Sir Elton John has told how he believes his son Zachary's childhood is going to be "very difficult" as he gets to grip with having two dads and the impact of his father's fame. The 65-year-old star and his civil partner David Furnish, 49, became parents on Christmas Day 2010 to a the little boy, who was born via a surrogate. But the singer said he was preparing himself for what would be a rough time growing up for his son, who is now 19 months.
He told the Radio Times that the toddler did not yet have an inkling of his father's fame. "I want music to be a huge part of his life. I sit him on my lap and he doesn't bang the piano," Sir Elton said. "He tries to copy me but he's not formed enough yet to know what I do, thank god. "When he finds out, he'll look at me as if I'm bonkers. Being the child of someone famous is a huge ball and chain around your ankles. It's going to be very difficult." The Rocket Man singer told the magazine: "At school other children will say, 'You don't have a mummy'. "We've come a long way, but there's still homophobia and will be until a new generation of parents don't instil it in their children."
He added of his son's upbringing: "It's natural for him. He calls me 'Daddy' and David 'Papa'." Sir Elton said that he introduced Zachary to Chopin, Mozart and Beethoven - as well as Nellie The Elephant - at a very young age, but that his son was more interested in football and cooking. "I won't push Zachary into anything. So far, he just loves kicking a ball and watching people cook," he said.