New Dad Feeling Isolated After Welcoming Baby Reaches Out for Support — and 20 Fathers Show Up (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Brooklyn Stroll Club in McCarren Park.Photo:Casper Yen | @casperyen

Casper Yen | @casperyen

Any first-time parent will admit that adjusting to life with a newborn is difficult. Not only are you now responsible for another human being, but plenty of parents have admitted that transitioning into parenthood can be an isolating experience.

For new dadJoe Gonzales, he found that he wasn’t the only new dad feeling alone when he started sharing his experience on TikTok.

Joe Gonzales with his newborn.Casper Yen | @casperyen

Gonzales shared the result of his meet-up for dads, which he’s dubbed theBrooklyn Stroll Club, on TikTok, where it garneredmore than 600,000 viewsand 160,000 likes. He says he had “almost 20 first-time dads from all over New York” come for the group’s first meet-up in McCarren Park.

“We hung out and shared stories on what it’s been like [being parents],” Gonzales shares. “It was super simple but left me feeling grateful for the power of dads and social media.”

He’s only been a father for about five months now, and Gonzales credits his own dad and his friend Aaron in preparing himself for fatherhood.

“My friend Aaron is the most intentional person I know,” he says. “I see it with his family but also with himself and others. He has inspired me to be a loving present father to my son but also be intentional to the people around me. Having a son has [shown] me that I’m a constant example for him, and Aaron has been a great example for me.”

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Joe Gonzales and other dads in McCarren Park.Casper Yen | @casperyen

Though he and his partner have called New York City their home for the past five years, they made the move to Brooklyn when they found out they were having their first child together about a year ago.

“As a single mom, this heals my heart. All babies deserve and amazing father. The new generation is breaking cycles,” one TikTok user commented on Gonzales’ post.

“My bf was just talking about creating a dad group (we’re in SoCal) so when this showed up on my feed, I got all excited & had to share with him that he’s not the only one wanting to do it,” another commenter noted.

Brooklyn Stroll Club in McCarren Park.Casper Yen | @casperyen

“I am really grateful for community, and I believe in this generation of dads because they really want to be the best they can.”

Gonzales says he’s busy planning another meet up for dads in the New York City area, hoping to bring more fathers together to celebrate parenthood and make the journey feel a little bit less lonely.

source: people.com