Still Waters Mediation, LLC

08/21/2026

If you live in Forest Lake or the surrounding communities, save the date!

Join Melissa Miroslavich of Miroslavich Law, Molly Darsow of Still Waters Mediation, LLC, and FamilyMeans Caregiving & Aging for a free workshop:

Navigating Estate Planning with Intention
Tuesday, September 15 | 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Hardwood Creek Library
19955 Forest Road N, Forest Lake, MN

Estate planning is more than legal documents. It is about your family, your values, and the people who will carry out your wishes.

We’ll talk about communicating your intentions, navigating family dynamics, and reducing the potential for future conflict and confusion.

Free to attend. Know someone in the area who might benefit? Please share this post!

08/19/2026

I’m excited to be a vendor at Walk for Gilda’s on September 19th at Lake of the Isles!

Gilda’s Club Minnesota provides free support, education, and community for people impacted by cancer, and I’m proud to support the work they do.

Register to walk or participate in the 5K, and be sure to stop by my table to say hello. I hope to see you there!

Register for Walk for Gilda’s⁠

Join us in walking for Gilda's on Saturday, September 19th to raise funds, unite as a community, and stand against cancer.

08/07/2026

Grief can feel isolating, but community connection can make a real difference. The Growing Through Loss series brings people together for education, support, and an opportunity to connect with others who understand the experience of loss.

I’ll be speaking on October 6 about “When Grief Boils Over: Navigating Conflict During Challenging Times.”

The free series runs September 22 through October 27. Attend one session or the entire series.

Save the date, and keep this series in mind for yourself or someone you know who might benefit.

The St. Croix Valley Grief Coalition is pleased to announce the schedule for our Fall 2026 Growing Through Loss grief support series. www.scvgriefcoalition.com

07/27/2026

Adult sibling conflict is rarely just about the decision at hand.

Whether families are navigating caregiving, an aging parent, or an estate, today's disagreements are often shaped by roles and experiences that developed years, or even decades, earlier.

I appreciated this thoughtful New York Times article by Lori Gottlieb on the dynamics behind sibling conflict. It reflects what I often see in mediation: when people feel heard, they can begin focusing on the decisions that matter today.

The REAL reason adult siblings don’t get along?

That’s what I address In this week’s in The New York Times.

As I explain, what looks like a fight about the present can become a fight for something older: Who got assigned what roles? Who was more unseen, burdened, favored?

And when that happens, every encounter turns into what I call the “pain Olympics.”

There are no winners—only more distance.

In the column, I share how to:

- help them feel heard *without endorsing* what they say about each other
- stop being the messenger: “I hear how painful that felt, but this is an issue between you two.”
- choose boundary-setting over conflict-avoidance so you can protect your own peace at family events

Have you ever felt like you were expected to “keep the peace” between two people who won’t stop hurting each other?

🔗 Read my advice in The New York Times: bit.ly/4cI4xBB

✉️ Submit your question: [email protected]

🔔 Subscribe: bit.ly/4mZtJaN

07/22/2026

07/20/2026

A fresh headshot felt like the perfect excuse to reintroduce myself.

I'm Molly Darsow, owner of Still Waters Mediation. I help families navigate difficult conversations around aging parents, caregiving, estates, inheritance, and other conflicts that can arise during life's biggest transitions.

I'm grateful to work alongside families, attorneys, healthcare professionals, and community partners who believe that even challenging conversations can lead to better outcomes.

A huge thank you to Profeshie for the new headshot! If you're looking for someone who makes being in front of the camera surprisingly comfortable, I highly recommend Nic at Profeshie.

07/07/2026

Ever notice how a disagreement over a caregiving decision or estate plan is rarely just about the decision itself? There are almost always deeper currents of grief, fear, or resentment at play.

In this issue of the Still Waters Mediation newsletter, we look beneath the surface of difficult family dynamics.

The Deep Stuff: Why moving from “what you want” to “why it matters” changes everything in family conversations.

The Death Deck: Hospice social worker Lisa Pahl drops in to share a surprisingly fun, humor-infused card game designed to break the ice on end-of-life planning before a medical crisis hits.

On the Air & On Stage: A sneak peek at an upcoming guest appearance on the End-of-Life University Podcast and a lineup of local workshops you won’t want to miss.

Click here to read the full issue:https://stillwatersmediation.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Still-Waters-Mediation-Newsletter-July-2026-issue-6-1.pdf

06/17/2026

Looking forward to presenting my topic “Staying Neutral in a Charged Room” at this year’s All Things Grief! If you are seeking a day filled with professional development, CEUs, and networking with fellow professionals in the grief space – don’t wait, register TODAY! The knowledge, connections, and resources you’ll gain can have a lasting impact on both your professional practice and the people you serve. Register soon - early bird registration is open through June 30th!
Brighter Days Family Grief Center
https://brighterdaysgriefcenter.org/all-things-grief/

06/15/2026

One of the things I appreciate about The Death Deck is that it helps people talk about values, wishes, fears, and priorities before a crisis occurs. These conversations can help families better understand one another and ensure important thoughts and preferences are shared rather than left unspoken.

The importance of these conversations is one reason I was pleased to contribute an article to The Death Deck blog about how mediation can help when families disagree during end-of-life decisions:

https://thedeathdeck.com/blogs/death-and-life/when-families-disagree-the-value-of-mediation-in-end-of-life-decisions

Family conflict around end-of-life care and inherited property is more common than you think. Learn how mediation can help families navigate grief, disagreements, and difficult decisions without going to court.

05/14/2026

Had a wonderful time connecting with the community at the Cerenity Senior Care-Marian Senior Fair! Thank you for bringing together such a great group of vendors to share resources and connect with attendees.