SIgn ups for a Different Kind of Mother’s Day 2021 are now closed
i can’t say for sure how you feel, but i’m guessing if you made it this far, it might be because Mother’s Day leaves you feeling a little off.
me too.
Mother’s Day is a Hallmark holiday designed for a very specific person — someone with a living mother or child and an active mother-child relationship. That’s what can make it hard.
The celebration of Mother’s Day doesn’t often capture the full breadth of experience of people who don’t fit into the traditional Mother’s Day mold. For those of us with non-living or estranged mother-child relationships, this day can be incredibly isolating.
A Different Kind of Kind of Mother’s Day is a yearly event where people all around the country who are missing a mom or child — of any age — connect with a phone call on Mother’s Day. It’s a pretty simple concept, but for those of us who don’t quite fit into the traditional Mother’s Day framework, it can be comforting. Mother’s Day will never be the same without your loved one, I get that. But by making space to sit with and acknowledge each other on this day, my hope is that you’ll feel a little more connected by knowing there are people out there missing someone, too. If there’s no Hallmark card for you, we’re your crew.
I was excited and anxious about participating in A Different Kind of Mother's Day. As it turned out, it was like talking to someone who I already knew. I connected with two people and my conversations left me with this expanded heart kind of feeling, just knowing that two strangers in different parts of the country were not strangers at all. The Mother's Day conversations were something that we all need more of; to know that we are more the same than we are different.
nancy
READY TO SIGN UP?
here’s how
it works
sign ups are now closed
sign up below by May 6th.
we’ll pair you with another participant.
we’ll send you their info on May 8th (along with some conversation starters and things to help you feel connected)
On May 9th at 3pm PST you’ll call and connect
"This Mother's Day I am remembering my Mother who died right after I turned 14. I often give her a thought or two on this day, and mostly let it pass like any other day. I am hoping to change this and allow myself to connect with her memory and her gifts."
-m.w.
Who is This for?
We're building a
community of people
who "get it."
Though we all come together with different stories, some from death and some from distance, we share an understanding of loss. By allowing people on both sides of mother-child loss to show up for each other in a powerful way, we can find connection and empathy.
PS. This project is for everyone who feels called to participate. If you feel loss on Mother's Day and resonate with the idea of connecting with someone who understands, we want to help support you in finding that connection.
We HAVE ANSWERS
FAQ
How does this actually work. What's the time commitment?
After you sign up, we'll send you your pair info on May 8th in an email. On May 9th, you and your pair will call each other at 3pm PST — along with everyone else participating in A Different Kind of Mother’s Day — and connect for however long you want.
What if I can’t make the 3pm PST call time?
We’re a super small team. In the future we hope to accommodate all types of needs — like different event times — but for now, given our capacity, we need to just have one time.
How do you make the pairs?
We'd like to think of it as a numbers game with a lot of heart. We read through everything you share with us to look for any special requests and then divide and match people based on what people share on their forms.
What type of loss qualifies to participate?
Maybe you're unsure if you can participate because your situation isn't so black and white. Maybe you're missing your grandma or aunt on this day. Perhaps you've never met the person you've lost due to time, space, or miscarriage. We can't list all the reasons you might feel unsure if you can participate, but the bottom line is if this project resonates with you, you are welcome here. We'd love to connect you with someone.
What are some special requests?
Requests vary. Some people request to be paired with people who have similar loss stories, while others want to connect with people in similar career fields or with similar interests. Meeting all requests isn't possible, but we try our best!
But isn't it weird talking to a stranger?
We hear you. Meeting new people, especially over something like the death of a loved one, isn't easy. Remember, sharing your mother or child's story isn't necessary — especially if those memories are painful or hard to re-live. (But it's not off limits either!) We'll connect you with someone who has lost a loved one and provide you with a few prompts for how to get started including things you might want to connect over and questions to ask each other.
Can I sign up for someone else — as a gift and surprise?
We ask that everyone who signs up knows they are being signed up. If you think someone in your life would like this, send them this website!
See more questions and answers on our FAQ page