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Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
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The Lone Scout
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
Well, I'm glad to see that the NC Women's Hospital has invented fatherhood. Seriously, at the risk of sounding boring and old-fashioned, it's pretty simple, folks: Time for guys of a certain age to pack away their infantile running suits and baggy shorts and grow up, that's all. PS A lot of men continued to raise children in recent decades, even if it fell out of fashion with some (and even if it flies in the face of the "incompetent dad" image ubiquitous on the big and little screens). And they participated in Lamaze and other prenatal classes and appointments with their wives because it was their desire and duty, not because of some marketing/guilt push.
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The Lone Scout
07/06/09

@The Lone Scout: PPS The only value of pre-birth training is to get in the habit of asking questions of yourself and others over the long haul, because you'll never get all the answers on raising children in one class. Again, you have to hang out with other parents, support each other, make mistakes and learn from them as you go, and then hope that your best efforts (which might be riddled with errors and imperfection) will help your children prosper in the ways that they choose.
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deitybox
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
We're expecting in January, and I just told the husband about this post. His (joking) response: "......yeaah. Sounds like that involves talking about *feelings*."

They don't do this in his family. They never stop doing this in my family. Gonna be an interesting hybrid raising this kid.
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save jinger
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
You'll laugh, you'll cry, might even pray.

You'll clean up a lot of shit.

But the things that last forever...are your dear new kids.

Camp Imapapa, we hold you in esteem.

And when dads think about you, it makes them wanna scream!

(It's 'Let's work together as a team'. Now get it right or lose your wife!)

Now you will spend a lifetime as the greatest dads there are.

All because of Imapapa, down the hall from the ER.

Camp Imapapa, we hold you as the tops.

And when dads think about you, it makes you better pops!

Think Imapapa, speak Imapapa, live Imapapa! Yeah!
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ArgusRun
07/06/09

@save jinger: I'm saluting the Huggies.
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save jinger
07/06/09

@ArgusRun: Ha! Good one!
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BlondeGrlz
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
My local hospital offered a class like this. So does the Navy base, the baby store where I attend mom's group and the local Catholic church. I think the problem is getting fathers or fathers-to-be to attend. Most guys either a) don't care enough or b) have no earthly idea just how much work one little baby can be. "Baby bootcamp" is what every new parent enters as soon as they get sent home from the hospital.
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queenjulie
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
The Navy offers a "Boot Camp for Dads" for free on most bases. My husband went to it when I was pregnant with our first and said it was wonderful. They had fathers who had gone to it previously bring in their babies and all practiced changing the kids' diapers, holding them, etc. He said he wished every father-to-be could attend that kind of class, because doing it without the mothers in attendance made them feel confident that they could handle taking care of the baby themselves and develop a separate relationship with the kid, without needing their wives to look over their shoulders constantly.
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Trulymadlyme
07/06/09

@queenjulie: I do think that is valuable. Almost every single one of my guy friends who had a kid had issues with their spouse/girlfriend over nit picking over how they cared for the baby. The result was almost uniform: they backed the 'eff off and left the bulk of baby tasks to the frazzeled mom who in turn was pissed the boyfriend/husband wasn't doing more.
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Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
07/06/09

@queenjulie: The Navy? Color me pleasantly surprised! Love this idea and hope it gets popular.
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coccyx
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
Ummmm, this is a great idea but hardly unique. Many hospitals offer prenatal education for dads, often with this same dorky name designed to appeal to their masculino energies. I'm surprised they don't add an EXTREME in there.
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shorty63136
07/06/09

@coccyx: EXTREME FATHERING 101: How high is ok to toss the baby?

(Although I can't be too mad. My dad used to carry me around by the waist of my pants - like the doggies with the harnesses. I thought it was fun.)
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HistoricUpstart
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
I have been known to say that people should have to "pass a class" or "get a license" to raise a child, so I fully support this opportunity for new dads to get some freakin' EDUCATION!!! Kids don't come with a manual. There is absolutely no shame in taking some classes!
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mbprice
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
Come to Daddy Boot Camp! Get answers to questions like:

-How long until it's old enough to crawl to the fridge and get me a beer?

-Which end is up?

-How much will it poop? Do I have to clean up the poop?

-How much does it cost?

-What kind of trade-in value do you think I can get?

-What do you mean it's illegal to trade in a baby?

-Can I leave yet? The Man Show is on in 10 minutes.
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ozu
07/06/09

@mbprice: This is why I plan on adopting a 10 year old if/when I ever have kids. Pre-made for their beer fetching abilities.
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EdnasEdibles
07/06/09

@ozu: Just don't get a girl, you have to take them bra shopping and explain periods at the age of 10.
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Skellatrix
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
Yeah, I have no problem with this - but it's sad that it's needed, ya know?

Also, calling it "boot camp" is funny/weird because it sounds like their trying to "dude it up" and it reminds me of where Maury sends out-of-control teens.
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Skellatrix
07/06/09

@Skellatrix: grrr... *they're
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J.D.Regent
07/06/09

@Skellatrix: i don't know if it is sad... i sure as hell am gonna need a class if i become a parent. this shit doesn't come natural!
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Skellatrix
07/06/09

@J.D.Regent: @blueberrypancake: Okay maybe when you put it that way, yeah then it's not "sad!" I was just thinking more along the lines of guys being like "WTF is this?" at a baby and running away. Maybe because I'm cynical, I immediately thought of unplanned teen pregnancies and fathers abandoning their children and whatnot.
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blueberrypancake
07/06/09

@Skellatrix: Haha, I'm afraid my reaction to seeing a baby is "WTF is this?" and running away. Which is why I think the parenting classes are a good idea! But then again, maybe parenting just isn't for me...
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Skellatrix
07/06/09

@blueberrypancake: I confess I do have a similar reaction... maybe I'll need a parenting class too. I think calling it "boot camp" gives it the wrong connotation in my mind, whereas calling it a "class" would be more correct.

Right now, I'm utilizing the lessons I've learned in No Babies 101.
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Trulymadlyme
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
Good idea, but can we please, please, please stop calling every single intensive thing people do boot camp, world? Because there is a whole psychological aspect to boot camp (as in not being able to or rarely being able to contact family, friends) where a military member gets basically re-socialized. I don't know why I hate the use of this term, but a lot of my friends have raged about these fitness boot camps and resume boot camps and financial planning boot camps and now we have parenting boot camps.

Can we use a different word, plz?
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mbprice
07/06/09

@Trulymadlyme: Camp Yurra-noo-pop.
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Trulymadlyme
07/06/09

@mbprice: Camp Dadanowe.
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Skellatrix
07/06/09

@Trulymadlyme: Ohh I should have refreshed before posting my comment re "boot camp". Apologies.
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nawanda
07/06/09

@Trulymadlyme: Camp Wannabapapa
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mbprice
07/06/09

@nawanda: Ah I knew there was a winner in there somewhere :) You found it!
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Alys Brangwin can't stop the beat
07/06/09

@Trulymadlyme: Well the problem is we have so many war analogies in medicine! No one dies from cancer, they "lose their battle with" it. You have to "fight hard" against your own cells. Doctors are initiated in a way similar to the military, and they're called "grunts" sometimes as interns. Doctors describe themselves as being "on the front lines." The only thing more pervasive than these awful images is the use of sports analogies. It's enough for me to want to say to a doctor "Without referring to my body as a machine, or using sports or war, please explain my illness and how you plan to treat it. Another unacceptable phrase is "the plan of attack."
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Trulymadlyme
07/06/09

@Alys Brangwin knows who's bad: Oh, man. That is the worst. I actually got pissed off at so many people when my father had cancer and they kept referring to things as strength and fighting for it. It makes the patient feel like shit. Someone's body not reacting well to drugs or treatment has nothing to do with their strength or willingness to fight. It just didn't work.
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HarpMadness
07/06/09

@Trulymadlyme: So SO true. And people really start to believe that -- When my great aunt died of cancer, people (including my own grandmother) even hinted around that she must not have wanted to live. It's cancer, people. Having a good attitude helps in a lot of ways, but come on. People who are full of life and want nothing more than to go on living die from it. It just really hits a raw nerve with me and feels like blaming the person who was sick.
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deitybox
07/06/09

@Trulymadlyme: Ha. My grad school is calling my orientation "Theater Boot Camp." Doesn't seem right. Although the idea of a campy, musical theater boot camp seems downright awesome.
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JinxyMcDeath
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
Every kid on "16 and Pregnant" needs to go to that place. Man, almost every single "father" on that show is immature and idiotic before AND after the baby is born...while the mother, while immature herself, gets it together for the sake of her child. It's ridiculous and it pisses me off. I mean, babies shouldn't be having babies, but if you're going to do it - don't be half-assed.
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CurtCole
07/06/09

@JinxyMcDeath: Yeah, most of the dudes on that show have a serious cringe factor when it comes to parenting.
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EdnasEdibles
07/06/09

@JinxyMcDeath: Watched a marathon of this over the weekend. The father who bought a video game player instead of baby items and then bought a $21.40 engagement ring for the mother of his child would be my prime candidate for this.
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JinxyMcDeath
07/06/09

@EdnasEdibles: Slightly off topic, but why did Walmart feel the need to put the $20 rings in a glass encasement? I mean...why not just put them on the wall like they do at Claires? I didn't understand that part...

Also, I'm not a big jewelry person (the most expensive jewelry I own is a pair of $100 pearl earrings) and don't have some sort of Tiffany engagement ring in mind for myself one of these days...but $21.40 ain't gonna cut it.
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dripdrop
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
After watching all the episodes of MTV's "16 & Pregnant," I fully support this idea.
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Newsgirl
07/06/09

@dripdrop: That show is horrifying!
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Flackette Goes Retro
07/06/09

In reply to Boot Camp Helps Men Prepare To Be Fathers
Sounds like a good idea. A lot of pre-birth education and whatnot seems very focused on moms (understandable, as they are the ones who are pregnant). But I'm sure there are many new dads out there who would like a little support and info too.
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Diziet_Sma
01/06/09

In reply to Jerry O'Connell Has Two Left Feet
Holy shit - aren't those footprints super-big?! They look like they came from a couple of 6-year-olds, to me.
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AuntieBee
01/06/09

In reply to Jerry O'Connell Has Two Left Feet
I love pictures of proud new dads. They always look completely stunned and fully in love. It's adorable!
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