Asking The Question

Now that you've chosen a guardian for your children, raising the issue doesn't have to be difficult.

• First: Be prepared for the person you have chosen not to accept. Remember, this is a significant responsibility.
  

• One way to approach the chosen guardian would be:
  "I've been working on my will and one of the things I've been thinking about is a guardian for the children. I would be very honoured if you would consider accepting this responsibility. We don't have to talk about it in detail right now - maybe you'd like to think about it for awhile and get back to me, and then we could have a more in-depth discussion."
  

• The follow-up meeting will depend on the outcome of the first meeting. Some people will agree with the described approach; others will want to have all the information before thinking about it. Either way, at some point you will need to discuss the values you believe are essential in raising a child.
  

• Review your Choosing a Guardian worksheet together.