MOTHERLESS DAUGHTERS RETREATS
One-of-a-kind healing weekends for women
who lost moms when they were young
with Hope Edelman, author of Motherless Daughters
OUR NEXT West Coast Early Loss Retreat on January 22-26, 2026 in Watsonville, California, is currently FULL
OUR NEXT East Coast Retreat for daughters who were up to age 21 at time of loss will be June 5-8, 2026 in Cheshire, Connecticut and is now open for registration.
Click the link below to learn more and save your spot.
“Aren’t you over it yet?”
How many of us have heard this question, or asked it of ourselves?
Only to realize the answer is always, ‘No’.
Losing a mom sets you on a different course than other daughters.
You can’t change the past. But the past changed you.
You don’t ever “get over” this loss. Instead, you learn to adjust and adapt.
At a Motherless Daughters Retreat, you don’t have to explain this.
You’ll be surrounded by women who get it. Women who get you.
At a Motherless Daughters Retreat, you'll be listened to and supported. Your story, thoughts, and feelings will be received with curiosity and compassion by others who know what it’s like to navigate adulthood without your mom.
In our circle, you’ll also hear about new ways to stay connected to your mom after her death and to honor her life, legacy, and the relationship you shared.
💜 Will you learn something new? We hope so! I’ll share 30 years of research and experience to help you understand why you think, feel, and behave the way you do. Self-knowledge and self-compassion are pretty much inevitable outcomes of our time together.
💜 Will you feel validated and accepted? For sure. Women arrive as familiar strangers, and leave feeling like part of a new sisterhood. Our retreat groups stay in touch long after the weekend ends, offering ongoing support and validation for years to come.
💜 Will you cry? Probably. The circle holds space for whatever you’re feeling. We welcome tears. They’re an important form of emotional release. (And we always have plenty of tissues on hand.)
💜 Will you feel overwhelmed? Possibly, at moments. We’re being totally honest here. If you haven’t talked much about losing your mom or about its aftereffects before this weekend, you may need short breaks from time to time. That’s why we take several hours off on both Day Two and Day Three, to give you time to unwind, recharge, and have fun on your own or with new friends. You’re also encouraged to take breaks whenever you need to. This weekend is all about nurturing YOU and making sure you get what you need.
💜 Will you laugh? Yes! More than anyone would expect at a grief retreat. We believe it’s important to add levity to gravity. Who wants to spend 4 days feeling sad? Participants share a lot of the same dark humor. We’re a curse-friendly environment, too. It’s totally okay to let it rip.
As we like to say:
Come as you are — we’ll meet you there
Women describe these weekends as life-changing. For the first time, they say, they didn’t feel alone in a room of strangers. 💜
Don’t just take our word for it! The women in the video below have all participated in past retreats. They’re part of a generous, welcoming sisterhood you’ll become part of from the first moment you arrive. These are special messages they’ve recorded just for you.
What did your mom die from?
The way a mom died affects a daughter’s grief experience, too.
Typically, 2/3 of the daughters who come to a retreat lost their moms to long-term illnesses, and 1/3 lost their moms to a sudden form of death. That tracks with demographic data on the leading causes of death among women who were our moms’ ages.
Sometimes we see clusters around specific types of loss in a retreat group, like several women who lost their moms to suicide, or a cluster who lost their moms in an accident. Our we might have 6 women who were all 14 when their moms died. We can never predict!
Rest assured, whatever retreat group you sign up for is the right one for YOU. We can’t explain how this happens, but it’s how this works. Everyone in your group somehow knows how to find their way to each other. It’s a very special kind of magic. You’ll see what we mean!
How old were you when your mom died?
We’re asking because your age at time of loss matters. A lot.
The challenges a daughters faces at each developmental stage are very different. That’s why we have separate retreats for daughters who were children and teenagers when their moms died, and for daughters who were young adults.
We honor this and help you connect with others who’ve faced similar experiences at the same times in the past. It’s also why our programs and activities are always customized to the makeup of your specific group. No two retreats are ever the same.
All retreats include:
Activities and discussions customized to your retreat group’s specific needs;
Catered, healthy, buffet-style meals;
All workshop materials;
Guidance and attention to your unique story from Hope Edelman, author of Motherless Daughters and Motherless Mothers and — at the Early Loss retreats — a licensed therapist who’ll co-facilitate;
Lots of opportunities to share your story (or to just listen, if you want!);
A gift bag upon arrival;
Access to a private WhatsApp group for post-retreat support;
Pre- and post-retreat group Zooms;
A lifetime 10% discount on weekly Motherless Daughters Community Calls;
A group of women who will become your support network and soul sisters long after the weekend ends.
PLEASE NOTE: At least two years need to have elapsed since the time of your mother’s death to best meet your bereavement needs. Participants must be 18 years or older by the start date of a retreat.
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.