Motherless Daughters
GOLDEN GIRLS RETREAT
For Women 50+
Experiencing midlife as a woman in 2024 means coming into our personal power just as society starts devaluing our worth.
And 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.
What if we had access to the roadmaps and tips that would naturally have been handed down from previous generations of women? Would this time be easier to navigate? What if we could give that to ourselves?
Imagine spending a weekend with 13 other women who understand what this time in life involves, and how a history of early loss still plays a role.
Imagine coming together for the dedicated purpose of talking about the real stuff that happens as we age — and learning how to face changes in our relationships, our bodies, our minds, our families, and our professional lives with acceptance, grace, sorrow, joy, and (dare we say it?) wisdom.
We’re experienced. We’re badass. We’re irreverent. And we don’t waste time on small talk. We’ll be refreshingly candid about what midlife motherless women face today.
We’ll talk about marriage, dating, divorce, empty nesting, menopause, sex, financial (in)security, adult orphanhood, retirement, parenting adult children, the deaths of friends; aging out of the workplace; and the beauty of having no more f*cks to give. No topic will be off limits.
Together, we’ll create an intentional space where honesty prevails and laughter rules.
Will there be space for tears? Of course! (We’re Motherless Daughters, after all.)
You’ve been taking care of yourself and others for a long time. This weekend is time just for YOU.
For three full days, you can kick back in a beautiful setting, be fed and taken care of, and let your true, unmasked, sassy self show up without fear of criticism or judgment.
We’ll be an intimate group of up to 14 women* who lost mothers up to age 30, mothers who didn’t get to experience the fullness of midlife. All of us will be anticipating or facing the life transitions that naturally occur at this time.
For one sacred weekend in Topanga Canyon, California, we’ll stumble and dance together through this messy, glorious, cherished thing called Life.
Because we understand the preciousness of getting to see these years, in the ways that only a motherless daughter can.
PLEASE NOTE: All retreat participants must be 50 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 participants.
Note: Your registration includes three days of retreat programming and materials, plus three continental breakfasts and three lunches that can accommodate your dietary needs. It does NOT include dinners, overnight accommodations, or transportation, though we have suggested two hotels below for you to consider. All registrants will be encouraged to join a private WhatsApp group to connect beforehand for rooming and shared rides.
Let’s Talk.
Did you know that…
Women in the U.S. live, on average, 5 1/2 years longer than men. A 50-year-old women has an 86% chance of living to 70, a 67% chance of reaching 80, and a 33% chance of living to 90.
The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 52, One in 100 women experience menopause before age 40,
Men and women age in a similar physical manner until age 50. Then visible signs of aging speed up for women, due to the hormonal changes of menopause.
About 60% of women ages 55-64 are in the work force, but women in this age group earn only 75% of each dollar earned by full-time working men of this age.
The average retirement age for women in the U.S. is 62. Yet women on average have fewer retirement assets and smaller pensions than their male counterparts.
The divorce rate for couples 50 and older has doubled since the 1990s. 36% of American divorces today are among individuals 50+, and more than half of these couples were married for more than 20 years.
Of the top 100 films in 2023, only 30 depicted a female as a lead character, and of those, only 3 had a female leading character who was 45 or older.
Sources: American Society on Aging; U.S. Dept. of Labor; U.S. Dept. of the Treasury; National Institutes of Health; AARP.org; USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism;
WHAT CAN I HOPE TO
GAIN FROM THIS RETREAT?
At a Golden Girls Retreat you’ll be part of:
Three days of honest, engaged, vibrant, irreverent conversations about aging in a carefully curated space where vulnerability is encouraged and curiosity and compassion are key;
An intentional community of just 14 participants, all of whom are age 50 and older;
Conversations where you can candidly share details of your past, situations in your present, and hopes for the future;
A discussion-based program designed and facilitated by Hope, with help from special guests;
All in the magical setting of Topanga Canyon, California (about 40 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport)
Your Weekend Schedule at a Glance:
Friday Saturday Sunday
9:30 a.m.: Breakfast 9:30 a.m.: Breakfast 9:30 a.m.: Breakfast
10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Morning program 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Morning program 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Morning program
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.: Lunch (optional massage) 12:30 - 2 p.m.: Lunch (optional massage) 12:30 - 2 p.m.: Lunch
2 - 6 p.m.: Afternoon program 2 - 4 p.m.: Hike, hot tub, or massage 2-4 p.m.: Closing program
4-6 p.m. Afternoon program
Meet Your Facilitator
Hope Edelman
As the bestselling author of Motherless Daughters, Motherless Mothers, and The AfterGrief, Hope is widely considered one of the world's foremost experts on early mother loss. She has been working with bereaved daughters for 30 years and understands the experience from the inside out, having lost her mother, Marcia, to breast cancer when she was seventeen.
In 2016 Hope co-founded Motherless Daughters Retreats, which has now served more than 500 women at 27 retreats in the US and UK. As Founder and CEO of Motherlessdaughters.com she brings psychoeducation and support to thousands of women each year, both in person and online.
Hope’s articles and essays have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Parade, CNN.com, Glamour, Real Simple, Writer’s Digest, and more. She speaks at bereavement and writing conferences worldwide.
She is a certified life coach and a Certified Trauma Support Services Provider, with additional training in Narrative Therapy, Hope lives in L.A. and spends every summer in Iowa City, Iowa.
YOUR RETREAT FEE:
* $1295 (closes February 20, 2025)
Put down your $200 deposit (non-refundable) now to hold your space, then pay two additional payments due Feb. 1, and March 1.
PLEASE NOTE: Housing and transportation to and from the retreat space in Topanga Canyon are NOT included in your retreat fee.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Continental breakfast and lunch every day;
Coffee, tea and snacks all day;
Customized activities and tips based on your retreat group’s specific needs and requests;
Group nature hike or hot tub time on Saturday (optional);
Special guest speaker;
All workshop materials;
A bespoke gift bag upon arrival;
Access to a private WhatsApp group for pre- and post-retreat support;
A pre-retreat introductory Zoom call;
A follow-up group Zoom call two weeks post-retreat;
Priority access to future retreats and other offers;
A lifetime 10% discount on all future Motherless Daughters ONLINE offerings (support groups, webinars, online courses)
PLEASE NOTE: At least two years need to have elapsed since the time of your mother’s death to best meet your bereavement needs.
COVID-19 POLICY (AS OF 11/24):
We strongly suggest vaccination. We will not be testing or requiring tests of any participant. Each person assumes their own risk if they choose to attend this event, and everyone is encouraged to do what feels right in terms of masking. We are not able to give refunds outside of our normal cancellation policy (see below) for any sickness, so travel insurance is highly recommended.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Up to 30 days prior the start date: 50% refundable minus the $200 registration fee.
From 29 days to 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 29 days before start date if minimum enrollment has not been achieved. You would then receive a 100% refund of all payments made by that point.
WHERE YOU’LL BE CONNECTING, EATING & RETREATING:
Topanga Canyon, CA
SUGGESTED HOTELS NEARBY:
Hotel Anza (Calabasas, CA)
Marriott (Woodland Hills, CA)
Home2Suites by Hilton (Woodland Hills, CA)
Airbnb options in Topanga
“At Hope’s retreat, I was able to find what I had been missing since my mother’s death- a sisterhood of women who understand, a sense of not being alone, and a safe place to feel my grief. That sense of community was more effective and comforting than any therapy I’ve had!”
“It’s been almost twenty five years since my mom passed away, yet I feel her presence with me and within me more strongly now than ever. I am so grateful for the gift of this retreat and new insight.”
“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 was nervous and unsure before walking through the front door even though I wanted to be on this retreat. I can’t really explain it, but for me, it was a magical experience. I guess a more grown up word would be transformative.”
“My experience at the retreat was truly transformative. Hope and Claire put together a weekend of deep reflection and kindness that enabled me to think through many of the feelings I’ve had for years. 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 melissa@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 melissa@hopeedelman.com.