I always took the view that having kids was new mates to act the fool / talk cr@p with.
Pretty much worked out that way with my two daughters (now 12 and 9). Obviously there is the responsibility angle and making sure they grow up with the right (to me and Mrs Gilo) values, and hopefully end up responsible members of society.
But so far it’s worked out as I hoped – two smaller sized mates to shoot the breeze with, teach how to play air guitar to AC/DC, explain about the origin of grunge, the merits Of Doc Martin boots versus cheap copies, teach how to ride bikes, go camping with, let them witness me wasted to hopefully put them off booze for a good few years, just….. be mates and enjoy each other’s company.
That said, we are on the cusp of the teenage years, I may tell a different tales in a few years time….