# 89. The grief for a mother who's still alive

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456/89-the-grief-for-a-mother-who-s-still-alive
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456/89-the-grief-for-a-mother-who-s-still-alive.md
Podcast: [Mothering Ourselves Mindfully](https://stenobird.com/podcast/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456)
Published: 2026-04-28T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.theschoolofmom.com
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/88450425-9f47-4604-9ff7-ef3579822d54.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456/episodes/89-the-grief-for-a-mother-who-s-still-alive
Duration seconds: 1083

## Resource

Mother's Day is coming — and for some of us, it lands with a kind of grief that's almost impossible to explain. This episode was inspired by a deeply moving session with our Untethered alum group: a community of women navigating dysfunctional or estranged relationships with their moms. If you're a mom who has a hard relationship with your mom, this one's for you — and it might be the most important thing you share this season. Key Points What it means to be an "Apple" — and why having a space where you don't have to explain yourself is everything The bucket that only your mother can fill (unconditional witnessing, love, and acceptance) — and what to do when she can't Why even the most well-meaning partners often make it worse — and what to ask for from the people in your life instead Why the School of MOM community exists: to be the circle where you are deeply seen, without explanation The two ends of the spectrum: numbing/compartmentalizing vs. fully insourcing your own mothering — and what to do when you're somewhere in the middle The first practice to reach for in a hard moment: the mindfulness of struggle ("This is really hard" + hand on heart) Introducing FMF — Feel My Feelings — and why carving out intentional time to be with your feelings (not alone) is the practice The power of non-human resources: trees, rocks, bodies of water, candles, pets — as steady companions in your FMF moments How naming the struggle brings your prefrontal cortex online and opens the door to the nervous system's safety and connection state An announcement: Sarah is opening a rare one-on-one coaching spot for a mom of daughters who is ready to close the gap between knowing and embodying Quotes "I am honestly ready for my mom to die — and all I want is my mom. And there's not a lot of gro…

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