Danielle Fishel Says She Had to Learn a Lot About Self-Parenting After Having Kids (Exclusive)

July 24, 2026 - 09:56

Danielle Fishel is getting real about the unexpected lessons motherhood has taught her. The "Boy Meets World" star, who shares two sons with husband Jensen Karp, says having kids forced her to confront her own emotional needs in a way she never had before.

Fishel and Karp are parents to Adler, born in 2019, and Keaton, born in 2021. In a recent exclusive conversation, the actress explained that raising young children has required her to practice something called "self-parenting." She described it as the process of giving herself the same patience, structure, and compassion that she offers her boys.

"I had to learn a lot about self-parenting after having kids," Fishel said. She noted that becoming a parent often triggers old patterns or unresolved feelings from one's own childhood. For her, that meant realizing she needed to treat herself with the same kindness she instinctively shows her sons when they are upset or struggling.

The actress admitted that the concept did not come naturally. It took conscious effort to stop being harsh with herself and to set healthy boundaries. She emphasized that caring for her own emotional state is not selfish, but necessary. If she is running on empty, she cannot be the calm, present mother she wants to be for Adler and Keaton.

Fishel's candid take on the mental shift of parenthood resonates with many parents who find that raising children often means raising themselves again. She did not offer a simple fix, but framed the work as an ongoing practice. For her, self-parenting is not a one-time lesson but a daily choice to show up for herself the way she shows up for her family.