You’re never too old to learn what being a dad is really all about
RONNIE WOOD has become a dad once more at the grand old age of 69.
He proudly showed off his twin baby daughters Gracie Jane and Alice Rose to the world last week and admitted he’s taking his share of feeding, burping, changing nappies and pacing the floor after the midnight feed.
It’s lovely he’s enjoying the moment – but it did make me wonder what his older sons and daughter make of the old rocker’s hands-on involvement in the lives of his new babies?
Was he around so much when Jesse, Tyrone and Leah Wood were tiny or was he touring with the Stones and burning the midnight oil in hell-raising after-show parties?
I think we know the answer to that one.
Ronnie as a young man loved the booze and binge fest which was part of the ’60s scene and it was left to his first wife Krissy to look after their son Jesse’s needs and then his second wife Jo to feed, bathe and burp their babies Tyrone and Leah.
But yes, even old rock stars can change the habits of a lifetime.
And perhaps the new Mrs Wood – his 38-year-old wife Sally – insists he plays his part in sharing the nighttime routine.
The truth is that it often takes a man longer to learn what being a father is all about.
Many new dads are nervous with a tiny, fragile baby.
Perhaps it’s the first time they have ever held such a little bundle.
They do it gingerly, fearfully and often feel anxious that they will do something wrong.
I know my husband, at 21 years of age, was tentative when our first son Gavin screamed with
colic after every feed. Though he’d try pacing the floor and rubbing the baby’s back it wasn’t long before he’d hand him over like an unwanted parcel for me to deal with.
Four children later he didn’t worry so much.
It might have been experience or just growing older that taught him to rely on his instincts.
Some babies eat, sleep, poo and perform perfectly as laid down in the best child-care guidebooks.
Others just don’t. And new dads find this worrying.
But by the time a man has helped raise one child he knows for sure there are no simple answers, rules or fixed formulas when it comes to babies, toddlers or even teenagers.
You just learn as you go. And you keep on learning, no matter what age or stage they’re at.
This, I think, is the most liberating freedom which helps a man begin to enjoy being a father.
So third time round, Ronnie at 69 is discovering what it means to be around for the routine stuff of bringing up a baby and, probably, he’s surprised to find it’s fun.
Which proves we are never too old to learn what matters.