Moms are sharing their deepest grief in this viral trend—and it’s gut-wrenching

[Trigger warning: This article discusses miscarriage and child loss.]

The loss of a child, whether to miscarriage or infant loss, is the deepest pain imaginable. But it’s more common than we think. Approximately 10% to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, and about 1 in 175 births in the U.S. result in stillbirth.

A viral trend that gives voice to silent grief

Now, a viral trend is bringing that quiet kind of grief into the open, with a growing number of social media posts with the caption:

When I leave this earth, bury me in comfy clothes and tie my shoelaces right. I’ve got a playdate with a little girl waiting for me in the sky.

It’s more than a trend—it’s a wave of remembrance, a raw and heartbreaking way for grieving mothers to say, “I have never stopped thinking about my child.”

Millions of posts in just one week

According to TikTok’s Discover page, millions of posts on this trend have been shared within the past week, showing just how deeply it’s resonating. Moms across TikTok and Instagram are sharing their own versions of this sentiment, each post opening a floodgate of emotions.

Creator Nika Diwa reflected, “This trend is making my heart ache. Seeing all the stories of mamas sharing their stories of loss…💔 I lost a child a long time ago and still. I will see a girl who would have been her age and it makes my heart ache. And I daydream about how it will feel to run through heaven’s gates and hold her for the first time. One day…🕊️”

Moms are sharing their own stories of loss

For generations, pregnancy and child loss have been topics shrouded in silence. Many women endured miscarriages alone, sometimes before they even shared the news that they were pregnant. Others faced the unimaginable loss of an infant or child and were met with the world’s discomfort around their grief. But a mothers grief never fades—it just lives forever, often quietly beneath the surface.

This trend is a poignant reminder that for grieving mothers, remembering their child is not just a personal act, but a lifelong longing. To say their child’s name, to acknowledge their existence, to let the world know: They were here. They mattered.

Related: This grieving mama has some important advice for other parents

Moms are sharing their own heartbreak, each post a love letter to a child gone too soon:

@kayla.wilson4 shared a tribute to her daughter, writing:

“I have a long overdue playdate with my little girl who’s been waiting for her mama to join her.” 🌸 #Aubrey #PregnancyLoss #Stillborn #StillBeautiful #InfantLossAwareness

@elevenahmosee honored her son, saying:

“When I die, bury me in my Queen Ramonda dress because I have my little Black Panther waiting for his mommy on the other side. We have a lot of stories to catch up on 🥺💜” #ZeiasWolf #ChildLoss #LifeAfterLoss #DIPG #UnconditionalLove #ChildhoodCancer #GriefJourney

@verucasalt444 shared a quiet, aching message:

“I have a long overdue sleepover with my son.” 👼🏽 

@brookeyeagerr posted:

“I have a long overdue playdate with a little girl who’s been waiting on her mama to join her.” ❤️‍🩹 #StillbornStillLoved #StillbirthAwareness

Why this trend is resonating far beyond motherhood

In a digital space where motherhood is so often curated for perfection, this movement is something different—it’s raw, honest, and deeply needed.

It has also resonated far beyond mothers who have experienced loss, touching those who have never personally gone through it but still feel the weight of these stories. 

Creator @worthfit, was brought to tears after seeing a video with the message: Some girl just posted a video that said, ‘When I die, bury me in comfortable clothes and make sure my shoes are tied tight’ because she had a miscarriage. And she said, ‘I have a long overdue playdate with a little girl.’ It is Tuesday morning. I’m supposed to be working. I saw someone say, “and when you get there, you’re gonna hear a little voice that says, ‘Guys, that’s my mom.’”

The messages in these posts are universal: love endures, and the ones we’ve lost are never truly gone. It’s a virtual embrace, a moment of collective grief and solidarity.

Because for so many mothers, the idea of a playdate in the sky isn’t just a wish—it’s the belief that love transcends time, space, and even loss.

Related: Powerful emotional video aims to take the shame out of miscarriage—and it’s a must-watch

Sources:

1. Miscarriages statistics. Harvard Health Publishing. 2024. “Miscarriage.”
2. Data on stillbirth. CDC. 2024. “Data and Statistics on Stillbirth.”