Compass: Oct 9

Compass begins a 4 part special from Sunday as Jane Caro delves into the world of parenting, specifically the bond between fathers and daughters, mothers and sons.

Parent and child – for many of us it’s one of the longest and most significant relationships we’ll ever have – and we don’t even get to choose! Jane Caro, mother of two daughters and grandmother to recent arrival Alfie, has often wondered what it would be like to parent a boy.

In this special four part series, five brave families agreed to let Jane into their lives and homes to reveal the innermost workings of their relationship.

We meet two fathers and daughters: Warwick (88) and Melanie (59) who had a fraught relationship over the years but have now come to a place where Melanie can see her father as a vulnerable human being instead of a scary authoritarian; for Jason (46) and Patty (18), disability in the family means that Jason has been a very hands on dad.The three mothers and sons are Helen (65) and Brett (34) who spent years guarding their respective secrets until a cathartic night of confession; Denise (64) & Alex (31) who learn surprising things about each other along the way and Val (49) & James (29) whose relationship was tested and cemented by grief.

6:30pm Sunday on ABC.