[WillowTheWhisp]

The difference there is that the mother is usually young and conceives naturally. Nature is such that a man is able to father a child in his later years. In this woman's case perhaps if there was a younger husband around it might not seem so bad. (I'm not getting into the ins and outs of age differences in marriage.) But she hasn't got any husband or indeed any other family as far as we are told. The younger mothers in your illustration Tealeaf will be able to look after their children. This woman is on her own.

Age isn't necessarily the only thing which can prevent a father from playing football with his son or daughter. What about a disabled parent? Should they be discouraged from having children?

Not all old fogies settle for the carpet slipper and pipe either. Some are very active. I know one who seems to have more energy for playing with young children than the average Dad after a hard days work.