Men who are childless by circumstance can have similar feelings. I know I do. I know things can change for men my age in a way that they can't for women of my age, but the likelihood still feels quite remote. I'm in my sixties now. I wanted very much to be a father but I never felt myself financially secure enough. Then I was married to a chef unable to have children and was her second in her business till she passed almost eleven years ago. I'm happily married now to a woman older than I, but this matter is still an ache with me too. And, being a man, I haven't had the chance to do all the lovely little things you were able to do. Too many people label such a man 'creepy'. I admit, probably not something I could have withstood.

Thanks very much for writing this post, and remember some men also have such feelings.