How to approach Mother’s Day grief

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Mother’s Day can be a painful reminder of loss for many women who are grieving. While the holiday celebrates motherhood, it can also bring emotional weight for those coping with the absence of their own mothers.

Dual diagnoses therapist Erica Hanner shared her perspective as she prepares for her first Mother’s Day without her mom.

“Grief is a very hard emotion to process,” Hanner said. “We’re not alone in grief, yet we feel alone.” She emphasized how grief often feels even heavier when you’re also trying to care for others.

Hanner noted the added complexity of being a mother while mourning a mother, especially when supporting a grieving family. “Everybody grieves differently,” she explained. “And that can make things even more complicated.”

She urged those who know someone facing loss to reach out and check on them. A small gesture of compassion, she said, can help someone feel seen during a difficult time.

Grief may not follow a straight path—but no one should have to walk it alone.