Christmess: The Morning I Learned My Mother Was Leaving (Dispatch 18)
October 13, 2026 · 32 min
Why listen
A Christmas morning overheard from the stairs changed one boy's life for the next decade.
Enjoy the episode?
Subscribe to Commune with Jeff Krasno
In this episode
- The moment a family fractures and what a child does with it
- Why he chose his father and cut off his mother for nearly ten years
- How a broken home shapes the kind of parent you later become
- An honest look at entering adulthood without a stable foundation
About this episode
"Well, if you're going to leave in June anyways, you might as well leave now!" Thirteen-year-old Jeff heard it from the stairs on Christmas morning, with his little brother beside him in footed pajamas.
In this episode, Jeff tells the story of the holiday his parents' marriage broke open: the Hail Mary trip to Brazil, the presents opened quietly with Gramma, and the night Eric slept in his bed. He follows the fallout into adulthood, including choosing to stay with his broken father, cutting off his mother for nearly a decade, and setting out into life "rudderless and leaky."
This is the eighteenth episode of Diaries of a Dance Dad, an audio memoir series in Jeff's own words. It spans the full arc of parenthood: the inhale of birth and early chaos, the grind of no sleep and travel with kids, the gut-punches of failure, and the slow exhale of letting go.
This episode was made possible by:
- Calocurb: Calocurb naturally activates your body’s own GLP-1 and other fullness hormones to help manage hunger and cravings. Code COMMUNE10 for 10% off at Calocurb.com
- Vivobarefoot: Try Vivobarefoot risk-free with a 100-day return guarantee, and get 20% off your order at vivobarefoot.com/commune.
- BIOptimizers: Go to www.bioptimizers.com/onecommune and use code ONECOMMUNE for 15% off your order.
- Stemregen: Get 20% off your first order at stemregen.co/commune with the code COMMUNEPOD
About Commune with Jeff Krasno
The Commune Podcast is where we explore the ideas and practices that help us live healthy, connected, purpose-filled lives.
See all episodes →
