What should I get for a godparent gift at a Baptism?

Back when my cat 😍 was the godfather, he picked out this bicycle for the little guy that ended up costing nearly nine thousand dollars. He can certainly afford it since he’s seriously dedicated to the sport, and honestly, it’s much better to give him something practical he can actually use rather than some religious necklace; I'm certain he would never have worn that.

boldpilot10 said:Are you actually out of your mind? Seriously.

All that cash just for a godparent ceremony?
I mean, so what if you're the godfather. That's it.
If it were my daughter, I’d be happy with a tiny little something
but everyone keeps asking me—"What would you want to give?"

She just wants cold, hard cash. Every single one of those kids nowadays just wants money.
So I told her—okay, fine. If you get some cash, you can at least help me cover the bill at the restaurant.

And she totally lost it on me (16)—she tells me there's "no way"—though I know she was just thinking it.
The thing is, my kid already has everything—a computer, an MP3 player, two or three smartphones... I don't even know what else.
And she insists she doesn't need any of that stuff; she just wants the money so she can blow it on total nonsense. Literally.

If I were the godparent, I’d just buy a little piece of white gold as a keepsake, and leave it at that.

This is just wonderful. 😍
I mean, who would ever think to give a child something useful? What kind of gifts are these? It's absurd... and now we're talking about restaurant industry dues. 😍

hollowraven said:Apologies for the off-topic tangent:

Good grief, there is no way a teenager—let's say a sixteen-year-old girl—actually requires two or three different cell phones at once. I only carry one, and I certainly don't see the point in complicating my own life with extra devices. I am asking because my child is still an infant, and I am trying to prepare myself for the reality of what lies ahead.

They don't. 😁 I've always just had one at a time. My parents bought me my first one, then I bought my second one with my own money, and the third one was basically dirt cheap.

proxima, what do you mean $3,000 for a gift? Unless you're made of money, which you definitely aren't. 😲

My cousin was my godson back in '88. Back then, everyone was obsessed with motorcycles—I never really got why people chose those as godparent gifts—BMXs, Swatch watches... stuff like that. Personally, I got this gold cross necklace that I still wear every single day. Those bikes and engines? Long gone. We’re all different, sure, we all want different things, but I truly believe a gift should be timeless. It needs sentiment, not just a price tag.

In less than two months, I’m stepping up as godfather to his son, who’s 15 now. I’m planning on giving him a gold cross necklace and a watch. I really hope he loves it. He’s already got everything a teenager could possibly want these days, so I just want my gift to be a meaningful memory he can hold onto 🙂

Joseph Watson10 said:Back when my cat 😍 was the godfather, he picked out this bicycle for the little guy that ended up costing nearly nine thousand dollars. He can certainly afford it since he’s seriously dedicated to the sport, and honestly, it’s much better to give him something practical he can actually use rather than some religious necklace; I'm certain he would never have worn that.

This is just wonderful. 😍
I mean, who would ever think to give a child something useful? What kind of gifts are these? It's absurd... and now we're talking about restaurant industry dues. 😍

I'm really struggling to wrap my head around how to feel about all this.😕
The thing is, I don't actually want to—and frankly, I can't afford to—just throw money down the drain. I was originally thinking of just doing a simple home-cooked dinner at our place (there's about 10 of us), but then her dad had this grand idea that we could all chip in and host it together, where everyone just covers their own guests.
But, because she loves her child so much and because of her deep desire 🙏 to have all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and the whole extended family there 😈—and look, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of huge family gatherings myself—I went ahead and found a restaurant that is absolutely top-notch. I've already worked out the details with them and even put down the deposit.
I told her straight up that this is the best possible gift I could give her, because honestly, what kind of woman wants to sit at a table surrounded by people she can't stand? (Only someone who loves her little one infinitely more than her own peace of mind! 😍 )

It's going to cost me quite a bit, and she’ll have to shell out some cash too, so at least I can view it as a way to make sure she feels appreciated since I'm making her wish come true. 🙂

People can judge me however they want on here, but if you ask me personally, I’d rather just scrap all these massive traditions altogether—you know, the baptisms, the communions, the confirmations, even the dedications—I'm just not really feeling the whole church ceremony thing lately. 🙂

1. So, I mean... I know that things like baptism, communion, and confirmation are religious sacraments.
2. Honestly, if a kid is basically just counting down the days until they get some massive, expensive gift for their confirmation, then what’s even the point? It feels totally hollow. Like, they haven't actually learned anything about faith at all—and I'm assuming we're talking about Catholics here since that's the vibe—because, you know, the whole Catholic thing is supposed to be about love, respect, being humble, and all that stuff. (And look, I know there are priests out there who don't exactly walk the walk, but whatever, I'm sticking to what Jesus actually taught.) If they haven't even grasped the basics, why are they even going through the motions of a confirmation in the first place?
3. I remember getting this gold bracelet when I was younger. I still treasure it, even though I don't really wear it because I've never been a fan of yellow gold. And when it came time to pick a godmother, I chose someone just because she was a great person and I genuinely liked her, not because of whatever money or status she had.

boldpilot10 said:I'm really struggling to wrap my head around how to feel about all this.😕
The thing is, I don't actually want to—and frankly, I can't afford to—just throw money down the drain. I was originally thinking of just doing a simple home-cooked dinner at our place (there's about 10 of us), but then her dad had this grand idea that we could all chip in and host it together, where everyone just covers their own guests.
But, because she loves her child so much and because of her deep desire 🙏 to have all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and the whole extended family there 😈—and look, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of huge family gatherings myself—I went ahead and found a restaurant that is absolutely top-notch. I've already worked out the details with them and even put down the deposit.
I told her straight up that this is the best possible gift I could give her, because honestly, what kind of woman wants to sit at a table surrounded by people she can't stand? (Only someone who loves her little one infinitely more than her own peace of mind! 😍 )

It's going to cost me quite a bit, and she’ll have to shell out some cash too, so at least I can view it as a way to make sure she feels appreciated since I'm making her wish come true. 🙂

People can judge me however they want on here, but if you ask me personally, I’d rather just scrap all these massive traditions altogether—you know, the baptisms, the communions, the confirmations, even the dedications—I'm just not really feeling the whole church ceremony thing lately. 🙂

Oh, so you're doing the confirmation just because the kid looks cute in white?😕

To call the holy sacrament anything short of divine madness is, quite frankly, an insult far too heavy to bear... ☕

Honestly, I think people only get worked up about small-town politics because they have nothing better to do, which I find rather grating.

My gift should be a beautiful memory that actually lasts\

I’m with you on this one. Honestly, godparents should aim for something meaningful—a keepsake. It’s hard to argue that some flashy new gadget is going to be a "memory" when it’ll be obsolete and gathering dust in a drawer within a year,
let alone something people cherish. My kid is having their big milestone this year too, and when her godmother asked for ideas, I told her straight up: buy something she can still look at ten years from now and say, "My godmother gave me this for my big day." As for the budget... man, hats off to you. I just hope I don't end up dropping more than that just to host a party for twenty people.

I’m acting as a godmother this year for some kid who just sees me as a big sister—and yeah, I’m only 22, so don't judge. It’s not about what her parents want; it’s about what she’ll actually use. I’m thinking a camera and maybe a dainty white gold cross necklace. Money isn't the issue; the issue is that she won't wear anything bulky. Let's be real: when kids show up to church, they immediately start whispering about who got the best loot. We've all been there. You have to balance things out. You need to get something that actually fits their age and vibe. When I was a kid, I got this chunky yellow gold necklace with a pendant the size of a quarter and a matching bracelet. I haven't touched it once in my life because it looked ridiculous on me. Sure, you want a keepsake, but nobody gives a damn about that at 14. You only realize that ten years later.
The cold, hard truth is that around here—think suburban Chicago or something—nobody is dropping $400-$$167 on these gifts, regardless of how much people preach about the "spiritual significance" of the occasion...
Honestly, if you're footing the bill for the cake, the flowers, and the gift, you're looking at a total closer to $2,000.

My son’s starting his own business in two weeks. I'm not looking to drop a fortune on some massive gift. Just gonna whip up a nice lunch at home for the family and close friends without all the extra fluff. Honestly, these "traditions" feel pretty pointless to me... feels like people just do them to show off to the neighbors. Like the kid has to get a brand new truck or some other ridiculous thing just so someone can go into debt over it. It's totally unnecessary.

My son served as a best man at a wedding last year, and he went all out by picking up an Xbox along with a custom necklace and cross set. If I recall correctly, the whole thing ended up costing roughly $0.67.
We struggled with finding that sweet spot for our budget too, so now I can't help but wonder... did we go a little overboard?

Figured I’d jump into this thread too (even though my confirmation was like, ten years ago... ugh, I feel old) 😬 and honestly, by next year, I’ll probably be the godmother for someone who told me ages ago they wanted me to be.

For my own confirmation, I got a ring from my godmother and a little cross necklace from my parents—I’ve always been big on jewelry, so those are pieces I actually still wear today because I love them. As for the other guests who showed up to my service, if I remember right, I got a photo album—back then we weren't all about digital everything—and some books in English. My whole family reads in English, so it was pretty straightforward, nothing over-the-top. Though, I guess it really depends on the person, since some people just aren't readers.

Nah, you seriously don't need to drop that much cash on a First Communion gift... my godmother back then was actually my aunt, and I remember telling her straight up that the last thing I wanted was just money, because honestly, cash just disappears into thin air and leaves you with absolutely nothing to hold onto... zero memories...

I ended up getting this white gold ring with a ton of cubic zirconia that I picked out myself, and even though it cost a fortune ($333) I wear it every single day because I am just sooo obsessed with it...

It wasn't even like I sat my aunt down and made a list of what I wanted... she actually called me a few days before the ceremony and told me to meet her downtown so we could head to this one jewelry store, and she basically told me to pick out whatever ring caught my eye, since she knows I'm totally obsessed with rings and nothing else... I found the perfect one, but when the jeweler told us it was going to be $333 I actually had to take it off and tell them I didn't want it, mostly because they were newlyweds and clearly needed their money more than I did, so it felt super wrong to let them spend that much on me...

But she ended up coming back later and bought it for me anyway, bringing it over right on the day of the ceremony, but man, believe me when I say I didn't touch that thing for weeks because the guilt was just eating me alive... she kept asking why I wasn't wearing it, but I just felt so bad about the whole thing... now, though, I wear it constantly, it's big, it's gorgeous... and it means everything to me...

Look, I didn't have my First Communion until I was 21, but I know for a fact that for teenagers, it’s all about the money, money, money... honestly, I feel like they should push these ceremonies back to when kids are 20 or 21 or something, just so they might actually have a different perspective on things... sometimes I really wonder if these kids even grasp what a First Communion is actually about or what the whole point is

de Tomaso Longchamp

Samuel Diaz said:Nah, you seriously don't need to drop that much cash on a First Communion gift... my godmother back then was actually my aunt, and I remember telling her straight up that the last thing I wanted was just money, because honestly, cash just disappears into thin air and leaves you with absolutely nothing to hold onto... zero memories...

I ended up getting this white gold ring with a ton of cubic zirconia that I picked out myself, and even though it cost a fortune ($333) I wear it every single day because I am just sooo obsessed with it...

It wasn't even like I sat my aunt down and made a list of what I wanted... she actually called me a few days before the ceremony and told me to meet her downtown so we could head to this one jewelry store, and she basically told me to pick out whatever ring caught my eye, since she knows I'm totally obsessed with rings and nothing else... I found the perfect one, but when the jeweler told us it was going to be $333 I actually had to take it off and tell them I didn't want it, mostly because they were newlyweds and clearly needed their money more than I did, so it felt super wrong to let them spend that much on me...

But she ended up coming back later and bought it for me anyway, bringing it over right on the day of the ceremony, but man, believe me when I say I didn't touch that thing for weeks because the guilt was just eating me alive... she kept asking why I wasn't wearing it, but I just felt so bad about the whole thing... now, though, I wear it constantly, it's big, it's gorgeous... and it means everything to me...

Look, I didn't have my First Communion until I was 21, but I know for a fact that for teenagers, it’s all about the money, money, money... honestly, I feel like they should push these ceremonies back to when kids are 20 or 21 or something, just so they might actually have a different perspective on things... sometimes I really wonder if these kids even grasp what a First Communion is actually about or what the whole point is

Killer post!

Jose Lewis69 said:Around here, the tradition is usually to pick up a Bible and maybe some jewelry—like a little cross necklace or something similar. My sister and I both got stuff like that for our First Communion; we had different godparents and weren't really tied to the same group, so we didn't ask for anything specific. I ended up with a necklace, while my sister got a bracelet. She did the exact same thing when she was acting as a godmother later on. To me, it feels like the right way to go. I just don't get why anyone would drop three and a half grand on a 14-year-old... that's basically someone's entire monthly paycheck 😢

You want my honest take?
My Confirmation is this Saturday, April 21st at 11 AM.
I’m really into CAD and 3D modeling, so having that cash would be awesome for picking up a massive amount of RAM, a new sound card, and a used piano. If you think I'm being selfish, well, newsflash: I'm not. I deserve every penny I get. I'm not expecting anything from anyone $1000 but honestly, if you throw a huge feast—think lobster, sea bass, truffle cheese, premium cured meats, and a mountain of sides and desserts, all homemade and cozy rather than some overpriced restaurant—why wouldn't you buy a gift? If you don't agree, go eat at some fancy farm-to-table bistro instead.$500 At least $400 per person. Honestly, I couldn't care less about Christianity or the church in general. I'm an atheist, and I'm using my Confirmation as a chance to stack up some cash and gold. Plus, I've had enough awkward run-ins with religious people...
She’s been talking trash about me to my friends constantly, so now they call me the "atheist psycho" because everyone else is deeply religious and isn't used to having someone in their circle who doesn't believe in God. Some people actually think I'm mentally unstable or suicidal, and she even told them to stay away from me. 😲 kuja!!!😠 That is such typical Christian behavior. She even tried to mess with my Confirmation plans, so I had to work through all her nonsense just to get her to stop screwing with me. Once this is over, she will NEVER see me in a church again!! I don't want that in my life, even if God were real and I had to face hell. Christians, feel free to quote me and tear me apart; it would be totally on-brand for you to just follow the majority opinion instead of thinking for yourselves.

Samuel Diaz said:Nah, you seriously don't need to drop that much cash on a First Communion gift... my godmother back then was actually my aunt, and I remember telling her straight up that the last thing I wanted was just money, because honestly, cash just disappears into thin air and leaves you with absolutely nothing to hold onto... zero memories...

I ended up getting this white gold ring with a ton of cubic zirconia that I picked out myself, and even though it cost a fortune ($333) I wear it every single day because I am just sooo obsessed with it...

It wasn't even like I sat my aunt down and made a list of what I wanted... she actually called me a few days before the ceremony and told me to meet her downtown so we could head to this one jewelry store, and she basically told me to pick out whatever ring caught my eye, since she knows I'm totally obsessed with rings and nothing else... I found the perfect one, but when the jeweler told us it was going to be $333 I actually had to take it off and tell them I didn't want it, mostly because they were newlyweds and clearly needed their money more than I did, so it felt super wrong to let them spend that much on me...

But she ended up coming back later and bought it for me anyway, bringing it over right on the day of the ceremony, but man, believe me when I say I didn't touch that thing for weeks because the guilt was just eating me alive... she kept asking why I wasn't wearing it, but I just felt so bad about the whole thing... now, though, I wear it constantly, it's big, it's gorgeous... and it means everything to me...

Look, I didn't have my First Communion until I was 21, but I know for a fact that for teenagers, it’s all about the money, money, money... honestly, I feel like they should push these ceremonies back to when kids are 20 or 21 or something, just so they might actually have a different perspective on things... sometimes I really wonder if these kids even grasp what a First Communion is actually about or what the whole point is

Blah blah blah, "maturely embracing Christianity" and all that nonsense.
In the small town where I live [near Austin, Texas], people don't really care whether you've done your communion or not; they just want to judge you. It just goes to show how much of a jerk people can truly be.🧐

Anonymous said:You want my honest take?
My Confirmation is this Saturday, April 21st at 11 AM.
I’m really into CAD and 3D modeling, so having that cash would be awesome for picking up a massive amount of RAM, a new sound card, and a used piano. If you think I'm being selfish, well, newsflash: I'm not. I deserve every penny I get. I'm not expecting anything from anyone $1000 but honestly, if you throw a huge feast—think lobster, sea bass, truffle cheese, premium cured meats, and a mountain of sides and desserts, all homemade and cozy rather than some overpriced restaurant—why wouldn't you buy a gift? If you don't agree, go eat at some fancy farm-to-table bistro instead.$500 At least $400 per person. Honestly, I couldn't care less about Christianity or the church in general. I'm an atheist, and I'm using my Confirmation as a chance to stack up some cash and gold. Plus, I've had enough awkward run-ins with religious people...
She’s been talking trash about me to my friends constantly, so now they call me the "atheist psycho" because everyone else is deeply religious and isn't used to having someone in their circle who doesn't believe in God. Some people actually think I'm mentally unstable or suicidal, and she even told them to stay away from me. 😲 kuja!!!😠 That is such typical Christian behavior. She even tried to mess with my Confirmation plans, so I had to work through all her nonsense just to get her to stop screwing with me. Once this is over, she will NEVER see me in a church again!! I don't want that in my life, even if God were real and I had to face hell. Christians, feel free to quote me and tear me apart; it would be totally on-brand for you to just follow the majority opinion instead of thinking for yourselves.

macak, this rebellious, materialistic-nihilistic attitude—this "you couldn't afford me if you tried" life philosophy—is incredibly common for someone your age. You're just being honest about it and opening yourself up to criticism, while everyone else stays quiet and plays hypocrite. So, honestly? It's fine. 🙂

That said, I am a little concerned by how much pure rage you're venting here. Chill out, man. 👍

Mr. Marina, thank you for being so blunt. Your post isn't surprising to me; if anything, it just serves as proof of how far we've fallen.

I love saying, "Well, this is what our struggle earned us," just to poke a little fun at our version of democracy. From where I'm sitting, we’ve drifted right back into a one-party state—it's just wearing a different label now. Is this really what we call democracy?

Growing up in America, I went to Sunday school and church constantly, back when they were busy brainwashing us in public schools for it. I’ve received all the sacraments and I cherish our traditions, though I wouldn't call myself a blind follower of any single denomination. My faith in God is much broader than that, spanning across the various religions that have branched out through history. Still, I’ve embraced the traditions of the faith I was born into, and I hold them dear.

However, when my son was preparing for his First Communion, I was absolutely livid. If it were up to me, I would strip religious education from our schools immediately and at any cost. By forcing religion into our classrooms under the guise of it being "optional," we ended up with the exact product we see today. And now, the Church is actually debating whether to abolish the role of godparents entirely. It would be a tragedy if that happens; after all, the most beautiful part of the whole thing was the honor of being chosen as a godparent and knowing you'd be a meaningful part of someone's life forever.