Danielle Fishel’s Son Told Teacher She ‘Died’ Amid Grueling ‘DWTS’ Schedule

Danielle Fishel’s son sparked concern at school after claiming his mother had “died,” revealing how deeply the Boy Meets World star’s demanding DWTS schedule affected her family life. The 44-year-old actress shared the emotional story on her Pod Meets World podcast, admitting the Dancing with the Stars experience took a toll on her 6-year-old son, Adler, who struggled with her long absences during filming.

The actress said her son became so distraught by her busy rehearsal schedule that he told his teacher she had passed away. Fishel, who has two sons with husband Jensen Karp, rushed to the school after getting a call from his teacher — only to discover Adler had created an elaborate and completely false story to explain why he missed his mom so much.

Danielle Fishel Opens Up About Family Struggles During ‘DWTS’ Season

Fishel explained on her November 10 podcast episode that her daily rehearsals for Dancing with the Stars had disrupted the family’s routine. She believed at first that everyone was adjusting well — until the school called to report Adler’s concerning statements. “It’s his teacher,” she recalled. “She says, ‘We had a little bit of an issue today with Adler.’”

The teacher told Fishel that Adler, while struggling to focus in class, began sharing an invented story about his father losing his job before adding, “And also, my mom died.” Though the statement shocked the teacher, she handled it delicately, allowing Adler to share his feelings. Fishel said she skipped her physical therapy session and went straight to pick up her son from school.

When she arrived, Adler ran into her arms, excited to see her. But when Fishel explained she had to return to rehearsal later that night, the 6-year-old broke down. “He says, ‘I hate this job. Why did you take this job? All you do is dance, dance, dance. You never get to hang out with me and Keaton anymore,’” she recalled emotionally.

A Heartfelt Conversation Between Mother and Son

Fishel said Adler demanded that she quit the show, even asking, “Are you going to quit or not?” She apologized for being away so often but gently explained that she couldn’t walk away from her commitment. “I told him, ‘Mommy’s not going to quit her job. I love what I do, and this won’t last forever,’” she said.

The actress promised her son that the show would end before Thanksgiving and life would soon return to normal. “In the meantime, we’ll find special ways to connect,” she told him. Though Adler later apologized and hugged her, Fishel said the family is still “working through it.”

Her honesty struck a chord with listeners and fans, especially other parents balancing demanding jobs with family life. Many applauded her openness about the emotional challenges behind the glitz of DWTS, noting how rare it is for celebrities to discuss the toll fame takes on their children.

Fishel’s story highlights the real-life strain that high-profile commitments can have on families — even for those accustomed to the spotlight. The actress ended her reflection by reaffirming her love for both her children and her career, saying she hopes to teach them the importance of balance and honesty.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Why did Danielle Fishel’s son tell his teacher she ‘died’?

He was struggling with missing his mom due to her long rehearsal hours for Dancing with the Stars and expressed it through a dramatic story at school.

Q2: How did Danielle Fishel respond to her son’s emotional outburst?

Fishel immediately went to pick him up from school, comforted him, and reassured him that her job was temporary and that things would return to normal soon.

Q3: What did Danielle Fishel say about her DWTS schedule?

She described it as “grueling,” explaining that it disrupted her daily family life and made it difficult to spend quality time with her kids.

Q4: How old are Danielle Fishel’s children?

She has two sons — Adler, age 6, and Keaton, age 4 — with her husband, Jensen Karp.

Q5: When will Danielle Fishel finish Dancing with the Stars?

Fishel said the show will end around Thanksgiving, after which she plans to spend more time with her family.