Is 78 too old to become a father?

i agree

For sure. I have nothing against anyone finding personal happiness- whatever their age. I equally couldn't care that his partner is a third of his age. If they get on well and are happy that is their business. BUT...and it is a big but...kids have no choice to be born and it is just irresponsible. Difficult area though because you could start thinking about other situations where people have children KNOWING that one is unlikely to survive very long - like the terminally ill.

Yes I agree with what you say. It is really irresponsible to make a choice to have a baby when you know you can't have a good run at bringing it up. I think the story is being panned with the 'impossible love has no barriers' angle - and sadly babies are often seen as the ultinate product of such a relationship. In my mind that is sad and selfish. Babies are not toys - they have rights too. On the other hand how many people are parenting in strange circumstances? It is odd to me that there are no (or few) barriers to having children - no qualifications, no interviews - so little control.

Well, since babies are made in the bedroom between two people, it seems kind of ridiculous that there would need to be qualifications or interviews. I mean, I understand that certain people shouldn't be having children and things like that, but the first time the government makes a law that says I can't have children unless I qualify and go through an interview, it's time for me to find a new country. To be honest, I just found out I was pregnant. We had been trying, but then stopped trying and the month we stopped trying we "accidentally" got pregnant. We're thrilled, but I can't imagine the process if we would have had to qualify or something like that. We probably wouldn't have passed, to be perfectly honest, with that situation we're currently in. We're not bad off financially, we're just not exceptionally well off and we're pretty young still. But I understand what you're saying, that people should be more careful and think more before they have babies and I completely agree with that.

Good point. I will have to go back and re-read the article, but I don't think he is especially wealthy. What creeps me out is that they first met when the old guy HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GIRLS MOTHER!!! Ummmm, so when he passes will her Mum be around and willing to raise a child made with her ex lover and her daughter. And exactly how old was she (the new mother) when this relationship with his mother in law (at present) was going on? Ummmmm.