Q. While speaking with other to-be fathers for your book, how prepared did the urban Indian man seem to you?
A. Well, this is a generation that likes to plan its life pretty meticulously. Most dads I spoke to knew when they’d be ready for fatherhood. Unlike the previous generation, most of them wanted to feel fairly settled in their lives professionally and financially. Hence, these dads were better informed about their to-do lists than dads were one generation ago.

Representative pic

Q. What are the most common things that men ignore while thinking that they are ready to tackle fatherhood?
A. Apart from fulfilling the family’s financial needs, a to-be dad also needs to make quality time for both the mother and the newborn. In fact, even during the pregnancy months, many men tend to focus on just the obvious tasks of taking his wife to the doctor or for the ultrasound tests. It makes a huge difference when the husband shows greater empathy and say prepares a meal or just spends more time with her. While Indian men can be very good at fulfilling responsibilities, they often tend to lag behind on the emotional front. The first few weeks of the newborn can be pretty chaotic for the family. Even here, it helps if the husband takes charge of certain baby chores instead of just passing instructions or delegating work.