ABSTRACT

When Diane Sher Lutovich set out to attain closure of her mother's death she simultaneously discovered how other women address their losses. "Nobody's Child: How Older Women Say Good-bye to Their Mothers", in poetry and prose, tells the big and little stories of women who, having come of age during the feminist revolution, lived very different lives than their mothers. The author addresses the guilt a daughter feels when confronted by her mother's life choices, the loss of family history and a belated recognition of her mother's legacy. The voices are heard within these pages, giving occasion for the reader to learn about the multiplicity of feelings-including remorse, fear, frustration, compassion, and deep admiration-that many daughters experience at their mother's passing.

chapter |18 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|10 pages

Mothers and Daughters

chapter 2|20 pages

Relationships

chapter 3|20 pages

What Death Triggers

chapter 4|16 pages

Guilty or Not

chapter 5|18 pages

A Mother's Legacy

chapter 6|16 pages

Taking Care of Ourselves

chapter 7|16 pages

Holding On and Moving Forward