Tag Archives: Parenting and Family Issues

How to help Children deal with Grief? An Interview with Astrid Reichenbach

The Child Life Specialist opens up about supporting, counseling, and listening to children who face illness and end-of-life
Posted on January 28, 2012 by Liz Matsushita (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Astrid Reichenbach, MA, CCLS, MFTI, is a certified Child Life Specialist working at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. She provides support for children at the hospital, whether they are long-term patients, one-time visitors, or the relative of another … Continue reading →

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Dragon Mothers: How to Parent a Dying Child

Emily Rapp’s “Notes from a Dragon Mom” distinguishes between directing the future and loving the present
Posted on October 26, 2011 by Liz Matsushita (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Emily Rapp is a self-proclaimed Dragon Mom. Her baby son, Ronan, is almost certainly going to die before he turns three. He was born with Tay-Sachs, a genetic disease for which there is no cure. Such a horrible fact has … Continue reading →

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An Unexpected Gift of Closure

How my father’s betrayal ultimately healed me
Posted on August 18, 2011 by Devin Schlotterer (Contributor, SevenPonds)

On the last day of 2006 (my annus horribilis), I learned—months after the fact, of my estranged father’s death. A devastating confluence of sudden misfortunes both personal and professional had landed me, at 25, in the last place I would … Continue reading →

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A Portrait Lost and Found

How posing for nude photographs brought me solace
Posted on July 21, 2011 by Aurora Wells (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

This is the story of Kate, as told by Aurora Wells… My grandparents moved to Chicago in the 40’s, but never lost their accents. My dad said my grandma hoarded things because they had lead such difficult lives back in … Continue reading →

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Blood, Oil, and Water: A Portrait of my Grandfather

Part Three: Oceans
Posted on July 7, 2011 by Aurora Wells (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

This is the story of Random Bear as told by Aurora Wells. It is broken up into three parts, according to the distinct periods of his grandfather’s paintings. This is Part Three: Oceans… Read Part One here and Part Two … Continue reading →

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What is the Dougy Center? An Interview with Donna Schuurman

The Dougy Center's Executive Director talks about child and youth peer support, expression, and "post-traumatic growth"
Posted on July 2, 2011 by Aurora Wells (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

For nearly 30 years, The Dougy Center in Portland, OR has provided peer support groups for grieving children, teenagers, young adults and their families. Today, the peer support program they pioneered has served as a model for at least 500 … Continue reading →

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Blood, Oil, and Water: A Portrait of my Grandfather

Part Two: Bottles
Posted on June 30, 2011 by Aurora Wells (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

This is the story of Random Bear as told by Aurora Wells. It is broken up into three parts, according to the distinct periods of his grandfather’s paintings. This is Part Two: Bottles… Read Part One here. Sweden, 2009 I … Continue reading →

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Blood, Oil, and Water: A Portrait of my Grandfather

Part One: Boats
Posted on June 23, 2011 by Aurora Wells (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

This is the story of Random Bear as told by Aurora Wells. It is broken up into three parts, according to the distinct periods of his grandfather’s paintings. This is Part One: Boats… Sweden, 1992 Once, when I was a … Continue reading →

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What’s a Center for Grief? An interview with Cindy Ainsworth and Stephanie Demos

Directors at Kara grief center discuss their support programs and the "healing door"
Posted on April 16, 2011 by Aurora Wells (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Kara (the gothic root for “care”) is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization and renowned grief center, providing powerful, free grief support services to the San Francisco Bay Area from their Palo Alto home since 1976.  Truly, the breadth, success, and compassion … Continue reading →

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