Factors to Consider When Selecting a Guardian for Your Children — Relationship With Your Child

NB: This post is part of a series discussing factors you should consider when selecting a guardian for your minor children. You can read all these posts here.

Most of my closest friends are people I clicked with almost immediately. From the moment we met, we seemed to have a lot in common. Conversation is always easy. And regardless of how far away they live or how much time has passed between the time we last see or speak to each other, we always are able to pick up right where we left off.

I don’t have that connection with everyone I meet. There are some perfectly wonderful people whom I have known for a long time and really like, but with whom I don’t get along as well. Conversations with them seem a bit strained. I struggle to find topics to discuss with them and often run out of things to talk about within a few minutes.

We all have different personalities. Consequently, there are people with whom we get along better than others. That’s why it is important evaluate whether your prospective guardian has a good relationship with your children.

For each of your candidates for guardianship of your children, ask yourselves the following questions:

1. Are they able to communicate easily with your children?
2. Do your children trust them and enjoy spending time with them?
3. Would your children be able to confide in them and lean on them for support?
4. In short, do they click with your children?

The person you select as your children’s guardian should be someone who has or will be able to develop an chose emotional attachment with your children and with whom your children will feel comfortable. That is why in many cases, family members with whom your children already have a close relationship seem like the best choice.

Although you may think a prospective guardian is the perfect person to raise your child, your children’s opinion of him or her also matter. If your children do not have or show the same feelings towards that person, selecting him or her may contribute to more stress and despair in the event of a tragedy.