It's this business of desiring, if you want to know the goddamn truth...
I have a theory. Now, I know what you're going to say. Yes, yes, I know. But please kindly hold all protestations and gentle reminders until after the performance. I beg you to please save all citations of previous, less-than-perfect theories (particularly the one about using pizza topping preferences as an barometer for human nature...which I still maintain is true, if you examine the data), until I have presented my latest creation.

I propose that no human being is completely whole, completely at home in their own skin, until they can truly entertain a child for one hour. And this will be my newest standard for all kind folks I allow to wander next to me closely. One child. One hour. Oh, it sounds easy, does it? But I mean truly entertain. As in, amuse fully, without having to be directed, prompted, poked, or prodded by said child. You see, in order to play with a child for an hour (and by play, I mean really play. not video games. not television. make believe), you have to be capable of letting yourself go entirely and disregarding any shred of pretense or ego you may have. To engage a child, you must more or less be prepared to be utterly foolish. To place yourself in the mind of child and act as a child would, no matter how blindly absurd, undignified, or unrestrained. And that means talking to a child. Not reasoning with a child, or talking down to a child, or displaying explicit tones apeasement to a child.

If you can play with a child, then I think you're probably alright.