BTW, it helps if they have a little bit of parenting skill when setting that as a preference. If your villager doesn't get that skill from "kissing", then having the woman "tell stories" may help.

In my "stable" villages, I'll usually pick one male for the parenting job and let him continue that until he dies happy. Then I'll pick another (usually a young male who is a Master in Research) have him "kiss" a few elderly ladies until he is at least a Trainee Parent, and then let him embrace who ever he wants.