Mother’s Day can be a beautiful celebration of life, love, and maternal connection—but for many women, it’s also one of the most quietly painful days of the year.

It can be a brutal reminder of what’s missing: a child gone too soon. A mother no longer here. A family dynamic forever altered. For grieving mothers especially, Mother’s Day can feel like standing in the center of a party they no longer belong to—surrounded by balloons and brunch menus while silently breaking inside.

As someone who lost my 16-year-old son, Sammy, to fentanyl poisoning, I now live on both sides of that divide. I know what it is to be celebrated as a mother, and I know what it is to walk through Mother’s Day hollowed out with grief. I’ve also seen—personally and professionally—what truly supports grieving mothers on this day, and what unintentionally deepens their pain.

So if someone you love is grieving this Mother’s Day, here are a few things that might help:

1. Say Something

The biggest myth about grief is that bringing it up will make things worse. In truth, silence is often what hurts most. Say their child’s name. Say their mother’s name. A simple “I know this day might be hard—I’m thinking of you” is more powerful than you can imagine.

2. Let Her Lead

Some grieving mothers want to be surrounded by people. Some want to stay in bed and disappear. Don’t assume—ask. “Would you like company?” “Would it help or hurt to bring flowers?” Honor her grief by letting her choose.

3. Offer Something Specific

Don’t just say, “Let me know if you need anything.” Instead, drop off a meal. Light a candle in honor of her child and text her a photo. Send a card with a memory or a “just because” gift that reminds her she—and her child—are not forgotten.

4. Avoid the Fix-It Reflex

You can’t fix grief. You can only honor it. Avoid silver linings, “at least” statements, or spiritual bypasses like “everything happens for a reason.” Just let her feel what she feels. Sit with her in the hard. That’s the deepest love.

5. Remember Long After the Day Is Over

Grief doesn’t end when the holiday does. In fact, the days after can be even harder. A follow-up message, a check-in, a cup of coffee weeks later—all of these say, “Your pain still matters. Your love is still real.”

Over the past year, I’ve had the honor of working closely with grieving mothers from all over the country. Many of them came to me shattered, convinced they would never feel light again. That’s why I created the Love Mama Grief Retreat—a sacred space for mothers to grieve, connect, and begin to transform pain into purpose.

At our last retreat, one mother who had lost her daughter to suicide arrived carrying not just grief, but despair. She had considered ending her life. By the time she left, she said, “I didn’t know how I was going to keep living. Now I feel like I have a reason to and a path forward.” That’s the power of witnessing. Of tribe. Of healing in safe community.

So this Mother’s Day, if you are a grieving mother, I see you. If you love a grieving mother, show up with tenderness. And if you need a sacred space to begin again, we’re holding one for you.

To learn more about some of Dr. Laura Berman’s grief healing offerings, go to drlauraberman.com/griefhealing.