[jojocomok]

All,

My wife and I have recently had our first child, John. We were discussing a very tough topic today: what would happen to him and any of our future children in the un-timely event of our demise on this earth. I wanted to get some thoughts on this from others who may be in a similar situation.

All of our family members are non-orthodox. My parents are evangelical protestants and very against our becoming Orthodox. I have a hard time with having them around my son too much as he grows up as it is, because they always challenge our beliefs, so having them raise him is not an option. Her parents are former Roman Catholics, now Methodists. They are much more open to Orthodoxy but still are not Orthodox Christians.

For his sponsors we have chosen one young man who may possibly become a priest (and maybe also a monk). He is a very good man, but he is still single and has possible intentions of entering the monastery. This leaves his god-mother, who is a pious and devout woman who wasn't able to have children of her own. She is also my wife's godmother. The only problem with choosing her is that her husband, though a wonderful man, is not Orthodox and has no intention of ever becoming one because of issues with closed communion. They also live about 45 minutes away from any family, so it would be tough for either of our families to see them.

What would you do, or what have some of you done in similar circumstances, in regards to who should get custody of the children upon our deaths? (Which I hope and pray would not happen, God-willing).

[Sierabiera]

I do not have all the anwers, but first I would speak with an attorney to see what my legal options were.

[illiniastibly]

Have you talked about this with your priest? That is always a good place to start.