What Mothers & Daughters Are Saying

I used to react and yell at my teen daughter in practically every interaction we had. Mothering & Daughtering has truly changed all my relationships; you see, I grew up in a home where everyone yelled and no one really listened. I’ve learned to be the mature adult in relationship with my daughter, I’ve become more conscious in my relationship with my husband, my friends, my coworkers… Since studying the communication toolbox with you, there has been a gentle revolution in my home. I am so very grateful.  

-BG, mother

There has been a gentle revolution in my home.

Mothering used to feel kind of like a chore. It felt like raising the ‘perfect’ kid was this never-ending to-do list. Sil’s work blew that right open: she taught me to step into mothering as a spiritual path, to tune into the soul of my kid — and to raise my daughter as herself — not as a project. Getting my spiritual center as a mom wasn’t something I was able to find in any typical parenting books. Thank you, thank you.

-NW, mother

When I was twenty, my own mom died, and when I became a parent, I could only visualize an adult mother-daughter relationship as a black chasm. I was afraid that my daughters would grow up and move on, leaving me behind completely. Sil and Eliza have helped release me of these fears. They have shown me that adult daughters can in fact adore their moms, even though our faults are by then well-known.

-EC, mother

With an open heart and a sense of humor, Eliza created a space where every girl at the workshop felt seen and welcomed. It was remarkable to see and surely an antidote for the middle-school culture that my daughter experiences everyday! Thank you so much!

-CM, mother

Mothering & Daughtering has put me in touch with a sort of spiritual center that was missing in my mothering.

I learned to diet when I was a preteen, in my mother’s kitchen. And so began the toxic relationship to my body. I’ve been obsessed with weight for most of my life. But this was normal; so was almost every other woman I met. When I gave birth to a daughter, everything changed: I knew I didn’t want her to have this everyday burden of self-loathing that I carried around. Sil swooped into my life at the perfect moment: with her love and guidance I’ve made huge leaps in my relationship to food, weight and self-love. I’m proud to say that my girl is going to be raised in a body-loving household. And I think it might be rubbing off on my mom too…  which is an awesome bonus.

-NB, mother

Our middle-school psychologist told us that preteens and teens need to break from parental bonds in order to become self-sufficient. I didn’t realize until I was exposed to Sil and Eliza’s work that this information is incorrect and even potentially harmful. Learning that “true dependence creates true independence” and that my daughter and I can (indeed, should) stay close as she becomes her own person has given new purpose to my mothering. Thank you!

-ES, mother

Simply put, the workshop reminded me that I am on the right track as a mom and that I can trust my instincts with my kids. Hallelujah! My daughter loved being in a community of mothers and daughters where it was actually cool to get along with your mom – now she keeps telling me how weird it is that most mothers and daughters aren’t like this all of the time!

-RS, mother

You reminded me that I am on the right track as a mom and that I can trust my instincts with my kids. Hallelujah! Thank you.

To be honest, I didn’t want to go to the workshop (my mom literally packed my bag), and by the end…  I kept asking my mom if we could stay longer. It was a relief to be around such chill, nice, REAL people, especially Eliza. She’s dope.

-MP, 15-year-old daughter

I am not afraid of conflict with my daughter anymore- I say bring it on: it will make us closer!

Before taking the workshop, it was difficult making it through a day or two with my daughter without there being some kind of major or minor blowup. The morning after, I would wake up with a lot of guilt about how I had mishandled our conflict. Then I would try to fix things and often made them worse. It was a vicious cycle. The workshops we’ve taken with you have changed everything. My girl and I now have a rich and loving relationship, and I receive the most surprising and genuine love from her just when I least expect it. It’s amazing how we are both thriving in our relationship and in our lives, regardless of how turbulent the times may seem. To tell you the truth, I feel like a mothering expert now! I am not afraid of conflict with my daughter anymore- I say bring it on: it will make us closer! Thank you!

-RC, mother

I had been carrying so much unfelt grief from my relationship with my mother, that I knew I didn’t want to pass down to my daughter. In Sil’s arms, I’ve begun to heal. And that is grace itself.

-KL, mother

As the mother of two daughters, 14 and 15 years old, this book has become my bible. My relationship with my girls would not be as healthy , respectful and loving were it not for what I have learned reading Mothering & Daughtering. I love the way the book is set up so that my daughters are reading one side and I am reading the other, meeting in the middle at amazing Chapter 7, which we read together.

-KT, mother

I now feel compassionate with myself as I make mistakes along the way, and grounded in my confidence as I raise a teen girl.

I hadn’t realized how much I had lost my confidence as a mother. My sessions with Sil have been transformational: now I feel passionate about strengthening my bond with my daughter, compassionate with myself as I make mistakes along the way, and grounded in my confidence as I raise a teen girl. Sil is passionate and compassionate, and that is what she teaches. There is a kind of magical alchemy in the way that she works.

-NK, mother

The best part for her was that she loved being in a community of mothers and daughters where it is actually cool to get along with your mom.