All of my life, I have never wanted to be a parent. Children were never exactly my favorite people. I am not saying that I hate children - just that I never necessarily got all "warm and fuzzy" inside when a child was in my presence. So when Dan and Kandice told me that they wanted to make me the Godfather of their son Cole last year - I questioned their decision - not because I don't love them and their son - but because I did not think I would be able to be a good parent if God forbid something happened to Dan and Kandice.

But after being here at Dan and Kandice's this weekend and after being around my Godson as well as Kandice's other two children Mason and Alexis - I have come to discover that something very strange is happening to me. Something is happening to me that I never thought I would experience - but I think will change my entire outlook and prospective on life - parenthood.

Even at Cole's baptism, I did not treat Cole the way a Godfather or "surrogate parent" should have. Sure I picked him up, but I did not feed him. Yes, I hugged him, but I did not change his diaper - definitely not. And sure I did miss him when I left - but not the way a parent - or Godparent should or would. I guess I just never got a "parental chip' installed in my hard drive. But this weekend, I spent time with three children - and turned into a parent right before everyone's eyes - as well as my own.

As soon as I landed and found Kandice and Mason - Mason ran to me and jumped in my arms as if I was his father - and instead of freaking out because a child I never met was running to me like I was his family - I hugged him as hard as he hugged me - because he is my family. And that began a transformation from "child tolerator" to full-blown parent - and it was something no one was ready for - especially myself.

From that very first moment at the airport, and in the three days that followed, both myself and everyone else watched me literally turn into a parent right before their eyes. In the last thirty-one years, I have been able to skate by any parental responsibilities that would have come my way as an uncle, a cousin - or a friend to the father or mother of a baby. But in the last seventy-two hours - I have gotten a thirteen-year-old to clean her room, bargained with a eight-year-old to "clean his plate" - and yes, changed a sixteen-month-old's diaper. While this may seem normal to most - it is unheard of to me. But for some reason - it came naturally this weekend. I actually remember catching myself and jokingly ridiculing myself for doing things that a parent would do. I recall using phrases like, "Don't put that in your mouth." "I want to see that whole taco gone young man." and "Don't drink out of the bottle." Normally, I would steer clear of, ignore - or even outright walk away from any kind of behavior from children. But this weekend, I made it a point to be a parent to those kids.

It was Sunday morning and I was up making coffee when Cole started crying in his crib. Without any hesitation, second thought - or idea what I was doing - I went into his room, picked him up, fixed him a bottle while he was still in my hands, and yes - changed his diaper. If I had a time machine available to me a few years ago and I went into the future and saw myself this weekend - I think I would have gone into cardiac arrest - but I guess times have changed for me more than I thought.

Ironically, Kandice made a pretty serious announcement on Saturday night. She informed me and everyone else that she recently changed her will to say that if God forbid something were to happen to her - that all three of her children would belong to me. As I heard those words, I could not believe it. And even more amazing was when she looked at me and said that her three children have more of a trust in me than anyone else - and seeing Alexis affirmatively shaking her head behind Kandice.

I may have questioned Dan and Kandice's decision when they made me the Godfather of Cole - but I actually think that should I God forbid need to become the guardian of Alexis, Mason and Cole - that I would be ready for the task. I think my parental chip has finally come on line. I feel that if I did have a child, or become the guardian of one - that I would know what to do and know how to raise them. I am not saying that I want to be a dad tomorrow - just that my scheduled parental timeframe of "when Hell freezes over" has been reduced to "someday."