Day's Doubles

Dad news today is all about doubling: beds, dates, twins and even beds.

First, Britain's Fatherhood Institute issued a report encouraging hospital policy changes to allow couples giving birth to book a double so the new dad can overnight in the hospital bonding with and learning about his new child.

Next, up is the just published Assisted Loving: True Tales of Double Dating with My Dad. What did the gay author, Bob Morris, learn about hanging with his widowed Pa? His dad shared wisdom many dads teach their kids — although not always in such circumstances — that good is usually better than perfect.

Then comes news of the 59-year-old new dad, whose 56-year-old wife has given birth to twins after their combined 35 years of marriage (together, even). Obviously, life has gotten harder, but Qassem Sukkarieh says nothing could be hard enough: "When I get into the house, tired or even exhausted, and hear one of the babies crying, I forget all my fatigue and smile .... I have waited for these moments for years."

And, finally, there is word of a son who may be following his dad into space. Krosh was in a 1992 Soviet space ship and now one of his sons have joined with 39 others being considered for a possible Mars landing. Oh, did I mention father and son are macaques?

** Gentlemen, you have two of them. Use them! **