The 12 rookies get to ask questions and talk about their fears and expectations. Two generations ago, fathers rarely set foot in the delivery room. But these heightened expectations bring with them a lot of pressure and leave many dads feeling unprepared. It has since become the largest workshop for expectant fathers in the country, with 100 programs in cities from coast to coast, and some 26,000 graduates to date. The camps are clearly filling a need.
Moms get into parenting with a long tradition and lots of role models.
And they've already had a nine-month relationship with the baby. We try to help men catch up a little, to give them the reassurance and skills they need to start on the right foot. Such statistics helped motivate Bishop to start the camps. If the early experience is good and the father feels empowered, the connection is likely to grow. If the new dad feels left out, a negative pattern may be set that the family follows for years to come.