I can remember a neighbor, whose pre-school kids had just "investigated" the pantry, spilling flour, rice, and other things all over the floor in the process.
"Barbarian, do you know why kids are cute?"
"Hmm.. Why?"
"So you won't kill them."
A bit of hyperbole, but he was onto something. Parents who didn't fall in love with their children wouldn't take as good care of them.