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, and experienced co-facilitators
EARLY LOSS RETREAT
For women who were up to and including age 21 at the time of loss.
November 13-16, 2025
in Chester, Connecticut
More Info and Registration Coming Soon!
“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 don’t ever “get over” it. Instead, you learn to accept and adapt.
At a Motherless Daughters Retreats, you won’t have to explain this.
You’ll be surrounded by women who get it, and who get you.
Sitting in a room of other women who understand your innermost triumphs, challenges and fears is a profound experience. Women describe these weekends as life-changing.
For the first time, they say, they didn’t alone in a room of strangers.
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. We support this as a form of self-care. This weekend is all about nurturing YOU and making sure you get what you need.
Will you laugh? Yes! More than anyone would expect from a grief retreat. We believe it’s important to add levity to gravity. Who wants to spend four straight days feeling sad? We’re not going to put you through that. 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 tell us that a Motherless Daughters Retreat is a life-changing experience. But 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.
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. We honor that and help you connect with others who’ve faced similar experiences at the same times in the past.
This is why our programs and activities are always customized to the makeup of each group. We’ll sometimes do breakout activities with small groups of women who lost moms at the same age — for example, 12 and under, or teenagers, or young adults.
What did your mom die from?
The way a mom died affects a daughter’s grief experience, too.
Typically, 2/3 daughters who come to a retreat lost their moms to long-term illnesses, and 1/3 lost 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 moms to suicide, or a cluster who lost their moms in an accident. We might do a special breakout activities for these daughters, too.
It all depends on who signs up for each retreat, since our programming changes to match the needs of each group. And every group is so unique!
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!
All retreats include:
Customized activities and discussions based on your retreat group’s specific needs;
Three nights’ accommodations (Connecticut and UK retreats only; group hotel rate available in Iowa City);
Catered, healthy, buffet-style meals;
All workshop materials, including activities you won’t find anywhere else;
Guidance and attention to your unique story from international experts in early mother loss, including Hope Edelman, author of Motherless Daughters and Motherless Mothers;
Lots of opportunities to share your story (or to just listen, if you want!)
A gift bag upon arrival;
Access to a private Facebook group for pre-retreat support;
Access to a private WhatsApp group for post-retreat support;
A follow-up group conference call;
Optional access to a continuation program for 6 months of continued contact (we’ll never let you leave unsupported!);
A lifetime 10% discount on select future Motherless Daughters ONLINE offerings (weekly support Community Calls and Writing with Hope programs);
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 at the time of 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.