Please know you’re not alone on the child loss journey. My son Kulten ran ahead on April 21st, 2021 and it has forever changed my life. Please reach out for information on connecting to other moms on the journey, as a resource for others or yourself to help someone on the journey.
Melissa Sargent
[email protected]
619-633-5105
Modern Woodsmen highlighted our choice to use Kulten’s life insurance money to begin Kulten for a Cause.
Save the Date
2026 Grieving Mother’s Retreat
Friday – Sunday, May 1 – 3, 2026, in Ramona
Annual Retreat
The grieving mother retreat came about as I had attended two other retreats and had a lot of takeaways but they felt more like conferences with a ton of resources, and speakers and were biblical-based. I am more of a giver, doer, hands-on, mover, and shaker. With my son’s first anniversary of his service, I knew I had to do something that would help me not fall into a deep hole.
Each retreat is filled with things we moms have wanted to do, but don’t make time to do for ourselves as the child loss journey takes a lot from our mind, body, heart, and soul daily to just function. We do archery, break room, painting party, jewelry making classes, massages, get a full pampering that includes mani, hair, makeup and a photoshoot, bonfire talks, scream therapy, yoga, journal making, mediations, other meaningful arts and crafts while sharing our child that ran ahead but also our surviving children, daily life all while with other mom’s who are on this child loss journey.
Scroll below to see a gallery of photos from a previous retreat.
Surrounded by other mothers who understood the depth of this kind of loss, I found comfort in our shared stories and strength in our silent moments. The retreat gave me space to remember my son—not just in sorrow, but in joy—and reminded me that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means carrying love forward, together.
Thank you for seeing me as I grieve and embracing a spot for my beloved son Mikey!
Then when we met for the first time while I attended a monthly meeting, she became a sort of lifeline for me. I immediately felt such a natural bond to her, someone who I could trust, talk to with no filters, feel safe around and most of all share everything about John Paul, my family and me with no judgement or time restraints. And after meeting the other Moms in the group, it became very apparent that she not only made me feel this way, but she genuinely did this for everyone.
This is the second grief group that I belong to and neither one is a short distance to get to. However, the difference in attending Melissa’s group has been life changing for me. It is not just a place to share the one soul crushing thing we all have in common such as losing a child. She literally provides a lifeline on a journey that has no end but can provide hope, peace, compassion, safety and a common goal of sharing love to those of us that some days can’t feel anything but numb.
And each individual’s journey is their own to explore as much or as little as you need. I still have not attended the whole retreat because of my own personal reasons for 2024 & 2025. However, the time I have spent at the retreat each year so far, has allowed me to grow, heal and feel my son’s happiness & pride. Nothing is more important to me than to celebrate & honor my son John Paul and for him to know that his Mom will continue his legacy no matter how hard the journey is or gets!
I love that we are able to be with other mothers that understand. Spending a weekend together allows us to learn from one another and form bonds. There are not many opportunities that I know of where grieving mothers can come together and be pampered, and supported and loved. This retreat is a blessing!
