Daughter whose mum died at 50 lists the five things she wished she asked her before she was gone

A woman who lost her mother suddenly when she was just 50 years old has shared the five things she wishes she’d asked her mum while she was alive – and why you need to ask your mum them today.

The American woman, called Courtney Lopez Gervais, shared a video on TikTok, where she explained she didn’t have time to ask her mother certain things because she was taken from her quickly.

Courtney wishes she had had the opportunity to ask her mum for a few simple things, like her kids’ names in her mum’s handwriting and what is her favourite memory from Courtney’s childhood.

‘These are the five things you need to ask your mum for. I lost my mom unexpectedly at the age of 50 last Fall,’ Courtney said in her video. 

The first thing Courtney recommends you ask for is your child or children’s name in your mum’s handwriting.

Secondly, she said you should also request a letter from your mum to your child or children ‘telling them what she loves most about them and what she hopes for their future’.

Third, Courtney said ask your mum for her favourite childhood memory and fourth, get your mum’s favourite memory from your childhood.

Finally, ask her what she wants to leave to your kids and ‘why it’s important to her’. 

Her video has been viewed more than 350,000 times – and it has prompted thousands to start conversations with their mums immediately.

Her video has been viewed more than 350,000 times – and it has prompted thousands to start conversations with their mums immediately (Courtney pictured)

While Courtney admitted that some people told her that they couldn’t ‘relate to the part where she lost her mum’, they also said they have ‘taken my story as an opportunity to love and appreciate your mum and the time you have with her even more’. 

‘I had a dream that I got a second chance, this time I knew she wasn’t going to make it and I made a list of the things I wanted from her (hence this video),’ Courtney said.

‘I wanted a tattoo of my daughter’s name in my mum’s handwriting, so I asked her for it. 

‘I also had on my list, what she loved most about my daughter and what she hoped for her future. Even if your mum is young and you expect to have her around for a long time – ASK! It’s okay if you ask again in five years (hopefully you have the time!) and she can write about what she loves most about them then too’.

Courtney added: ‘I don’t know what my mum’s favourite childhood memory was, and I wish I did. Ask your mum. You’ll want to remember this. I also don’t know what my mum’s favourite memory was from my childhood. I know she was proud of me, but I wish I knew which EXACT moments were her favourite… when her heart swelled with joy as mine does for my children. 

‘Please share this with a friend. I don’t want one single person to miss out on documenting these things. I promise you, they’ll mean a lot one day.’

Thousands who saw the video thanked her for sharing her advice.

‘My mum has Alzheimer’s and can’t remember my childhood but she loves her grandchildren, I’ll ask her to write down all the things she loves about them,’ one person wrote.

‘Also her recipes for your favourite meals. It’s been eight years without her and this is the one thing I wish I would have gotten,’ another added.

A third posted: ‘I love this. I’ll add: A recordable book for your children in her voice’.