well, it's been an iteresting read - for which many thanks.
My view is that circumstances alter cases. Stuart is a particularly youthful 60 - think James Dean, but getting on a bit, and a lot taller. He's spent his entire life just living for himself, living an Epicurean existence (although I'm sure he's done stuff that Epicurus never dreamt of), living on a houseboat, swanning off to odd corners of the globe, dashing off some art work to pay the bills from time to time, and it was no real surprise that he eventually 'settled down' with a woman who is considerably younger than he is. On the other hand...he shouldn't have been surprised when she got pregnant - but, apparently, he was. He's even more surprised by the discipline that having a baby around is imposing on his life. So.........we are all pretty amused. Actually we're cackling (inwardly) like loons, watching him check that she's not crawled up the stairs for the hundredth time.
He's actually a bit grumpy, and that's not like Stuart. But, hey, we've all done the maths and, like it or not, he knows that this is his life. As in the rest of it.
By chance I went round to see another Stuart, one from these very boards, last night. Come nine o'clock, daughter knocks on the door and asks for a lift - something that's a very regular event in our house. I reckon the first Stuart is going to have to come to some other arrangement with his new firstborn.
I think this new addition to the family will have a wonderful, wonderful childhood. Her parents are financially secure, and (staircrawling notwithstanding) pretty relaxed about life. But the kid is on a timetable. She's going to have to grow up and take stock of her own life in a bit of a hurry. My thought, though, is that having a dad who'd getting on a bit, who's seen a lot of life, might better equip her to do this.