A moment in life

As parents, you want to shout from the rooftop and tell others how proud you are to have expanded your family. One way of doing this is through a celebration such as a christening. For those who are religious the parents can select godparents to act as sponsors and educators for the child. But for those of you who are more spiritual or simply want to celebrate your new child, a naming day run by a celebrant can be the perfect alternative.

A naming day is truly special ceremony. In many cases this is more so for the parents and their close friends and family, who they would like to bring into their fold and acknowledge their importance to the family unit. They can be nominated as sponsors to assist with the child’s guidance and act as a strong support system to the family through their child’s life. Nowadays, with blended families and second or third marriages, babies are often bought into a family later in life, so a naming day often incorporates a few children of different ages to acknowledge not only their love but to create a stronger bond for the new family unit as well. How you create your ceremony is very personal. It can be in your back garden, on a beach, in your family home, at a vineyard or in a special place that means something to you and your family. Family and close friends are often involved. This can be from the parents plus one sponsor each, or it can incorporate siblings and grandparents too, and they can all have a role in the beautiful ceremony. A naming day ceremony itself can be as involved as you would like, from a simple nomination of the sponsors, to a full-blown ceremony with gift giving to those involved. You can plant a tree to watch grow as your children’s lives grow as well, and nurture it as you do your children. You can have a memory box or multiple ones for the various children involved in the ceremony. Special treasures of beautiful meaningful words can be placed within. From a letter for them to read upon opening when they graduate, to a special family heirloom piece of jewellery or a special keepsake. There can be poems said or words mentioned by those involved and nominated as special people who will help with guidance through their lives. They do say it takes a village to bring up a child. Well, this is your opportunity to create your own little village of close friends and family. Let them share in your joy and help with guidance and support along the journey of parenthood. By Petra Harmer-Shrowder, Civil Celebrant at PH Celebrants. www.phcelebrants.com.au

Have you or a family member recently had a baby? Have you just adopted a baby or young child? In the ever-changing world we live in, celebrating life’s little milestones, moments in life,is key to bringing a little joy into our homes and to our families.