Motherless Daughters Day 2006

A beautiful setting, beautiful women (and even some men), amazing speakers, great food and even a surprise goody bag made this 10^th anniversary Motherless Daughter’s Day very special.  60 motherless women gathered at the Mountaingate Country Club to support each other and honor the memory of their mothers on what is often a difficult Mother’s Day weekend. 

Our keynote speaker, Ann O’Fallon, spoke about how her book, “Kiss Me Goodnight,” came to be and four motherless daughters who contributed poems and stories for the book were there in person to read their work to us.  It was very powerful, moving and beautiful. 

We were blessed to have Hope Edelman join us, without whose groundbreaking first book, “Motherless Daughters, The Legacy of Loss”; none of us would be there at all.  Hope spoke to us about the tradition of Motherless Daughter's Day and of some of the first groups that still get together 10 years later. 

The first Motherless Daughter’s Day was held in Los Angeles in l997 and many of the women from that day were there this time and have come faithfully every year.  What a pleasure to see them and to see so many new faces as well. 

The circle of remembrance ceremony, where we all join hands and say, “Our first name, daughter of, our mother’s first name” is always moving and sad.  There is a feeling in the room at that time that all of our mothers are there with us and that they appreciate being remembered and honored in that way.  I hope it was a healing experience for those in attendance and I’m looking forward to seeing all of you next year.