#1 Biggest Mistake I Made As a Dad (and How You Can Avoid It)

Ep. 2: Behind Closed Doors. A Dad's Nightmare.

🎙️Host : https://www.instagram.com/jeffhopeck/ In this Hey Dad Can We podcast episode, Jeff Hopeck (creator of Hey Dad Can We [https://www.instagram.com/hey_dad_can_we?igsh=cW82cDVwdHhsY2x3&utm_source=qr]) shares a powerful story, from Tiny Buddha, about a child growing up in a home marked by fear and instability.  Nights were the hardest, as the child lived in constant anxiety due to a father struggling with alcohol and violence.  Everything began to change when the child’s grandmother told the mother, “Only say good words to your child.” The mother began speaking life into him—reminding him he was kind and capable. At first he didn’t believe it, but over time those words became his inner voice.  Jeff challenges dads to reflect:  Who are you in your child’s story, and what small step can you take to change?

#1 Biggest Mistake I Made As a Dad (and How You Can Avoid It)

To learn more about my work and the conversations I care about, find me at @hey_dad_can_we [https://www.instagram.com/hey_dad_can_we?igsh=cW82cDVwdHhsY2x3&utm_source=qr] I want to share the biggest mistake I made as a dad. Without realizing it, I was trying to pull my son into my world instead of stepping into his. My Type-A drive and bias toward efficiency made me resent his love for Minecraft, and that resentment quietly created distance—distance that didn’t start with him, but with me. Eventually, I sought advice from a mentor, convinced the problem was the game. He stopped me and said it clearly: the issue wasn’t Minecraft, it was my expectations. That hit hard. When I chose curiosity over control and intentionally stepped into my son’s world, everything changed. Our connection deepened. What I learned—and keep learning—is this: presence will always beat projection.

Ep 1: Be There, Not Perfect: A Conversation on Intentional Fatherhood

🎙️Host : https://www.instagram.com/jeffhopeck/ 🚀Guest :  https://www.instagram.com/maletraris/ In this heartfelt episode of Hey Dads Can We?, host Jeff Hopeck speaks with a fellow father, Michael Aletraris, and friend about the challenges and joys of intentional fatherhood. Their conversation centers on the importance of presence over perfection — being truly engaged with one’s children rather than distracted by work or devices.  The guest shares lessons from his faith and upbringing, emphasizing that fatherhood is a calling to lead by example, plant seeds of character, and create a lasting legacy rooted in love, patience, and faith. They discuss practical ways to disconnect from technology, the power of empathy in discipline, and how small acts — like playing outside or entering a child’s imaginative world — can deeply impact relationships. The episode closes with reflections on being proactive, building generational values, and savoring fleeting childhood moments before they’re gone.