hangovers in more than a dozen airport men’s rooms around the world.

When my friends Matt and Summer asked me to be Tegan’s Godfather, I immediately thought of Nick Hornby’s hilarious and touching “About A Boy.” The novel opens with a similar scenario, only the lead character turns down the parents’ request!

Not me. No way. I am humbled by their faith in me and I am energized by my new role.

I plan on leading the league in tea parties (the fun kind); I look forward to learning the words to the songs from whatever annoying Bieber-esque star she adores; I plan on telling 8-year old softball league umpires “You’re missing a good game, here, Blue!”; I fully intend to brag about Tegan ad nauseum. For example, at 11-months she walked down stairs forwards, none of that weak put-the-sippy-cup-down-to-turn-around-and-back-down-the-stairs bullshit. (Note: I did not know this was impressive until told so by her daddy. #Clueless)

But I want advice from GMP readers: what else do I need to know and do to be the best Godfather possible?

About Jamie Reidy

Jamie Reidy is a writer and Propecia "before" model. His new book A Walk's As Good As A Hit: Advice/Threats from My Old Man is a collection of funny essays about him and his father. His second book Bachelor 101: Cooking + Cleaning = Closing is a cookbook/lifestyle guide for clueless single guys just like him. His book Hard Sell: Now a Major Motion Picture LOVE and OTHER DRUGS
in which Jake Gyllenhaal played "Jamie."

Comments

  1. MediaHound says:

    Oh – the old dilemma!

    One phrase comes to mind that covers all bases, tricky ethics questions and even religious diversity:

    “Presence is better than Presents.”

  2. Jack Varnell says:

    Not sure but is your god-daughter throwing hipster gang signs already ? Kidding. Congrats…

  3. Jamie Reidy says:

    MediaHound, I’ve never heard the phrase “Presence is better than Presents.” LOVE IT! Thanks for reading and sharing that wisdom.

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