Take That’s Howard Donald is the guest on this week’s episode of Dave Berry’s Dadpod, where he talks about the struggles of fatherhood, admitting he’s “really struggled in the 50s being a father” and carries a lot of guilt.
Howard tells Dave that his 15 year old daughter Lola has moved to England so has moved in with him and his family. It all happened very quickly and because he’s never brought her up under the same roof, he’s having to learn again.
“So, all of a sudden, she comes here at 15, which is the worst age ever, apparently, so I’m told,” Howard says. “So that’s another thing that throws something else into the works as well as a four-year-old and three-year-old.
“But the amazing thing is, she wanted to come over here and be in England because she wanted to start again, year ten and do her GCSE’s here, but she really wanted to be with her family.”
Howard is now 52 and says he’s really struggled in his 50s being a father, finding it physically and mentally draining.
Offering advice to fathers who maybe already have children that may be in their teenage years, he says: “Don’t do it. In (your) 50’s don’t do it. That’s my personal experience.
“I’m sure there’s people out there in their 50’s that have found it a doddle, maybe they’ve got, you know, babysitters and nannies and stuff like that, maybe not, maybe they’re really struggling as well, but, I’ve really struggled with it and I would never advise anyone in their 50’s to have young children.”
As a father, Howard admits to feeling guilt for leaving his ex-partners and leaving his child for them to look after. He says there are a lot of people suffering behind closed doors over struggling bringing up children and that’s what he’s done a little bit.
Despite any struggles, he says that his children come before Take That, always. “My kids are always on my mind before Take That are on my mind.
“It’s so important to be like that and not lose track about, you know, who you actually are, which is a dad and trying to be a good dad.”
You can hear the full interview in Dave Berry’s Dadpod which available to download now from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the Absolute Radio app, absoluteradio.co.uk, and all mainstream podcast providers.
