"I knew that I had something really important because just looking around the room, seeing dads laugh, helping each other," Fatherhood Coach Mark Punzal reflected.
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A sold-out session for the man who is curating local events with the goal of building community. As students head back to school, solidifying a support group is something clinical psychologist Dr. Andrea Zorbas can get behind.
"Community is everything. That's how we get our support, that's how we feel like we can get through it. We also get tips from everybody else. We feel a little bit more calm when we feel somebody else is going through the same thing," Dr. Zorbas said. "And then they give us ideas of how they deal with it."
For Punzal, it's all about creating a resource he didn't have himself and doing away with any stereotype driven by what some would consider traditional gender roles.
"At least for me, I didn't grow up with my dad interacting with other dads - so that was a world model for me," Punzal said. "I think also, in general, men aren't encouraged to come together and talk about fatherhood."
And those conversations are soon to include experts in other industries.
"I'm working with an estate lawyer to create a workshop around 'what happens if something happens to me,'" he said. "Also, with a physical therapist. To stay active."
He continued, "Kids take our lead, and if they feel us being confident and calm, I think they can walk into the world being confident and calm as well."
For the month of August, Punzal is offering ten ABC7 dad-viewers a one-on-one coaching session. You can visit markpunzalcoaching.com for more.