Sadly, I belong to this group. I lost my mom in 2011 to Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. For most of my life we were together daily. When she got to the point where she could no longer accompany me to the many places we would go, I used to look over at the passenger seat and cry because it was empty. I don’t think anyone can really understand the impact that losing a mother can do until it happens to you. I am so very glad for support groups, such as this one. Although I may not comment much I do stop in to read the comforting words that are written by those in this very supportive group.
Today I am talking to the creator of the Facebook Group, Daughters Without Mothers.
Please welcome Erica
Hello I’m a 36 year old wife and mother of one. I’m a restaurant manager by day and I freelance writer by night. I recently relocated back to my hometown of Salisbury, Maryland after living in Virginia Beach, Virginia for seven years.
Please tell the readers a little about the group.
My group is called Daughters Without Mothers we have 392 members to date. I started the group about six years ago. The group is compiled of females only who have lost their mothers or mother figures. Often loved ones and friends try to comfort and console during your time of loss, but if you haven’t been thru the grieving process of actually losing your mother, you can’t even imagine the pain and suffering one endures while trying to go on with life without your mother.
What inspired you to create this group?
I was inspired to start this group after years of grieving the loss of my mother and at the time, feeling that there was no outlet of support or direct connection with other women who were going thru the same thing I was. I lost my mother suddenly without warning on Mother’s Day 2002. I found her looking as though she was sleeping peacefully. I was twenty one years old and I had a younger sister whom I immediately became responsible of. Prior to the death of my mom, I hadn’t experienced any real or significant type of loss so I had no idea what to expect. My mother was forty six years old, fairly young. All of my friends and family all pretty much still had their mothers so I found that I couldn’t really look to them for any type of guidance as I began the long process of mourning. They offered whatever type of support they could but the fact of the matter was they didn’t understand what I was feeling, no matter how much they wanted to. I felt alone and sad, which really hindered my healing process. I woke up one day and said I was going to come up with an idea to make sure no other woman would have to feel this way.
What would you like this group to accomplish?
I hope to be able to reach each and every woman who has or will go thru the process of losing their mother. That they know there is an outlet of other women who have gone thru the same exact process and that we are available to talk, listen, cry or whatever is needed at the time. I love my group and my members do as well. We are hoping to start having functions around the country to be able to physically meet and greet each other.
Thank you Erica for taking the time to tell us about this much needed group!
Click on the link to find this Facebook group – Daughters Without Mothers
*This blog post is part of the Blogging From A-to-Z Challenge (April 2017).
*The Internet is a useful tool for creating online support groups. Please lend a helping hand by sharing this blog post in the hopes it reaches someone who may benefit from this group.
*If you are interested in sharing your Facebook group with my readers please email me at pluckingofmyheartstrings@gmail.com
Books About Daughters Without Mothers
*This blog post contains affiliate links.
~Plucking Of My Heartstrings~ 
I’m lucky enough to still have both my mom and dad. My husband lost his mother a few days before her 97th birthday. Growing up without one parent is hard. Thanks for sharing.
You are very lucky! My dad died in 1995. It’s been tough not having either parent.
hugs.
I’m so sorry for your loss, my dad died when I was 15 and the pain was unbearable… I cannot imagine how it must feel to lose your mother. Thank you for sharing, I will pass on the group information to those I know who need it x
Sorry you had to face the death of your dad at such an early age. Thank you for sharing this group. I am sure there are a lot of daughters out there missing their mom and not knowing this group exists.
This made me so incredibly sad as I’m very close to my mother and I’m very lucky to have her. I can’t contemplate or imagine what it would be like to lose her, so I am very sorry for your loss. x
Thank you. It’s been almost 6 years now and I still miss her terribly.
This is a good idea.
I think so too!
I lost my mum suddenly when I was 14. My sisters were 13 and 11. The youngest were twins. I became the mother figure for most of my adult life. I now mother myself first and foremost.
Sorry for your loss, and at such a young age. There comes a time when we need to start taking care of ourselves first.
Thanks Cheryl. It took me a long time to learn this.
This sounds like a good group. I still miss my mom who died in 1976, at seventy from heart failure.
Sorry for your loss. I don’t think we ever stop missing our moms!
I feel bad now for always giving out about me ma 😱
Don’t feel bad. Most of us have done it. Doesn’t mean we don’t love them.
Ah she’s not the worst I suppose 😉
It’s nice that this group is there. Grief is such a hard thing to cope with, and having support like that is good.
My “theme” – A Thirty-Word Story, revealing one word of the story each day of the challenge.
#AtoZChallenge The Letter D
Grief can be hard and it’s nice to have others around who can relate.
I was saddened to read how you have lost your mom to cancer. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for that moment – how can you be? My mom is still healthy and active at almost 70 and I am hopeful we have a good length of life to go yet.
That is awesome that your mom is doing well at 70. I had a great-grandmother who lived to 103. She was my mother’s grandmother. If my mom hadn’t been diagnosed with leukemia she may have lived a really long life as that side of the family is known for its longevity.
Wow 103! We don’t generally last quite that long. I spend a lot of time thinking about just how much those who make it to 100 have seen – and seen change – in their lifetime.
My mom has Alzheimer’s and the end is inevitable. I didn’t know groups like this existed. I don’t think I’m ready to check it out yet, but it may be a useful tool in the future. Thank you for raising awareness!
Sorry to hear about your mom. I have had a few relatives die from Alzheimer’s. It’s really a sad disease. Don’t be afraid to reach out to relatives, friends, or support groups if you ever feel you need to. Hugs.
It is a really sad disease. I’ve been lucky that I’m really close with my sister and we lean on each other for support, but I will keep this group in mind as I’m sure dealing with this will only get harder.
I to am a daughter without a mother . I lost my mother in 2000. She called me and told me she needed help. I rushed to her place called 911 and worked on her until fire dept/ ambulance came. But unfortunately a neurologist told me she had no brain stem function. Being an only child I had to decide to let her go. Knowing her wishes I did 2 days later. I feel guilt somedays because I keep thinking if I could have drive faster to her, worked on her harder instead of being in a half panic state while trying to do cpr and compressions. What a great group. You may see me there.
I don’t even know if I could have performed CPR on my mother, I’d be in too much of a panic. I believe that when it’s time for someone to go there isn’t anything anyone can do to stop it. You tried your best. Your mother wouldn’t want you to feel guilty, so please try not to. Hugs.
Hi ChronicallyGratefulDebla I think what you did for your Mum was amazing, the drive alone to your Mum must have been awful not knowing what you were going to face. You can look back and say at least I tried to do something, I take my hat off to you
Thank You.
Hi Cheryl, I lost my Mum in 25 April 1995, she had several health problems mainly due to having strokes. It was a difficult time but thank you for this post x x x
Sorry for your loss. I lost my dad in 1995 to lung cancer. Sad thing is he had stopped smoking 10 years prior. Thank you for your kind comment to ChronicallyGreatfulDebla. And thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this blog post.
This post is beautiful and I salute those who’ve lost such loved ones. You deserve the world. I lost my healthy grandmother a few weeks ago and am devastated as she was very very young. I definitely feel like writing helps express your emotions. You’re doing an amazing thing! 🙏🏻
I am so sorry for your loss. I did read your story a while ago and I am glad that you decided to write it. People often say that things will get better with time. What they don’t tell you is that life will never be the same. Take care!
Hey! That’s great. Love it
https://figmentsofimaginationwordpresscom.wordpress.com/2017/05/12/the-best-mums-award-goes-to-you/
How nice of you! I hope you had a great mother’s day.