The GRIEF SPACE FOR MOTHERS

Becoming a mother transforms us in profound, beautiful, and often unseen ways.

With every transition, something shifts within us. Sometimes, alongside growth, there is loss.

The Grief Space for Mothers is a guided, sacred day retreat offering a gentle opportunity to pause, breathe, reflect, and honour the parts of your story that may still need witnessing.

You will be invited to dedicate this space to someone or something meaningful to you. This may be a former version of yourself, a season of life that has passed, an identity that has changed, a dream that looks different than you imagined, or a loved one you have lost.

This space also honours mothers who have experienced the loss of a child, pregnancy, or loved one, and those who have continued caring for others whilst carrying their own grief.

All grief is welcome here.

Many mothers carry quiet, unspoken losses:

• The version of yourself before motherhood

• A season of mothering that has passed too quickly

• Changes in identity, career, freedom or independence

• The reality of motherhood differing from what was imagined

• Children growing, changing, or leaving home

• The grief that can accompany parenting a child with additional needs

• The loss of a pregnancy, child, or loved one

• Any loss that your heart knows deserves space and acknowledgement

Throughout the day we will move gently through reflection, education, writing, witnessing, ritual and connection within a small, supportive group of mothers.

The day will be held by Rebecca Barnes, founder of Becoming The Mother. Rebecca is a certified Grief Space Facilitator, trained under grief educator and facilitator Donna Lancaster. Combining professional training with her own lived experience of motherhood, Rebecca creates compassionate, trauma-informed spaces where grief can be acknowledged, witnessed and honoured without judgement, fixing or expectation.

The Day Includes

• Welcome and sharing circle

• Opening ritual

• Grief education

• Letter writing practice

• Witnessing space

• Closing circle and ritual

This is a space for tenderness, remembrance, reflection and honouring.

You do not need to carry your grief alone.

When: Saturday, 26th September 10-4pm

Where: Maxwell House, Mincingfield Lane, Southampton. SO32 2BR

This day is for any mother carrying grief, whether that grief feels fresh, decades old, or difficult to put into words.

You may feel called to attend if you are grieving...

• The woman you were before becoming a mother
• A pregnancy, baby or child
• A loved one whose absence still lives within you
• A version of motherhood that unfolded differently to what you hoped
• Changes in your identity, relationships, career or sense of self
• A child growing up, becoming more independent or leaving home
• The unique challenges and grief that can accompany parenting a child with additional needs
• A life transition, dream or chapter that has come to an end
• Any loss that still feels present in your heart

You do not need to explain or justify your grief to be welcomed here.

Whether your loss is visible to others or something you've carried quietly for years, this is a space where every story is honoured with compassion, gentleness and care.