Birthmoms Empowered Retreat FAQ
Regiter here.
What is the Birthmoms Empowered Retreat?
The Birthmoms Empowered Retreat is an in-person weekend created for Birthmoms, by Birthmoms.
It is a weekend to get away from everyday life and spend time with other women who understand the complicated, lifelong experience of being a Birthmom. There will be meaningful conversations, guided sessions, plenty of laughter, downtime, crafts, food, and space to simply be yourself.
You do not have to explain adoption here. We already get it.
When is the 2026 retreat?
Our 2026 retreat will be held October 9–11, 2026.
Where is the retreat?
The retreat will be held in a private home in Northwest Chicago.
For the privacy and safety of everyone attending, the exact address will be shared with registered participants before the retreat.
Who can attend?
The retreat is for Birthmoms who have voluntarily placed a child for adoption and are looking for community, support, and connection with other Birthmoms.
Your adoption can be open, closed, somewhere in between, or have changed over the years. There is no one “right” Birthmom experience.
How many people attend?
We intentionally keep the retreat small.
Our 2026 retreat will have approximately 10–14 Birthmoms, allowing us to create a comfortable environment where everyone has an opportunity to connect and be part of the group.
How much does the retreat cost?
Registration for the 2026 retreat is $200.
And we need to give a huge THANK YOU to our donors! Your support helped us reduce the cost to participants by approximately 60%.
Keeping retreats affordable is incredibly important to Birthmoms Empowered, and we could not have done that without the people who believe Birthmoms deserve this kind of support and community.
What is included in the registration fee?
Pretty much everything you need for the weekend.
Your registration includes:
Two nights of lodging
Meals and snacks
Retreat sessions and activities
Retreat materials and supplies
Crafts
A weekend surrounded by people who understand
You will receive more details about what to bring before the retreat.
What happens on Friday?
Friday is all about arriving, getting comfortable, meeting everyone, and settling into the weekend.
Participants will arrive in the early evening, choose their sleeping space, grab their retreat materials, and have time to meet the other Birthmoms.
We will have pizza and salad for dinner, followed by our official welcome and the beginning of the retreat.
Friday evening is also our first opportunity to begin sharing our stories and getting to know one another beyond the usual introductions.
You never have to tell more of your story than you are comfortable sharing.
What happens on Saturday?
Saturday is our biggest retreat day.
Throughout the day, we move between large-group conversations, smaller discussions, activities, breaks, meals, and time to connect.
Topics may include things like grief, anger, resilience, self-worth, relationships, acceptance, boundaries, and navigating the lifelong changes that can come with adoption.
Every retreat is a little different because every group is different. We pay attention to what is happening in the room and may adjust conversations or activities based on what the group needs.
Is this therapy?
No.
Birthmoms Empowered retreats are peer-support retreats, not therapy or a substitute for professional mental health care.
Some conversations may be emotional and therapeutic in nature, but the heart of the retreat is Birthmoms supporting Birthmoms through shared experience, honest conversation, and community.
Do I have to talk about my adoption?
You will be invited to participate, but you will never be expected to share something you are not ready to share.
Some Birthmoms come ready to talk. Others need time to listen first.
Both are okay.
What if I cry?
Then you cry.
Seriously.
We believe emotions are healthy, and there is no need to apologize for having them. Tears, laughter, anger, nervousness, relief, joy — all of it belongs here.
Being trusted with another Birthmom's real emotions is an honor.
What if I'm nervous, shy, or an introvert?
That is completely okay — and you definitely will not be the only one.
Walking into a retreat full of people you haven't met can feel intimidating, especially when you know the weekend may include some vulnerable conversations.
If you're nervous about coming, we would love to connect with you before the retreat by phone or video chat. Sometimes having one familiar voice or face waiting for you when you arrive makes all the difference.
Reach out to us. We are happy to answer questions, talk through what to expect, or simply say hello before the weekend.
Will there be downtime?
Absolutely.
This is not a weekend of sitting in a circle talking nonstop.
There are breaks, meals, crafts, games, walks, puzzles, snacks, conversations in the kitchen, and plenty of opportunities to simply hang out.
Some of the most meaningful connections happen during those completely unplanned moments.
What's Saturday night like?
Saturday night is intentionally relaxed.
After dinner, the structured part of the day winds down and everyone gets a chance to have fun, talk, play games, work on puzzles, make crafts, or just hang out.
What happens on Sunday?
Sunday is about bringing the weekend together.
We spend some time reflecting on what we have learned, the connections we have made, and what we want to carry with us when we go home.
There is one final session, plenty of encouragement from the group, and a special closing experience before everyone heads home.
We intentionally keep some of our retreat traditions a surprise. They mean more when you experience them for the first time with the other Birthmoms.
Do I need to stay overnight?
Yes. The overnight experience is an important part of the retreat.
This is intentionally more than a workshop or day event. Living together for the weekend — eating meals, staying up talking, doing activities, laughing, crying, and simply spending time together — is a big part of how the community forms.
What are the sleeping arrangements?
This is a shared retreat house rather than a hotel, so sleeping arrangements vary by room.
We will provide registered participants with more information about the house and sleeping arrangements before the retreat.
Are meals included?
Yes!
Meals, snacks, drinks, and plenty of coffee are included throughout the weekend.
If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, we will ask about those during registration so we can plan accordingly.
What should I bring?
You will receive a complete packing list before the retreat.
Mostly, bring comfortable clothes, personal items, and whatever helps you feel at home for the weekend.
We provide the retreat materials, journals, supplies, crafts, and plenty of little touches designed to make the house feel welcoming.
Are there rules?
We do have a few community guidelines designed to make the retreat safe and respectful for everyone.
The biggest ones are simple:
Be kind. Respect confidentiality. Give people space to have their own feelings and experiences. And don't give advice unless someone asks for it.
We will go through everything together at the beginning of the retreat.
What if I don't know anyone?
That is completely normal.
Many Birthmoms arrive nervous, especially if it is their first retreat.
One of the wonderful things about a small retreat is how quickly “I don't know anybody here” can turn into sitting around a kitchen table talking like you've known each other forever.
You do not have to arrive with a friend.
You may leave with several.
How do I register?
You can register here.
Once you are registered, we will send additional retreat details, including the exact location, arrival information, packing suggestions, and everything you need to know before the weekend.