These days families come in all different sizes and configurations. Surrogacy is an option growing in popularity. But one arrangement that remains rare is the single dad by design. Not that Louis DeFilippi cares much about labels. When the 64 year old decided he wanted children, he made it happen.
“I’ve always taken my own path,” says DeFilippi in an article in Today Moms. “I don’t follow the crowd. I don’t care what the crowd’s doing.”
Though still highly unconventional, single dad households are slowly on the rise. The other options open to DeFilippi were adopting, which he claims would have taken too long, or finding a much younger wife.
Needless to say, after his marriage dissolved he decided to carve his own path to fatherhood, which involved an egg donor and an unrelated surrogate. Seven years ago, his daughter Anna was born.
For DeFilippi, becoming a dad was the most natural thing in the world, despite the unorthodox means to an end.
“Having Anna is the best decision I ever made,” said DeFilippi, who likens himself to a busy soccer mom. “There is nothing more joyful than when I hear her say the word ‘Daddy.’ Nothing compares with that.”
Clearly his daughter cherishes him, but openly admits to missing having a mother in her life.
Fair play to DeFilippi for making his own family late in the game, or plainly unfair to his daughter?
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