"Your nostrils are HUGE."

This is what my wife exclaimed to me as I coddled her head in my lap on the couch decades ago.  I replied by thanking her for pointing that out to me.  There was no doubt in my mind that she was correct, though I'd never had the opportunity to observe my honker from that particular angle thereby verifying her adjudication. 

I have a Hampton nose, genetically passed down from my mom's dad.  Let's just say that it's distinct enough that I said a number of prayers during my wife's three pregnancies relative to said offspring NOT inheriting it.

But, without it, I wouldn't have the singing ability I have.  You may not realize this, but if you're prone to sing, an awful lot of that quality can be accounted for due to your nasal passages working in tandem with your mouth / throat.  To prove this point to yourself (for those of you who are vocalists), simply try singing with your nose pinched.

Despite the fact that neither of my three daughters have their father's nose, they do have 50% of my genetic material (or something like that).  Hence, I know my responsibility to them to parent in light of that fact.

What does it mean to parent a child?

I think initially you must come to grips with the fact that this is your child.  Not a sibling.  Not a pet.  A child.  Therefore, this is, whether you like it or not, your legacy on this Earth carried forward.  Secondly, I believe you must own your role in their life as so much more than guardian (food, clothing, shelter), and thirdly, you have to put yourself in their shoes to the best of your ability.  Consider their needs by doing so, in particular, their need to be emotionally pursued.  Not badgered.  Not policed.  Pursued.

What exactly does that look like?

For those of you who shudder at the notion of pursuing another human being - except within a romantic relationship - consider the Silas role within the Samson Society paradigm as a starting point.  Learning to walk closely next to a friend takes work, especially from the standpoint of being vulnerable regarding your own point of view / past mistakes.  Too, there's no instruction manual when it comes to men's hearts.  You do the best you can, remaining faithful to the friendship along the way.

What's comforting though is similar to a parent / child relationship, there's a formal structure there that you're working inside of.  A structure which is bigger than just the two of you (typically).  And that structure is stable enough for both of you to relate and listen and debate and love.

I have carried forward so many hard-to-get-a-handle-on skills from Samson Society to my own life.  You can too.  All the more reason to invest in yourself by being involved and committed to this ministry.