Motherless Daughters
Young Adult Loss Retreat
For women who lost their moms when they were in their twenties.
July 16 - 19, 2026
Iowa City, Iowa
NOTE: This retreat is for daughters who were
ages 20-30 at the time of loss. You can be any age now!
Have you ever felt like:
A piece of you got stuck in your 20s when your mom died?
You didn’t get to grieve your mother fully, properly, or at all?
All the other women know something you never got to learn?
You want to feel closer to your mom, but don’t know where to start?
You’re not alone.
A Motherless Daughters Retreat acknowledges the complexity of mother loss while celebrating the power of your enduring connection with you mom.
After years — or decades — of feeling alone with your loss, you’ll enter a room where you’ll be listened to and understood.
You’ll find validation and normalization — both for what you went through when you were younger, and also for how the ripple effects show up in your adult life today.
At this special, small retreat, you’ll become part of an intimate group of just 8 retreat sisters, all of whom were between the ages of 20 and 30 when they experienced the death of a mom.
A Motherless Daughters Young Adult Loss Retreat is a 4-day experience of laughter, tears, healing, and deep connection with other women who’ll “get” you.
You’ll meet women who faced (and still face) many of the same challenges you did — some of whom will have histories very similar to yours.
You’ll work directly with Hope Edelman, author of Motherless Daughters, all weekend, with plenty of time for 1;1 interaction.
You’ll be guided through a series of activities and discussions to help you reflect on the past, ground yourself in the present, and set new intentions and goals for the future.
Come as you are. Leave with a new sense of strength.
NOTE: All retreat participants must be 18 years or older now. At least 2 years must have passed since the death of your mother to qualify you for a retreat.
*Motherless Daughters welcomes all female-identified and daughter-identified participants.
WHAT CAN I HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS RETREAT?
Most motherless daughters have never had the experience of sitting in a room composed exclusively of women who understand their innermost challenges, triumphs, and fears. You’ll find that at a Motherless Daughters Retreat.
At this retreat, you’ll uncover links between your past and your present and learn ways to start releasing the coping patterns you relied on to navigate adulthood without your mom, especially ones that may be harming you today.
You’ll also learn new ways to reconnect with your mother after her death, stay connected, and continue to honor her life and the relationship you shared.
Most of all, you’ll join a group that supports you long after the retreat ends. Our retreat groups stay in touch for years beyond their weekend together, continuing to lift each other up through all of life’s moments, large and small.
Past participants describe these retreats as life-changing.
We hope you’ll be able to say the same.
VIEW THE SCHEDULE
Click HERE for a SAMPLE schedule.
The schedule is subject to change.
YOUR RETREAT FEE:
one 60-minute pre-retreat Zoom call with Hope
one 30-minute 1:1 Zoom call with Hope
all materials and programming from Thursday 4 p.m. through Sunday noon
7 meals (Thursday dinner, all breakfasts, and all lunches)
gift bag upon arrival
somatic session on Saturday
3 follow-up group calls
one 30-minute 1:1 follow-up call with Hope
Pay in full upon registration
OR
Pay a $100 non-refundable deposit in February
to hold your place, and then 5 equal payments of $339
on March 1, April 1, May 1, June 1, and July 1.
$1695 per person
Please note: Your retreat free does not include transportation or lodging.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Nine healthy meals from Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch (we can accommodate food allergies and sensitivities);
Customized activities based on your group’s specific needs;
Group somatic class on Saturday;
All workshop materials;
A special gift bag upon arrival;
Access to a private WhatsApp group for pre- and post-retreat support;
Access to a private web page where all info and prep work is posted (no hunting for past emails!);
A 60-minute pre-retreat Zoom call with the group;
A 30 minute pre-retreat 1:1 Zoom call with Hope
3 follow-up Zoom calls with the group;
A 30-minute post-retreat 1:1 call with Hope;
Priority access to future retreats and other offers;
A lifetime 10% discount on weekly Motherless Daughters Community Calls.
PLEASE NOTE: At least two years need to have passed since the time of your mother’s death to best meet your bereavement needs. Participants must have been between the ages of 20-30 when they experienced the death of their mother.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Up to 60 days prior to start date: fully refundable minus your non-refundable $100 registration fee.
Up to 30 days prior the start date: 50% refundable after the non-refundable $100 registration fee.
Less than 30 days from the start date: non-refundable.
We suggest you purchase travel insurance when you book airline tickets to avoid flight cancellation fees.
Organizers reserve the right to cancel the retreat up to 21 days before start date if minimum enrollment has not been achieved. You would then receive a 100% refund, including the $100 registration fee.
WHERE YOU’LL BE CONNECTING, EATING & RESTING:
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, home of the University of Iowa, is a very typical Midwestern college town — walkable, leafy, and filled with shops and cafes. The private residence where you’ll be meeting (address shared upon registration) is easy walking distance from downtown’s vibrant shopping and restaurant scene. For accommodations in town, we recommend The Graduate Iowa City, Hotel Vetro, and The Hilton Garden Inn. There are also lots of options on Air Bnb!
“I didn’t really understand the impact this weekend would have on me until we were about a day and a half into it. I can’t really explain it, but for me, it was a magical experience. I guess a more grown up word would be “transformative”.”
“The opportunity to talk about mother loss with a group of women that really understand was amazing and the support that I continue to feel many weeks after the retreat is wonderful. I just wish I had done this sooner!”
Further retreat questions? Please send an email to info@hopeedelman.com
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A Motherless Daughter Retreat is a powerful and often life-changing event. We've compiled this detailed FAQ to answer common questions participants have before and after registration. If your question is not covered here, please contact us at info@hopeedelman.com.