“Don’t hold her like that.” “I can’t believe you brought him dressed like that.” “You should know you don’t put a diaper on like that!” These are all statements that many a new father has heard, but these are not the kinds of statements men hear at Boot Camp for New Dads, a nationally acclaimed program that helps expectant fathers to hit the ground running when their baby arrives.
“We cover practical things dads need to know to help them confidently engage with their infant, support their mate and navigate this transition to fatherhood,” said Todd Agne, First Things First’s Fathering Coordinator. Taught by men, the class offers guys the opportunity to learn and to ask questions in a safe environment.”
One expectant Dad said, “I just don’t know anything.” Boot Camp is a protected environment where you can say anything and it won’t be held against you and no one will make fun of you.
During the class, dads learn about shaken baby syndrome and how to handle frustration appropriately from trainers and from veteran dads who return with their three to six-month-old to help the rookie dads learn the ropes.
“We actually take an egg, which represents an infant’s brain, and we put it in a plastic container, which represents the infant’s skull,” said Mr. Agne. “We shake it like someone might shake a baby when they are angry or frustrated. It is a very vivid example of what is going on inside their infant. It is eye-opening for most participants to see how quickly the egg shatters against the plastic.”
The Boot Camp experience also offers the opportunity to help create better fathers for families. Studies indicate that more than half of our nation’s children will spend at least some of their childhood without a father in the home. Research has proven that this is the root of some of our society’s worst social problems, including violence, teen pregnancy, domestic abuse and crime—not to mention perpetuating the cycle of future fatherlessness.
“Our goal is to engage men in a conversation about the importance of being an involved father before their child is born,” said Mr. Agne. “Since most fathers are present for the birth of their child, we know they want to be engaged, but sometimes don’t know how. We want to help them get connected and positively involved so they remain a strong and constructive force throughout the life of their child.”
“I love watching the guys come into class,” said Boot Camp trainer, Jason Luna. “You can tell they are wondering what their mother-in-law or wife got them into. They clearly have lots of questions, but by the end of class the guys walk away more confident. The class covers both the tactical things like how you change a diaper and what you should have in a diaper bag to the strategic things such as the important role of a father. I think men training other men is powerful!”
A veteran dad who brought his child to class shared as he was changing a diaper, that he and his wife had a written baby plan before their child arrived. They ended up throwing their plan into the trash can when their plan met reality.
“That really got the guys’ attention,” said Mr. Agne. “They were wide-eyed as this experienced father shared how his life has changed since the birth of his child.”
Boot Camp for New Dads is taught at various locations across the community including: Erlanger Women’s East, Parkridge East and Hutcheson Medical Center. For more information about Boot Camp classes visit firstthings.org.
Copyright ©2010 First Things First
