Anderson Cooper On Why He Included Ex-Boyfriend To Help Raise His Son: ‘If More People Love My Son And Are In His Life, I’m All For That’

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A post shared by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on May 1, 2020 at 2:39pm PDT

Just two weeks ago, Anderson Cooper announced he welcomed a son into the world, Wyatt Morgan Cooper.

It has since been revealed that Anderson’s ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani, will help raise Wyatt.

Anderson recently opened up to Howard Stern in an interview about why he made the choice to become a co-parent with his ex.

It began when Howard asked Anderson why he doesn’t want a “clean break” from someone he dated for so long.

“I don’t really have a family, so my friends become my family,” Anderson explained. “And this is somebody that I was involved with for 10 years. He’s a great guy.”

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I want to share with you some joyful news. On Monday, I became a father. This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was. My son's middle name is Morgan. It's a family name on my mom's side. I know my mom and dad liked the name morgan because I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me. Wyatt Morgan Cooper. My son. He was 7.2 lbs at birth, and he is sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy. As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth. Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him. It is an extraordinary blessing – what she, and all surrogates give to families who cant have children. My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me. My family is blessed to have this family in our lives I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him. I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues.

A post shared by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Apr 30, 2020 at 6:51pm PDT

RELATED: Anderson Cooper Announces He Will Be Co-Parenting Baby Wyatt With Ex Benjamin Maisani

“We didn’t work out as a couple… but when I was a little kid, it was just my mom and my brother. But it was my mom and she was not the most parental person.”

Anderson recalled that he would often wish there was another parental figure in his life growing up to look after him.

“I wish some adult, after my dad died, had stepped in, and just been like, you know what? I’ll take you to a ball game, or let’s go out to lunch every now and then, and let’s just talk. No one ever did that.”

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I’ve slowly been going through boxes of photos and files. My mom kept every note, every letter she ever received. It is sad going through everything, but also brings back many amazing memories. Happy birthday mom, you will always be in my heart. @gloriavanderbilt @gloriavanderbiltstudio

A post shared by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Feb 20, 2020 at 4:10pm PST

RELATED: CNN’s Anderson Cooper Becomes a Father for the Very First Time: ‘I Never Thought It Would Be Possible to Have a Child’

“So I thought, if something happens to me or even if something doesn’t happen to me, if more people love my son and are in his life, I’m all for that,” he said. “My ex is a great guy and it’s good to have two parents, if you can.”

Howard then asked if Wyatt will call both his parents “dad,” and Anderson’s response was precious.

“My ex is French, his name is Benjamin, so he’s gonna speak in French to the kid. And he’s gonna be, I think, ‘papa.’ And I think I’ll be ‘dad’ or ‘daddy.'”

We’re not crying, YOU’RE crying!