A man said he has no regrets about becoming a father at the age of 62, even though he is mistaken for his son’s grandfather.
Phillip Smith, who lives in Jacksonville, Florida, was worried when he discovered his wife Hasina, 41, was expecting a child in May 2022.
The couple had been trying to get pregnant for five years, but had given up hope after a miscarriage when they were five months pregnant.
Relatives told Phillip – who has three adult sons aged 38, 37 and 36 – to “get ready to retire”, the 62-year-old claimed.
And he was told people would mistake him for his son’s grandfather when he picked him up from school, he said.
Phillip Smith has no regrets about becoming a father at 62 (pictured with wife Hasina, 42, and their newborn son in 2022)
But despite this – and their 20-year age difference – Phillip and Hasina couldn’t be happier as parents to son Prince Phillip, born on November 16, 2022.
Phillip, a contractor from Florida, explained, “People say I’m old to have a baby.”
‘People ask, “Is this your grandson?”
‘I say, “No, it’s my son.”
‘People are shocked. I don’t shy away from it at all.
‘I do not regret it.
“I want to give him as much of me as possible.”
Hasina, a hairdresser, said: “My husband is literally in love with our son.
‘People thought, why would he start over – and said, ‘Shouldn’t you be preparing to retire?’
‘Now Prince is here, we are very happy with it.’
Hasina and Phillip met after he approached her on Facebook and hit it off and started dating in April 2016.
Hasina said, “I used to work in a hair salon. He often came to talk to the hairdressers around football season.
The couple had been trying to get pregnant for five years, but had given up hope after a miscarriage when they were five months pregnant
Relatives told Phillip – who has three adult sons aged 38, 37 and 36 – to “get ready to retire”.
Despite their twenty-year age difference, Phillip and Hasina couldn’t be happier as parents to son Prince Phillip
‘I remembered his name and face.
“Ten years later he got in touch.”
Although Hasina did not expect to fall in love with someone twenty years older than her, the age difference never bothered her and her family.
She explained, “I felt like I wanted to be with someone who was mature and someone who was older.
“I didn’t think it would last 20 years.”
The couple began their efforts to have a baby in 2016 and married on May 19, 2018.
They struggled to conceive and lost a daughter at five months in January 2021.
But in May 2022, Hasina was surprised to discover that she was three months pregnant.
She said: “We ended up getting pregnant with Prince. We were both surprised.
‘I was in shock.
‘I thought I was entering early menopause.
“I definitely wanted to have another child.”
Phillip added: “I didn’t want to have a child and not be there for it.
‘I was still insecure when Hasina was pregnant.
‘I wasn’t sure about my future and how I would support them financially.’
Prince was born on November 16, 2022 and weighed 5lbs 4oz
Hasina was surprised to find out she was three months pregnant, but she said she ‘definitely still wanted to have a baby’
‘The timing is perfect. He came when he was needed,” she continued
Hasina had to undergo surgery at 18 weeks of pregnancy to suture her cervix when it started to open – and was put on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy.
She said: ‘My body isn’t the same when I have a baby in my 40s.’
Hasina also struggled with hyperemesis gravidarum – extreme morning sickness – but was able to retain Prince within 34 weeks.
She was rushed to UF Health Shands Hospital, Florida, when her waters broke at 33 weeks and was induced a week later. Her son was born weighing 5lbs 4oz.
Hasina stated, “His eyes were open.
‘He’s very observant.
‘We were all crying.
‘It’s a dream come true.’
The 62-year-old contractor added: ‘It was very exciting for me (the birth).
‘I was a nervous wreck.
‘I held him for the first time and thought, ‘I have a son.’
“He has so many of my characteristics.”
Now 11 months old, Prince is a “sweetheart” and very loved by his parents – and Hasina said Phillip is very hands-on with him
The couple has discussed Phillip not being around for Prince’s entire life, but say this is not a problem
Now 11 months old, Prince is a “sweetheart” and very loved by his parents – and Hasina said Phillip is very involved with him.
Hasina said: “He is amazing. He’s a royal baby. Everyone loves him.
‘He acts like a prince.
‘I’m very grateful to have him now.
“I feel like when you’re 20, mentally you’re still a kid.
‘I had my whole twenties and thirties to have fun.
“I can still do things, but do them with my son.”
Phillip says being a father feels “different” this time.
He explained, “Now, at my age, I know how important time is and how important it is to give more of yourself.
‘It used to be all work, work, work. Now it’s a bit of work, a lot of support.
‘I can give the best I have left of myself, give him everything of me.
“One day I will be gone, and I hope he will know his father and what he stood for.”
The couple has discussed that Phillip will not be around for Prince’s entire life.
Hasina said, “I don’t think it’s a problem for me.
“The time he has with him, we will make sure our son is a great person.
‘We are older parents, he will gain a lot of wisdom.
‘He can become a leader, not a follower.
‘The timing is perfect. He came when he was needed.”