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thread: Who would you leave your kids with?

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  1. #1

    Jul 2009
    Australia
    5,102

    Question Who would you leave your kids with?

    My PIL tonight asked us if in the event that both me and DP happen to be in an accident and we both died *knock on wood nothing happens* what would happen to our DD, who would get her?

    I've been thinking about it and i am not entirely sure. I have to think about what effect it will have on the person/s we leave her with, if they have the same values we have and will give her the life we want for her. I don't think either of my sisters are able to look after her, they don't have a stable living arrangement. There is either of his sisters but then they have their own children and i think one more would be like a burdon on them but of course i have no doubt that if we left her with them that they would be more than happy to do so. Then i thought of his best friend and his wife. They are both intelligent people, they have great values and morals. They both don't want children of their own but i know that if something was to happen they would be more than happy to take over from us. DP is thinking of one of his cousins in Melbourne, she has two young children and we are very close to her.

    I'd honestly like somebody who isn't in the family, but someone we class as family and who adore or DD as much as we do. That person is my oldest friend but i am not sure if she would have what it takes to take on a child full time, of course that would change if she got married and had her own children.

    Its something we all should think about, as you can't say it wont happen to you.

    So, who would you leave YOUR kid/s with??

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Sunny Qld
    14,682

    Currently my brother and his wife. I love and respect the way that they bring up their own 3 boys.

    However, when my sister remarries - I will put in my Will that either my brother OR my sister are to look after my children, whoever has the capacity to and also the desire

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    In Bankworld with Barbara
    14,222

    We haven't actually put it on paper, but it would be DH's parents for sure. My mum has quite poor health and just doesn't have the means to look after 4 children and DH's parent's do - they have a massive house and are able to provide for them. Plus their ideals align with ours and Mum is a lot more 'questionable' LOL.

    I have to say though, it was a bit rude for your IL's to ask you outright like that because it puts you on the spot to give an answer when it's something that needs a great deal of thought put into it.

  4. #4

    Jul 2009
    Australia
    5,102

    Yes it was very confronting question but one that we hadn't talked about or even thought about.

    We of course would be asking whoever we choose what they think about it. It is something that needs a lot of thought put into it.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Add *TripleJ* on Facebook

    Jan 2009
    Diggers Rest VIC
    2,945

    if it was like 2moro it would be my parents if its later on in the future it would be my sister no hesitations i would give them to the IL's only coz they dont parent the same as me and i wouldn't see that as right or fair for the kids IYKWIM but in saying that if anything happened to me i dont know that DH would do too well and they would probably end up with my parents anyway

    we would have been left with our uncle and his wife if anything ever happened to our parents

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Add CrazyLady on Facebook

    Aug 2009
    2,328

    My younger sister! She is such a loving and kind soul! She has her head screwed on and most likely can't have her own kids without massive medical intervention. I know she'd do it without batting an eyelid or hesitation

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jul 2010
    sydney
    2,187

    Ummm i really have no idea i would say my brother his 6 yrs younger than me and his gay so its very unlikely he will have children unless he adopts and i dont think he would, but me and dh would never agree on that i cant say honestly i trust or even have someone whom is similar to me to choose i know dh would say someone in his family but they all have 3-5 kids each already and still going..
    Also they dont treat my kids the best as it is and im alive imagine if i wasnt there to defend them..

    so if anything happened to us tomorrow i guess our kids would be caught up in a big s*** fight

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Add aussienic on Facebook

    Feb 2005
    Boyne Island
    6,327

    if it happened when our parents were young they would most likely reside with my mum full time in our house and as the inlaws are planning on travelling they would essentially see the kids when convenient for the kids.. Ie take them on holidays or come and stay with them.. Other wise they would most likely go to Dh's brother and his wife.. they have 1 child, financially secure. While I don't neccesarily agree with some of the things they do they have similar values to us and a little strict but also caring and since their DD has gotten older they are less strict. (they were super strict before ~ RAAF people) (RAAF + royal australian air force) but I think if it came down to it we would let the final decision lie with the kids. Esp our 3 oldest as I think they are old enough to decide to a certain degree..

    Nothing is on paper but has been discussed

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    1,794

    We don't have anything on paper, but it would be any of my 3 brothers (Whoever was in the best position to take them at the time). As long as the kids stay together. It was actually my DH's wish that my family take them, not his, if anything was to happen to us. When we do actually put it on paper, it will also state that the inlaws are allowed to see them when they choose, same as they do now.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Geelong
    3,438

    Our children would have to go to Italy with either MIL or one of my SIL's. Both my parents are deceased and I have no relatives. The only other family DH has here is his brother but SIL is alcoholic so no go there and he's aunts and uncles are older.

    Regards,
    Dianne

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Add Catherine on Facebook Follow Catherine On Twitter

    Jan 2011
    Canberra Region
    266

    This is a huge and horrible thing to think about - but so important!

    I agonised about this with my DH, we have yet to put it in our wills, which need to be updated now anyway. I think tomorrow is a good day to do this. Thank you.

    I would like my twin sister to be the guardian, she has similar values and her husband is lovely. She has three gorgeous girls of her own, the two younger are the same age as mine. Given my sister and I are identical, genetically she could claim my kids! (and vise versa). My biggest concern is financial. I would hope that our estate would be enough to provide security for them and make sure not to financially burdom my sister.

    Of all our family, I would not burden our parents. And our other siblings just done make the grade (as much as we love them!).

    Stay Safe everyone

  12. #12

    May 2008
    Melbourne, Vic
    8,631

    We think the ILs at this point. Their home is set up for our two already, they spend lots of time there and it would be comforting to them.

    But if it happens 5+ years on, we're not so sure - the ILs are getting on in years!

    My parents are not in a position, financially, physically or logistically to take them.

    My sister and BIL would love to but ATM are living with our parents so not possible.

    BIL on the other side is financially best placed but is not ready for the burden of kids.

    That leaves their Godparents - might actually be the best option!

    But we need to sort it out soon and put it in a Will!

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Add madamerogers on Facebook

    Jun 2008
    in gorgeous rural victoria<
    367

    In our will at the moment, it is my parents. Dh's parents would take financial care of our estate and my folks the kids. My parents are in their early 50's and dh's in their mid 60's so it was the logical choice for us.
    My sisters are to young and inexperienced and i just dont think the right ones, SIL has 2 kids and i wouldnt want to burden them with 2 more and the financial part also, although thats what the estate is for, BIL is in perth, us in melb so i think it is just too far from my family.
    Will re assess in a few years im sure
    tough decision, but you never know what is around the corner
    x all the best x

  14. #14
    BellyBelly Member
    Add Party-of-five on Facebook

    Sep 2008
    bunbury WA
    2,114

    I would like my mum to have them but the thing I hate to think about is DSs father wanting him and him being seperated from his sisters

  15. #15
    2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Mar 2008
    Vic
    4,806

    It's in our will that it would be my mum and stepdad. We knew that if something happened to us, they would take DD and she would be comfortable and secure there. We didn't want her to be uprooted again to move in with someone else. We are really close with my extended family on my dad's side, and we knew that mum would ensure that DD would still see all of them frequently. This was really important to us.

    I think it's really important to write it down. Your wishes are really really important and once it's written down in a legal fashion, it would be very difficult to dispute.

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Oct 2009
    In a castle with my princesses
    1,057

    I would like my mum to have them but the thing I hate to think about is DSs father wanting him and him being seperated from his sisters
    This would NEVER happen. He could not do it. He can not manage a week let alone a lifetime. I would kidnap DS before *he* gets him.

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    Newcastle, NSW
    4,219

    If it were to happen tomorrow, they would probably go to my Mum. Otherwise I would love for them to go to my brother & SIL.

    If it were to happen 10 or so years in the future, I think my older 2 children would look after the younger ones.

  18. #18
    BellyBelly Life Member - Love all your MCN friends
    Add Gigi on Facebook

    Jun 2004
    The Festival State
    3,008

    bilby has no godparents
    she has one grandma (in an aged care facility with adv. dementia)
    if i died tomorrow, she would go to her father
    if we both died tomorrow, i have no clue what would happen to her, prolly ward of the state i guess.
    too horrible to think about

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