Remembering My Mom
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I wanted to write something a little more personal this week.
March 9th was my mother’s birthday.
Her name was Linda Sahr Weingarten.
My mom died when I was four years old.
It’s something most people in my life know about me. It’s part of my story. And yet, it’s also something our society doesn’t talk about very much. Losing a parent young changes you, but we don’t always have language for how.
I know there are so many people out there who have lost a parent. I know how deeply that kind of loss can shape the direction of your life, the choices you make, the way you show up in the world.
It has absolutely shaped mine.
I don’t know who I would have been if this hadn’t happened. There’s no alternate timeline to compare it to. But I’m pretty sure this experience is part of what made me the independent person I am today.
I’m sure there are downsides. There always are with loss.
But today, I want to focus on the upside.
The Part of Me That Figures Things Out
I have always been the kind of person who figures it out.
If there’s a problem, you find a solution. If someone needs help, you make it happen. If there’s something that has to get done, you just… do it.
There’s very little drama in it. Just forward motion.
I don’t think that’s an accident.
When something foundational shifts that early in your life, you adapt. You learn that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. That you need to be capable. That you can survive hard things.
Independence became part of my wiring.
And while independence can sometimes look like “I’ve got this” when maybe you don’t, it has also given me resilience. It has given me courage. It has given me the ability to build something from nothing, whether that’s a business, a plan, or a new chapter.
In many ways, Happy Spaces exists because I am someone who believes if something isn’t working, you can create a better way.
That belief didn’t come from nowhere.
Realizing I Wasn’t the Only One
Years ago, I came across the book Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman.
I remember reading it and thinking,
Oh. This isn’t just me.
The ways I moved through relationships. The ways I handled milestones. The quiet questions that show up when you don’t have your mom to call. So many things I had assumed were uniquely mine were actually common among women who lost their mothers young.
There was something incredibly comforting about that.
In 2022, I went to a Motherless Daughters retreat. I met other women who had lost their moms before they were eighteen. We shared stories. We shared tears. We shared laughter that only makes sense when you’ve lived a similar kind of loss.
And maybe most importantly, I found community in an area of my life that had often felt lonely.
There is something powerful about being understood without having to over-explain.
Remembering Linda
So today, I just want to take a moment to remember my mom.
Linda Sahr Weingarten.
It still feels a little strange sometimes. I have pictures. I have stories. I have her name. But I don’t have memories. There aren’t videos or voice recordings to press play on. There isn’t a sensory snapshot I can return to.
And yet, she is part of me.
I’m grateful she was my mom, even for those four short years.
I’m grateful for the people who have shared stories about her with me.
And I’m grateful for the person I am today. Both because she was my mother… and because this hard, life-altering event helped shape me into someone who can hold complexity. Someone who can build. Someone who can support others through change and grief.
Loss is never something I would have chosen.
But it is something that shaped me.
And today, on her birthday, I choose to honor both the grief and the growth.
If you are someone who has lost a parent, especially young, please know you’re not alone. Even if it sometimes feels that way.
There are more of us out here than we talk about.
And we are finding our way, too.
Ready to Get Started?
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Let’s make progress together—because great results start with great planning!
A Note from Happy Spaces
Our goal is simple: to add value to your life. If you think this project will be helpful, here are some steps to set yourself up for success:
Estimate how long it will take—then double it. Giving yourself extra time helps reduce stress.
Schedule it on your calendar for the week ahead. Setting a specific date increases follow-through.
Break it up if it will take more than an hour. Tackling it in smaller steps makes it more manageable.
Make a list of every action needed before you start. A clear plan helps keep you on track.
Do what works for you—you don’t have to complete every part, just what adds value to your life.
Find an Accountability Partner—having support makes it easier to stay committed.
We understand that building new habits and systems can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. For additional support, visit HappySpacesBySarah.com and let’s make organizing and planning easier together.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
As the oldest of nine kids with two working parents, I grew up juggling many responsibilities at home. Organization and time management became my lifeline amidst the chaos.
I attended the Cornell Hotel School and pursued my childhood dream of working in the hospitality industry. In 2016, I launched Happy Spaces, combining my passion for structure and efficiency with helping others.
I love working with students to develop essential organizational, time management, and study skills. These skills empower them to reach their full potential, build confidence, and create a future they feel good about.