AARP Rewards Mother's Day Contest 2026!

[AARPTeri]

Mother's Day is all about love, laughter... and the moments that make moms so special!

Share your Mother's Day tribute by hitting reply to this post - it can be funny, heartfelt or totally unique! Whether it's a funny memory, a simple thank you, or a life lesson she shared - we want to hear about it! 

Not only will you spread some joy, but you will also have a chance to win a special reward, because great stories deserve great prizes!

Need inspiration? Try one of these prompts to get you started!

• The moment my mom totally saved the day for me...
• If my mom had a superpower, it would be...
• Something my mom/inspiring woman in my life told me was...

No purchase necessary to win!  Be sure your entry is your own original story!  Keep it kind, respectful and fun! Check out the official rules here: View Contest Rules

Play our new Mother's Day Mahjong Solitaire Game!

We also have Mother's Day egreeting cards in Rewards, you can view them here 

[PIFA123]

You save us all from the abusive husband and father I had for 18 years at last. You were afraid to leave him because his pals you felt would have kidnapped or done worse to us 3 girls. But the day he beat me black and blue you stopped him. He pushed you against the wall. Then you knew we had to escape. This would never end. At last we were free of the verbal abuse and physical. No more would things disappear from our home and be hocked. No more would he forge your name and take out loans he could not pay. Steal you money left by your uncle and claim our home was robbed. Have your check garnished because he did not pay what he used to gamble on the horses. You could have stayed or told me at 18 to leave. But you chose us and got rid of this man that never took us any where. No vacations, no out to dinners or lunches, instead he was off to the track as our utilities got cut off and the eviction notices hung on the door. You now paid the bills and had the money you worked for a night while we slept secure knowing he would never be back. That yes I have the money for you educations. You chose us and for that I thank you.

[db9802571]

so many stories but I have to share a funny one from when I was in grade school and at that time we got to go home for lunch.  My mom was making us grilled cheese sandwiches and as she gave me mine and I took a nice bite - there was no cheese on mine lol.  I still to this day bring it up to her.

[KristinM30235]

The older I get, the more I am in awe of my mother, her bravery, her grace, her love, her wisdom and her humor. For starters, in 1962 she joined my father, a missionary, in his work. She had four children, ages 8,6,4 and 3. She didn't know the language or where they would live. She knew no one other than my father. Yet she forged friendships, learned the language and culture, was always there for us kids, and along with my father, provided a loving home. I miss her terribly.

[BetsyC33]

I am truly fortunate that my mom is still with us at 101 years old. She was diagnosed with Alzheimers almost 11 years ago, but continues to know our family most of the time. She lives in a beautiful memory care facility, and is loved by all because of her kind heart. She was on hospice care for 18 months prior to her 100th birthday, but they kicked her out as she settled into a new normal. Her caregiver told me that in all the years working in hospice he had never met a kinder or more joyous spirit, and said that this keeps her going. After a recent flu outbreak she was ill enough that she has now been back in hospice care for a month but is back to feeling and looking healthy again. She is my inspiration for staying positive and kind.

[SereneSeagull]

How wonderful she continues to be a joy to others.  101, fantastic!

[BetsyC33]

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@AARPTeri wrote:

Mother's Day is all about love, laughter... and the moments that make moms so special!

Share your Mother's Day tribute by hitting reply to this post - it can be funny, heartfelt or totally unique! Whether it's a funny memory, a simple thank you, or a life lesson she shared - we want to hear about it! 

Not only will you spread some joy, but you will also have a chance to win a special reward, because great stories deserve great prizes!

Need inspiration? Try one of these prompts to get your started!

• The moment my mom totally saved the day for me...
• If my mom had a superpower, it would be...
• Something my mom/inspiring woman in my life told me was...

No purchase necessary to win!  Be sure your entry is your own original story!  Keep it kind, respectful and fun!  Check out the official rules here:  View Contest Rules

Play our new Mother's Day Mahjong Solitaire Game !

We also have Mother's Day egreeting cards in Rewards, you can view them   here 

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[GAKKIEZ]

My mom was always ahead of her time and fought so hard for her achievements and for other women.  Mom knew at an early age that she wanted to be a nurse. Mom was awarded a prize from a local women's club of $25 when she graduated from high school in 1938. Mom applied to many nursing schools in the area and was accepted to the Jewish Hospital Nursing School in Louisville, KY. This was a nursing school that required the nursing students to work at the hospital and live on the premises of the hospital during training. Mom graduated from training in 1941 but by that time the United States had entered WWII.  There was a severe shortage of nurses for the war and the federal government threatened to draft nurses for service. The American Red Cross recruited nurses for service. Mom answered the call and enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps.  Mom actually missed her graduation ceremony and her own mother attended to accept her Nursing Cap, mom was already in the Nurse Corps basic training on that date. Mom's first duty station was at Ft. Knox, KY in the psychiatric ward.  Mom knew she didn't enlist to sit in her own backyard so when the overseas roster was posted, she volunteered for duty.  Mom was accepted for overseas duty and shipped out on the Queen Mary (which had been outfitted as a troop carrier in WWII because it was fast enough in the water to travel without escort) to England.  Mom later served in France, landing on Normandy Beach 4 months after D-Day. Mom always told us of all the devastation around her and of living in tents the entire time she was in France. Mom's unit finally made it to Carentan, France and they were preparing our wounded for medical transport by ship back to the U.S.

Mom finally earned her points in the overseas theater and returned to the U.S. as a 1LT in 1944 as her unit was being merged with 66th General Hospital in Germany.

Mom was so proud of her service and later joined VFW and American Legion when they finally accepted women veterans as full members (they normally restricted women veterans to Auxiliary membership). Mom also was a member of the Womens' Overseas Service League (WOSL). Mom became a Charter Member of the WIMSA Memorial at Arlington Cemetery and attended the Dedication Ceremony. Mom was also proud to be able to take an Honor Flight at the age of 90 to finally see the WWII memorial in Washington DC (her last trip).  

Mom passed away in 2017 at 93 and was buried with Military honors and her beloved Red Cross Nurses pin that had been engraved with her name and service number. (The Red Cross Nurses pin has a history that you are either buried with the pin or it is to be returned to the National Red Cross.)

[HeatherS13]

I don't have pleasant memories of my mother but as a mom, my favorite Mother’s Day with my daughters was several years ago when they were both in college. When they were little I took them to our local Zoo a lot and we enjoyed it very much. So they decided to take me to the Zoo like when they were little, and we did all the little recorded zoo facts like when they were little, We started with the animals I wanted to see, they bought me the fun zoo animal shaped cup during lunch at the zoo cafe, and something from the gift shop. It was a reverse of when I took them, and they treated me for the day. We had so much fun and shared so many memories of when they were young. It was a day I’ll remember forever. Sharing a fun day with your adult children is like the pot of gold at the end of raising children. 

[SereneSeagull]

I think gifts of being present, are the real presents!  Great post @HeatherS13 

[CarmelitaB19189]

My mom was an identical twin that outlived her ENTIRE family!! She was a beautiful red head mom of 7 who had 91 years on this earth! My mom had perseverance and love of many things. She became a caring nurse in her 40’s while taking care of her family. Her passions were art and loving the Lord. My life was better for her having been my mom. Mother’s Day feels differently with her gone but memories never fade and I keep them close. My advice is smother those moms with love and hugs while you can!! 

[caro1g]

If my mom had a superpower, it would be biscuit making. She made the best buttermilk biscuits from scratch every morning. She must have made a million of them in her lifetime for me and my 6 siblings. 

[SereneSeagull]

Now I want a biscuit! 

[MitziW617158]

So my mothers superpower would have been making a meal out of a little of nothing in the cubbards....no matter what was in the cubbards she could make it 5 Star awesome meal. She had a nack for making things go a long ways and so much love was put into it ,even it was a peanut butter sandwich....sure miss her and the love she had in her heart!

[bookgqueen21]

My mom, there is so much to say.  The memories go back when I was growing up and my mom went thru so many tragedies, such as losing our house to a fire a week before Christmas, my sister age 5 falling into a tub of boiling water with terrible burns on Christmas day, seeing my older brother lose one eye by falling on a plank with a nail, when the house was being built.  Seeing my other brother under him lose both his eyes in crazy accidents (One at the School for the blind in swimming.) Seeing her twin brother die when they were 13 years old and ended up with Cancer in her older age.  She always smiled and read her bible everyday.  She had 8 kids and she loved us all with tender care.  When she was in the hospital dying, she was asking the nurses and doctors what could she do for them.  She was an Angel on earth.  One time I was in college with no money and she worked in a sewing factory and found $20 in some pants and sent it to me to buy food...all the pain that she suffered and there were more tragedies, like losing her first grand child at 5 years old who fell off a porch right after they dropped her off at home...My momma, what can I say, except she was an Angel on earth and she made me the woman that I am today...Thank you momma.  Thank you.

[lecuyerl]

If my mom had a superpower, it would’ve been her loving heart. My mom never knew a stranger, and she was always there to lend a helping hand, no matter who or what the situation was. I like to think that I take after her 🙂 she was a very kind, loving person and I never once saw her Cross with anyone. I miss her dearly. She passed in 2010 and I miss her every day. She was a wonderful person! The world was a better place when she was in it!

[RosanaR823422]

My beautiful mom passed away six years ago. I think of her everyday in the stillness of the night, the rustling of leaves and the beauty of my rose garden . She taught me that love never goes away but rather a feeling that is in your heart forever. She once told me that when ever I see a butterfly it would be her reminding me that her love is all around me. So you see, I am always reminded of her beautiful and kind heart. Let the butterflies fly!!!

[SereneSeagull]

They are flying around you.  Beautifully written

[cleopatrabadd]

I love my mama! She passed away 32 years ago she always met me at the door with a smile. 

[PatriciaN604829]

My Mother told me that if I would go to Truck-driving school and get my CDL, then I could go to work with my husband as a team over-the-road and she along with my Mother-in-law would watch the kids. I took her up on her offer and for 15 years, my husband and I drove over the road as a part time team.

[RosanneB390199]

My Mother passed at 65. You think grief goes away but everyone is different in dealing with grief. My Mother had 5 children, I was the middle child. But acted like the oldest. I had to take full responsibility after she passed. My Mom was very strong. My Father had bipolar and didn’t work much. So my Mother took on responsibilities to take care of the household. I see now at 66 years old, that I am more like my Mother than my father. I love and miss her daily ♥️

[JamieL573468]

My Mother died way too young. She was 66 years old. Her last thoughts were of her grandchildren. They received Easter cards from her in the mail 2 days after she died. I have kept those cards a a reminder of how she showed her love for us even after her death.

[sr41192128]

If my mom had a super power it would be super hearing. She always knew when we were talking about anything. She always knew our dubious plans before we tried to carry it out. And she'd warn us not to do it or we'd be punished. We never knew how she did it until we were much older and she told us she could hear everything thru the vents in our old house. 

[Notoldyet17]

Hilarious! Moms and their superpowers!

[SereneSeagull]

My mother always said she had a third eye in the back of her head and could see everything!  Sounds like the Moms had a secret they all shared among one another, didn’t it?!  Great post @sr41192128 

[AntonietteW254504]

 If my mom had a superpower, it would be a moral compass—always pointing me toward the right thing, even when I thought I could sneak around it and go undetected. Under the radar, if you know what I mean. 

Case in point: when I was six, I pocketed a tip off the restaurant table, thinking no one noticed. Big mistake. Super Mom somehow knew. Instead of going home, she turned the car around and drove us straight back to the restaurant, where I had to hand the money to the waitress. Embarrassing, yes—but that guilt stuck harder than any scolding. She taught me that honesty feels lighter than guilt.

That lesson followed me into adulthood. Even today, small white lies feel impossible. Just last year, at age 65, I told my exercise trainer I had done something I hadn’t—and the burden of that fib made me confess within minutes. Mom’s moral compass had imprinted itself so deeply that I can’t even bend the truth without coming clean.

Her superpower was patient, loving, and remarkably sticky. The lessons she taught didn’t just guide me—they stuck, shaping how I live my life every single day. Thanks, Mom. 

[SereneSeagull]

Loved your post @AntonietteW254504 , made me smile.  

[b598259l]

I could write a book, about the treasure of a woman, my Mom, is.  She is now 102 years old, and some of my siblings and I are caring for her full time at home.  Mom is a blessing beyond measure, to so many. She raised a family of 10 children, losing my precious Dad (heart attack) in his early 50's. She is my best friend, was my matron of honor in my wedding, and continues to be so very precious to me. Matriarch of our family; raised a large family and supported my Dad in running our family farm; was a help and a willing resource to young moms; loving, generous and thoughtful to neighbors, church members, friends, family, community folks, teachers, and anyone who needed help or encouragement in any way. Mom was actively involved in supporting school activities, many key positions in our home church (including being the first woman as an Elder!), Mother's Club, local community groups, etc etc etc. Mom taught by her example and her direction, how to can, freeze, dehydrate, sew, repair, upholster, parent, cook, bake, clean, garden, love and nurture all living things. I learned about faith in God, as a wee little girl, from my Mom. As one of my brothers have said, Mom is the original Pioneer Woman. I am so fortunate to confidently say, I have the best Mom in the world.  May every soul be able to feel this way, too.

[SereneSeagull]

What a beautiful tribute @b598259l, I enjoyed reading about her!  How wonderful to have a life so full, for so long.