BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!

Subject: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Arnie
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 09:52 AM

Congrats to Paul and Heather on the birth of their baby girl. But would any of us really want to become a father of a new child at the age of 61?? It was great having three young kids to raise when I was in my 20's and 30's - I had endless energy to take them swimming, to the beach,to the playground, play football etc.etc. Now I'm in my early 50's I'm not as active as then and also would not want to be hanging round school to pick them up, attend parents meetings and all the rest of it. My pleasure now is visiting them and letting them make the tea for me and my wife - or even letting them buy me a round in the pub. Maybe my views will change if/when the grandchildren start arriving but at least you can give them back at the end of the day! So although I'm pleased for the great Beatle, I'm glad it's him and not me - but I hope I'll still be as capable as him at the age of 61!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 10:02 AM

hmmmm - didn't a mucatter announce the birth of a child at 61?

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Blackcatter
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 10:08 AM

Oh yeah, Paul will have a difficult time helping to raise a kid in his sixties. It's a shame he can't hire a nanny or something . . . Gee, if only he could make enough money to allow his wife to be a stay at home mom . . .

Well at least the kid won't grow up in poverty like 45% of the world's kids do. Maybe he can have the poor kids over for play dates every once in a while.

And by the way - Tony Randall became a father in his 70s - and that after most people assumed he was gay!

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:27 AM

It's just like being a grandparent but you don't get to hand it back at the nappy changing stage.

I was rather amused by the headline in my local shop - Macca has Baby - and I thought, gosh, medical science is going ahead in leaps and bounds these days.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:47 AM

I read that they invited 'Johny the Wad' over to do the job...

lol

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:55 AM

Well, I'm guessing that if you're Paul McCartney you do hand it back at the “nappy changing stage.” He probably just calls the nurse or governess or whatever when he feels the need to see the little tyke then hands it back and goes for a drive.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 12:03 PM

I seem to remember reading that he was a pretty good hands-on Dad when his first bunch were growing up. Now he can choose the leisure to enjoy this child in a way that might have been more difficult the first time around. I've read about lots of older fathers who get a whole new lease on life as they raise young children, whether children or grandchildren. Older women (50+) are also going through lots of effort to have babies or adopt these days, and no one asks if they're up to it (or they ask less often).

More power to them!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Ringer
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 12:27 PM

My father was 60 when I was born, and my sister is 3 years younger than me. Caused a lot of problems, particularly between him & her: he was basically a Victorian, she a child of the swinging sixties. Talk about a clash of cultures...

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 12:59 PM

Ringer, the same thing happened in my family, though my father and mother were a mere 48 and 43, respectively, when I was born. All through my rather sad childhood I swore I'd never do that to a child.

BUT when I finally met my mate and pondered parenthood, I reassessed -- and realized that it's not how old you are, it's how open you are to change. I am nothing like my parents. At 49, I am more flexible by far (at least mentally, though possibly not physically) than my mother was at 43.

Around the time I was born, my parents decided they were old. My husband and I have not done that; we never will. We had our first child at 65 and 44, respectively...old, you might say. But by conceiving him, we made a commitment to our son to retain a youthful outlook (it's too late to retain our youthful bodies!) at least until he leaves for college. Hey, it's not such a hardship, having to stay young!

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 01:17 PM

The Daily Mirror reported that they had had a boy called Joseph!

Good luck to them anyway and welcome little Beatrice (I think!) The family is a big as mine now:-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 01:53 PM

Apparently Paul is Dead! (again)

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 02:33 PM

Fathering a child at 61 is pretty unusual but fathering a child after you're dead - wow!

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 05:11 PM

Macca...I read it as Micca and was most confused

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 05:39 PM

Not to bitch about male-centredness or anything, but someone might mention that the best news is that Mrs. McCartney, who never thought she could have a child, did (by Caesarian). She must be thrilled.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 06:28 PM

Micca has baby? Well, I know he's a bit on the round side but honestly.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: Firecat
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 07:00 PM

Congratulations to Paul and Heather. And on't forget David Jason's kid was born when he was about 61!

Subject: RE: BS: Paul McCartney - a dad at 61!
From: LadyJean
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 12:52 AM

I was born when my mother was 38. She had a temper. So do I. But I have discovered that it mellows with age. Had I been born when mother was 18, I'm not sure I would have lived to grow up. On the other hand I find myself wishing she'd waited a little longer to start her family.
One of life's great conundrums. As you age, you lose strength and gain wisdom, at least most of us do.