Yes, it is "funny what we worry about " and with parenthood , everyone worries. For some of us it is stuff before birth(medical stuff, miscarriage, .etc.) For others, the challenges can come after a child is born, with prematurity, disabilities, etc. Life gets messy. And then we also sometimes move on to the messy stuff with elderly parents. I was glad to have a partner that was willing to deal with the messy stuff, together.
And I’ll add that I’ve never heard a father say that he regretted being there. In fact, I’ve never heard a father say anything BUT what the dads here have said – that it was a highlight of their lives. I feel sorry for a man who lets fear get the better of him, and misses that.