ABSTRACT
All the participants were asked what difference the preschool had made in their lives, and they responded quickly and enthusiastically. Their answers generally addressed the transition from isolation to affiliation, increased parenting skills, and improved relationships with family members and partners. One of the most dramatic changes involved the transition from isolation to affiliation. The followers spent the morning sorting bags for cards, writing cards for their children and counting cards to be sure that each child received an equal number. For caregivers in the uncommitted group, the first epiphany emerged during the focus group at the end of the year. In general, the followers appeared to operate at a different developmental stage. For example, before the Valentine party, the leaders were cooking in the kitchen, as usual. Members of the leadership group acknowledge the important role of men in their families.
