TED Health Interview: A parent's guide to raising kids after loss | Andy Laats
Sep 9, 2025
Andy Laats, an entrepreneur and single father, shares his heartfelt journey navigating parenting after losing his wife to cancer. His insights touch on finding meaning in everyday life and the healing power of connections. Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, an expert on childhood adversity, discusses how early life experiences shape health and resilience. They delve into the lasting effects of trauma on children and the critical importance of supportive relationships and early interventions, emphasizing the role of parents in fostering empathy and understanding.
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Turning Tragedy Into Presence
- Andy Laats lost his wife Liz to recurrent metastatic ovarian cancer and became a single father to three children aged 12, 10, and 8.
- He learned parenting beyond logistics by discovering a deeper, nonverbal connection with his kids in ordinary moments.
Routines Unlock Deeper Connection
- Andy realized parenting isn't just A to Z tasks; there's a whole "world beyond Z" of emotional, nonverbal connection.
- Routine caregiving opens access to transcendent, empathy-rich moments that shape children's sense of safety.
Small Moments Reveal Inner Lives
- Andy shares moments: buying every feminine product with his daughter and a son asking, “What's your deepest desire?” at a red light.
- These small, ordinary episodes revealed his children's inner lives and built trust for intimate conversations.