Motherless Daughters 4-Day
Early Mother Loss Retreat
June 5 - 8, 2026
Guest House Retreat Center
Chester, Connecticut
NOTE: This retreat is for daughters 50+
who were up to age 25 at time of loss.
Have you ever felt like:
A piece of you got stuck in the past when your mom died?
You’ve never grieved your mother fully, properly, or at all?
Other women know something you never got to learn?
You’re moving into this stage of your life without a map?
Your mom is so far in the past, and you don’t know how to bring her close again?
You’re not alone.
In our recent retreat survey, 88.5% of motherless daughters shared they grew up in families where their families rarely (or never) talked about their mother’s death or their grief. No one helped them learn how to feel, how to stay connected with their moms, or how to make sense of what happened to their mom and to them.
If this is part of your story — we understand.
A typical Motherless Daughters Retreat is a 4 day/3 night experience of laughter, tears, healing, and deep connection with other women who’ll “get” you.
And this one is extra special — because it’s just for midlife women who are now 50+!
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 developed long ago, especially ones that may no longer be serving you.
Growing older as a motherless daughter — especially as a woman who didn’t get to see her own mother age — often feels like flying blind.
Imagine spending a weekend with 13 other women who understand what this time in life involves, and how a history of early loss continues to play a role.
We’ll talk about the impact that early loss has on marriage, dating, divorce, empty nesting, menopause, sex, financial (in)security, adult orphanhood, retirement, parenting adult children, and our thoughts about aging. and mortality No topic will be off limits.
We’re experienced. We’re wise. And we don’t waste time on small talk. We’ll be refreshingly candid about what midlife motherless women face today.
Together, we’ll create an intentional space where honesty prevails and laughter rules.
We’ll also explore new ways to reconnect with your (much younger) mom, bring her up to date with you, 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. ❤️
*Motherless Daughters welcomes all female-identified and daughter-identified participants.
Registration is for double room occupancy, with the option to upgrade to a single. For double rooms, we match you based on age of loss, cause of loss and current age now. We have a 99.9% success rate of making great roommate connections!
WHAT CAN I HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS RETREAT?
A Motherless Daughters Retreat acknowledges the complexity of early mother loss.
After years — or decades — of feeling alone with your loss, you’ll enter a room where you’ll be listened to and understood. Your story will be held gently and carefully.
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.
You’ll become part of an intimate, intergenerational group of up to 20 retreat sisters, all of whom were up to age 25 when they experienced the death of a mom.
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, plus a licensed therapist with both professional and personal experience in the mother loss field.
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. (We’d love to tell you exactly what these activities will be, but each retreat is custom-designed — we don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. Everything we do will be carefully selected to meet the unique needs of your retreat group!)
VIEW THE SCHEDULE
Click HERE for a SAMPLE schedule.
The schedule is subject to change.
This retreat is now full. If you'd like to join the waiting list, please email info@hopeedelman.com
YOUR RETREAT FEE:
Double Occupancy Room:
$1995 per person
Includes 3 nights lodging and all meals
We’ll match you with a great roommate!
Single Room Upgrade:
$2390 per person
Includes 3 nights lodging and all meals
👉 Select “Single Room Upgrade” at checkout
For registrations in May either pay in full
OR
pay a $100 deposit plus your first installment
of either $987.50 (double) or $1192.93 (single).
The next installment will be charged on June 1
(4% service charge for installments applies)
Please note: Your retreat free does not include transportation to and from Guest House.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Single or double room accommodations for 3 nights in a cozy, antique-filled room;
For double accommodations, you’ll be paired with a carefully matched roommate. Roommate pairs are based on:
Age at time of loss
Cause of loss
Current age
Nine healthy meals from Friday dinner through Monday lunch (we can accommodate food allergies and sensitivities);
Coffee and tea 24 hours a day;
Customized activities based on your group’s specific needs;
Group yoga class;
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 pre-retreat Zoom call with the group;
A follow-up group Zoom call;
Priority access to future retreats and other offers;
A lifetime 10% discount on weekly Motherless Daughters Community Calls.
PLEASE NOTE: Participants must have been up to and including age 25 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:
Guest House in Chester, CT
Guest House is situated on 12 wooded acres in the scenic
Connecticut River Valley between Boston and New York.
We’ve been holding our East Coast retreats here since 2017.
We love partnering with this beautifully renovated country inn that offers
a meeting space, housing, and dining all on one site!
“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.