Of course I said yes.
And so now I begin the research on what being a godmother means, and what my responsibilities to both you and your parents are. Truth is, I'm a little overwhelmed by the idea; deeply touched by your parents' faith in me, and determined to be the best damned godmother the world has ever seen.
So a few things I need to let you know.
Your parents and I are only human. There may be a desire to idolise your parents and in so doing, forgetting that human beings have flaws (though admittedly, I'm struggling to come up with examples for your parents). I am more flawed than most, but please know that I am always trying my best. Though I'm not perfect, you can rely on me. I promise.
Please, please, please don't emulate my language. I use enough blue words to hurt the ears of the crankiest sailors. I swear an awful lot. Too much, really. That said, there are times when swear words are useful and necessary, so don't feel too bad if one escapes your mouth every so often.
Part of being a godmother is being there for you whenever you need it. If you have something you need to talk about, and don't feel like you can approach your parents, know that I will always be there. Just pick up the phone and call, or come to my house for some tea and biscuits and we'll talk. Nothing is taboo. You can ask me anything. I promise I will always be honest with you.
And now, a few words of advice.
Be kind. It seems so simple when written, but sometimes it can be really difficult. There are all kinds of unseen pressures that push people into cruelty. Don't be one of those people. Kindness sometimes take courage.
Be courageous. This doesn't mean getting into scraps in the schoolyard. Courage is often quiet. Sometimes, courage is getting out of bed and facing the day. Sometimes courage is reaching out a helping hand to someone everyone else has been stepping on, pushing them into the mud. Sometimes courage is turning away from what is popular to do what is right. Often courage, true courage, is uncelebrated. There will likely be no accolades for your courageous acts of kindness. But you will, in a surprisingly profound way, be making this world a better place.
Life can get pretty rough sometimes. It's an unfortunate side effect of living. Surround yourself with supportive, kind people and life will be easier. I have been without a tribe of kind people before, and it was the most difficult, darkest time in my life. So find other people who are kind and are courageous and make them your tribe. And if they ever become insufficient for dealing with the vagaries of life, pick up the phone, or come over for some tea and biscuits.
Lastly, know that you are loved, and you are worthy, and that no matter what happens, you have people who are ready and willing to help you back onto your feet and chase your dreams. I promise.
With all my love,
Your Godmother.