A Vancouver dad has shared an eye-opening revelation online—and it’s going viral.
Daniel Hong (@dhfitnessinc) shared his parenting realization about raising his two daughters in a reel on Instagram.
“I’m their first example of how men treat women by the way I treat their mom and them,” the 40-year-old said. “Every action, every word, every moment of respect or frustration, is ultimately going to shape what they’re going to expect in future relationships.”
Hong and his wife Aly are parents to Olivia, 3, and Camryn, four months. But it was with Olivia, their firstborn, that this realization truly took hold.
“It became clear as Olivia began to pick up on my relationship with Aly,” Hong told Newsweek.
“One day, she noticed our wedding photos in the living room and asked about them. I told her the story of how I fell in love with her mom and married her because I loved her so much. Olivia responded with, ‘I love mama too. I want to marry her.'”
Since then, the revelation has shifted not just how Hong parents—but how he shows up in his marriage. “It adds weight to the responsibility I carry as a dad and motivates me to be a better husband,” he explained. “I’m constantly reminded to be more present when I’m home. When Olivia tells me to put down my phone, it’s a wake-up call.”
One of the ways Hong models a positive relationship is by braiding Olivia’s hair after he was inspired by Strider, the girl dad behind the Instagram account @dadbraids.
“It’s become a really special way for us to bond,” Hong said. “The conversations we have during that time are priceless.”
As a longtime fitness coach, Hong has also introduced Olivia into his world of wellness and strength training.
“Through our program @streetparking, I get to include Olivia in movement and workouts. It’s not just fun. It shows her that strength is built through effort, resilience and courage,” he said.
Hong’s reel has been viewed over 270,000 times and received over 12,000 likes. Dozens of Instagram users commented, agreeing with Hong’s sentiment.
“Couple days before my dad died, I thanked him for showing me what a good man is supposed to be,” one user wrote.
“How dad treats mom is a big deal yes, but how dad treats me makes the world of difference,” another said.
Hong told Newsweek he hopes his daughters learn from the love they witness in their home.
“I want them to know that real love takes effort and selfless effort; that it requires teamwork, sacrifice and communication,” he said.
“Love is filled with both highs and lows, but when they find someone who loves them for who they are, even the hard moments can be full of growth and connection.”
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