Purchase several items from your local discount dollar store or supercenter. Gather stereotypical items to represent milestones of a child’s life including a baby rattle, a pair of baby shoes, a diploma and car keys. Package each of the items separately in a small gift bag. Purchase an extra bag and a note card for the final reveal.

Write reasons for the use of each item on separate cards and affix them to the outsides of the gift bags. Note how the rattle is “for keeping him quiet,” the shoes are “for you catching his first steps and us missing them" and the car keys are “for his driver’s license that you will help him get because we’ll be too terrified to do it ourselves." Add as many milestones as you want, customizing them to your own common family traditions or baby’s special moments.

Invite the potential godparents over for a meal. Enjoy the evening as usual, entertaining them. Wait until the end of the meal to present them with the bags. Set out each bag, from baby rattle to driver's license, in chronological order of anticipated event. Ask the potential godparents to read the note on the first bag, and then pull out the item inside. Continue with reading and taking out items, in order.

Take photos of their confused faces and don’t say anything to lead them on to what you’re doing. Give them the last bag, which reads, “No matter what happens, we’d rather you do it.” The note from you inside the bag reads, “With all the responsibilities we’ll have raising this little one, we’ll need some help. Will you be the godparents?”

Ask them again to make clear that you want them as godparents to your child. Enjoy the rest of the evening chatting and making plans.