welcome to
THE M.O.M. PROJECT
a space of hope, healing, and new beginnings for mothers who have been separated from their children.
At The M.O.M. Project, we support noncustodial and at-risk mothers who are healing from Maternal Custodial Trauma™, which includes the grief, shame, stigma, and identity loss that often come with separation from their children.
We offer a new and innovative recovery approach that is grounded in the lived experiences of women who have survived custody loss and the systems surrounding it.
Our program equips mothers with powerful tools and practical resources that help them rebuild their lives, reimagine their role in motherhood, find strength in the face of stigma, and reconnect with themselves and their children, regardless of custody status.
Our Mission
Our mission and main objective is to help noncustodial and at-risk mothers heal from Maternal Custodial Trauma™ and rebuild their lives with support, dignity, and hope.
Our Vision
The M.O.M. Project envisions a world where custody loss becomes a catalyst for healing, not a life sentence of shame.
We believe in empowering mothers to break generational cycles, cultivate self-love, and redefine what it means to show up for their children. That presence is not always defined by legal custody, but by consistent and healthy engagement in whatever form best supports the child and family.
This movement is not just about reunification. It is about transformation.
We aim to be a bridge for mothers navigating the quiet and often overlooked spaces of family court — the side that is rarely talked about and even more rarely supported. Through trauma-informed care, community connection, and radical hope, we help mothers become strong, grounded role models their children can admire, whether they live in the same household or not.
Our Core Values
At The M.O.M. Project, our values guide everything we do.
Empowerment Through Self‑Love
We believe healing begins with embracing one’s worth. By fostering self‑compassion and resilience, mothers can become the strong, grounded role models their children deserve.
Breaking Generational Cycles
We are committed to helping families rewrite their stories, replacing cycles of trauma and loss with legacies of strength, stability, and hope.
Presence Over Perfection
Motherhood is more than a custody arrangement — it’s about showing up in ways that are healthy, sustainable, and right for each family. We honor every path that allows mothers to be present in their children’s lives.
Bridging the Gaps
We stand in the spaces often overlooked by traditional family services, offering resources and community where the system too often falls silent.
Community & Connection
True healing happens in community. We build bridges between mothers, children, guardians, and support networks to ensure no family walks this road alone.
Radical Hope
We believe that change is always possible. Even in the face of stigma, systems, and separation, we hold space for transformation. We lead with radical hope — for mothers, for families, and for what comes next.
Announcements
📣 Share Your Story: Motherhood on Hold Is Expanding
Have you experienced the heartbreak of custody loss — and found the strength to keep going?
Mending Our Mistakes, Inc. is collecting real stories from mothers who have lived through the pain of losing custody or guardianship and are finding their way forward. These stories will be considered for inclusion in the revised edition of Motherhood on Hold, our signature compilation that brings voice to what so many experience — but few talk about.
We are especially looking for:
Stories of loss, injustice, or painful separation
Reflections on recovery, identity, resilience, or growth
Messages of solidarity, courage, and hope
Not every submission will be published, but we carefully read and honor each one. Stories that stand out — whether raw, redemptive, or revelatory — may be included in the next edition.
There is no deadline. This is an ongoing project — and your voice may be just the one another mother needs to hear.
Story Format for Motherhood on Hold
Each story should be written in three parts:
1. Before
Paint a picture of what life looked like before custody was lost.
Include both the good and the hard:
What did daily life with your children mean to you?
What moments made you feel like a mother?
What hopes or dreams did you hold for your family?
Keep it personal and human — small details (bedtime routines, favorite meals, little rituals) make the story relatable.
2. What Happened
Describe the events that led to custody loss.
Include specific details (court dates, CPS involvement, legal struggles, financial toll, impossible choices) without turning it into a list of accusations.
Focus on how it felt, what you endured, and how the system affected you.
Examples of details to include:
The moment you realized stability was slipping away.
Times you felt powerless in court or with professionals.
The hardest choice you had to make.
The toll it took — financially, emotionally, spiritually.
Remember: the heart of this section isn’t about blame but about truth. Show the reality of what mothers go through.
3. Where I Am Now
Share how you are coping today.
What keeps you going (faith, hope, love for your children, education, writing, advocacy, therapy, support groups, etc.)?
What do you want your children to remember about you as their mother?
Offer a message of solidarity:
To other mothers: “You are not alone.”
To the system: “This is what we endure, and this is how we survive.”
End on a note of hope or strength. Even if you’re still in the middle of the fight, close with something that shows you are still standing.
🔑 Tone Guide
First-person voice: “I,” “my,” “me.”
Human, not polished: Like you are talking to a group of mothers who understand.
Detailed, not vague: Include the small and painful details that make the story real.
Resilience-centered: The focus is on survival, endurance, and hope — not on blame.
Closing note of strength: Always end with what keeps you standing.
✍️ Submit Your Story Below
(Please allow 5–10 minutes to complete the form. Submissions may be edited for length or clarity if selected.)
The Motherhood on Hold Series
A powerful collection written for mothers navigating the pain of custody loss, grief, and stigma. This series empowers noncustodial mothers with the tools and resources that foster resilience, recovery, and hope. These books were created to give voice to the struggles mothers rarely feel safe sharing, and to shine a light on healing pathways forward.
A raw and honest exploration of the grief, shame, and isolation mothers experience when separated from their children, offering understanding and the first steps toward healing.
A hopeful vision for recovery and reconnection, guiding mothers to find strength, community, and purpose as they turn toward healing and resilience.
Practical tools, lived experiences, and empowering stories to help mothers rebuild their lives, restore dignity, and rediscover their role in motherhood beyond custody status.
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Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!