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 

[Lindacs58]

My MOM never ate until all of us kids got our bellies full! My MOM wore tape wrapped around the top to bottom of her shoes to hold them together, so we never had to! My MOM worked every day, standing on concrete with scoliosis, to provide what we needed! She didn't say the words " I LOVE YOU" but if that's not LOVE, then I don't know what is!  We never realized that Mom was hungry too!!! We never told her "Thanks" or that we Loved her!! we didn't realize what Mom was doing without! She never complained and she never stopped LOVING!!! Thanks, Mom!! MOM's aren't perfect but their Love is. By the way, my mom is not here anymore but I see more and more the Love(sacrifices) that she gave to us daily!! Thanks seems not enough. Those who are still fortunate enough to have your MOM, just wrap your arms around her, give a little squeeze and Tell her you Love her! Thats ALL she really wants!

[coolmaine]

 My mother taught me how to be a responsible adult. I watched over my brothers while my parents worked even though one brother was older. When my 3 cousins visited 2 older than me, I was still in charge to make sure everything went well. We never had any problems not one when my parents were at work. She taught me how to make a meal out of nothing even though you thought there was not enough food in the kitchen. Even today I can make a meal and you would think my fridge and cabinets were full of food. The most important thing she taught me was to take care of others when needed, especially family also friends and neighbors. Today as an adult my heart is full when I can help someone in need, I mean it really makes my day when I can help someone doesn't matter if I only have to listen to what they are going through, sharing food or $ if I can sharing what I have (gift bag) without it being a holiday. So, it's because of her I share sometime the gift cards I get from AARP, Makes my day. Thank You Mama

[PamelaS762397]

Out Mom made the best Strawberry Rhubarb Custard Pie She baked with what she had and there was always rhubarb either fresh or from the freezer! I don't know of anyone else who even makes this pie and honestly I haven't looked for recipes because I want to remember it as it was.

#VintageMoms

#MothersDay

[SereneSeagull]

Ohhhhh, @PamelaS762397 if you find a good one, let me know.  Love rhubarb!

[CassidyW985605]

Our mom made the best blueberry pancakes. Now that she has passed on, one day I need to get the courage to try to make them.   My daughter had some great times making them with her. 

[kgritts]

I was struggling. Broke. A mom of two going through an awful, nasty divorce. I was working full time and going to school at night. I came home from school at 10 p.m. Kids were staying overnight with a friend. When I opened my garage door, I saw a new bag of dog food on the steps going into the house. in the kitchen was a new bottle of dish detergent, and a bag of groceries. In the living room, a new container of room deodorizer. On each step going upstairs: a pair of pantyhose, a can of dusting spray, etc., etc. The bathrooms held more surprises, as did my room and the kids'. All things we used on a daily basis. All things we needed. A little reminder from my mom that she had my back and was there for me. It was the best gift I ever received in my life at the perfect time. 

[SereneSeagull]

Such a wonderful surprise!  

[SandraV122728]

Heartfelt funny.

[WendyB779555]

My mom was always quietly there for me...let me make my own mistakes and run my own life...but always there for me and never said I told you so❤️

[SereneSeagull]

That’s a perfect way to be a mom, @WendyB779555 !

[mcconnellsus]

My mother taught me that sometimes we have to put on "rose colored glasses"  just to get by.  We did not have a lot of money, my dad sometimes worked 2 jobs while my mom stayed home with us until we were old enough to stay home by ourselves and she took a job at the local bank.  My sister had serious medical issues that cost money.  I didn't go to a dentist until I broke my front tooth off at recess.  I became obsessed with making sure I had enough money when I grew up and plunged into schoolwork to become an engineer.  I often couldn't understand how my mother could "fail to see" things that were quite obvious to me and it caused frustration between us.  Many decades later I finally understood that she was always trying to see the "silver lining" through what I thought of as "rose colored glasses".  I have learned that is one of the most important things in life, to look for the good, the positive, and what is within our own control rather than focusing on things that may not be perfect but are outside of our control.  I wish I had "learned" that lesson she emulated earlier 🙂

[SereneSeagull]

Within our own control…so right.  👍

[bmbcali]

My mother always wanted the best for me.  She worked hard and had to drive me to high school every day before she went to work.  I had perfect attendance for 4 years.  I was the first one in my family to graduate from college.  I was always working and going to school.  In my final year to get my Bachelor's Degree in 1997 she was diagnosed with kidney cancer at age 61.  I could have taken a temporary break from my classes but she said I had worked too hard and to keep going.  She only had weeks or months left to live after the diagnosis.  She was able to make it to my graduation in a wheelchair.  I had to get up at 4am on graduation morning to get her ready and take Mom & Dad to the graduation.  I think of her all the time and love and miss her.

[Samk]

    My Mother never complained;

     When she was a teenager, her Father died in Auto crash, and she started working to support the family. Later, she divorced my Father , and raised 2 preteen boys.she worked at high priced Manhattan Hair Salon, but got home every nite to coke a hot meal. Not always successfully; once she used Lysol cleaner instead of  Corn oil; we had blue Veal Cutlets that nite!y

    She made most of her own clothes from patterns, crocheted, did Needlepoint, Lit Friday Nite and Memorial candles. Money was tight, but she kept us clothed and fed, and had us Bar Mitzfahed. In High School, I wanted a Motorcycle Jacket like Marlon Brando had. She didn’t complain and found the money. I looked Stupid in it!

   She was opinionated; before any wedding or Anniversary family gathering, she had to be seated at a different table from whichever relative she wasn’t talking to that week.

   Like her brothers and sisters, she smoked heavily. I was complicit; in the Army, I would send her $2 cigarette cartons. Even after 1/2 a lung was cut out, she still wanted to smoke. When the Cancer spread to the Lymphatic system, she didn’t complain. She gave away her jewelry and prized possessions., and awaited the painful end.

  I’m 84 but still  think about her advices and scoldings.     Sam. 

,

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[SereneSeagull]

Beautiful tribute @Samk 

[DonaldS652000]

Among the countless times that my dear, late Mom totally saved the day, there was one very special save just before Christmas in 1985, that became one of the most memorable and moving for me to share. After graduating from approximately 20 months of full-time classes at a technical college for auto/diesel mechanical training, while also being a broke-butt student due to only being able to maintain a part time job that barely covered my fuel and other educational expenses, my Mom had the key to unlocking and helping to expedite a solution for this poor graduates problem in affording Christmas presents for my fiancee, my family and hers. My part-time job was at our church as a Sexton, which involved cleaning, light repairs, and landscape care. Times and funds were so tight for me then that my fiancee, Gigi, who became my now late wife of 32 beautiful years together, was covering our dates from her full-time job. 

Because the church had a small congregation, I was also limited to working no more than 20 hours a week, making around $120 net. My regular paycheck was normally left for me each week in the office file cabinet issued by our treasurer. About a week before Christmas, this lady went on vacation until after the new year before I completed that week's work, and she wasn't available to make out my paycheck. There was also no one appointed as an alternate for this kind of scenario. I suddenly realized that I was in a bad position with empty pockets and very little in my bank account, and therefore unable to buy any kind of gifts for anyone. I refused to take any money from my fiancee, though she kept offering it, and my parents and siblings couldn't help because they were also near being tapped out because of the usual expenses that the holidays incur. I couldn't think of or find any other solutions as the money that I indeed earned and due to me was there, but it was unable to be dispersed. I was starting to go into panic mode, when all of a sudden, Mom, who had once worked for the church as its secretary years before, had just the right idea! She called the Pastor, who was also a family friend, and asked him if he could help make happen a plan that she just thought up. She suggested that the church petty cash funds that I didn't know existed, but she did, be used to substitute in the meantime for my salary, which the treasurer could adjust for IAW my hours worked later on as needed when she returned. And, voila! That same night I met with the Pastor at the church and I had every penny I needed to buy nice gifts for everyone. We all agreed that this was a Christmas miracle that paralleled on a smaller scale with the main story from “It's A Wonderful Life” , one of our favorite Christmas movies. Mom totally saved not only the day, but that Christmas for me, too!

[SereneSeagull]

She sounds like she was a devoted mother @DonaldS652000 

[ARLYNNS]

This story is not only about the amazing mother we had but about my sister Janet who is also Amazing. Our Beautiful mother Ofelia battled breast Cancer at the age of 85 and lasted 5 years. She was our whole entire world. Her love her smile her warmth. She was what someone would call a true Angel sent to us from God. Her laughter would fill up an entire room. She was the kind of woman that all our friends would come to get advice from when they were lost or scared. She never judged she just listened and would be there to simply let you cry or give her opinion only when asked. She was the mother that all our friends wanted and we were happy to share because she had enough love in her heart for everyone. My sister Janet and I still wake up every single day for the last 10 years wishing we had just one more day with her to have a beer with her to and  dance in the living room and listen to all her childhood stories that she relived with us a million and one times  and we never got tired of hearing about.  What Janet does not realize is that she followed in our mother's footsteps and has become the same beautiful mother that our mother was. She is a loving Grandmother to both of her children. She has a heart of Gold that I feel so thankful for. Our friendship is one that gets better and better each passing year. Too many people in this world use the word "Mother" but they still have not grasped what the Title actually means...My sister Janet has earned that title over and over. She is what poems and story books are written about. She has a heart that is Golden just like our mom and when she loves she loves with no limits. I was blessed to have an unbelievably special mother and equally blessed to have a sister like Janet by my side thru all my ups and downs. Thank you for allowing me to share my story. 

[SereneSeagull]

Your mother and sister are the lucky ones.  Beautiful post.

[twingrlz]

My mother, who was a stay at home mom, was a wonderful hands on mom but the epitome of a homemaker she was not.  She always joked that while she didn’t teach us to cook, she taught us how to make reservations!  When I was pregnant with my twin girls my mother in law (who happened to be a home economics teacher) was busy making blankets, bonnets, you name it.  My mom, concerned that she wasn’t living up to the idea of an ideal grandmother, hired someone to make NO SEW blankets for my girls!

[SereneSeagull]

Love that!

[franktlondos]

Since my mother is not here, I remember my wife on Mother’s Day.  Salute to all mothers.

[CherylJ749554]

My Mom was very strict but when I grew up I understood it was her way of teaching and was so thankful that she was the best teacher ever.  A humorous thing was that she told everyone I had a morbid sense of humor which was true and that humor has helped me get through many things.  Thanks Mom

[DeniseH356601]

My grandma made the most-beautiful quilts. She wasn't able to travel to my wedding, but she sent me a quilt and said she wished she could have danced at my wedding. That's love.

[VirgeanO80879]

So wonderful to see all these cheerful stories of people whose mother loved them. I was raised by a mother with mental health problems who was quite abusive, so childhood memories are not so dear. When she died my eulogy included all my wishes for her. I wish she had seen Beauty in her children and in her life, I wish she had experienced Joy, I wish you had cherished life and love. I wished her the ability to play frolic and be carefree. All this I wished she could have and was so grateful that I could and did with my own children. Her blessing was that I learned how to do it the right way.

[SereneSeagull]

Excellent post, @VirgeanO80879 . 👍

[jr9613]

My Mother battled cancer for most of my childhood. She never forgot a birthday card or cake. She was... 

[ElizabethG812502]

This isn't about my mom.  This is about an incredible mother who is a dear friend of mine.  She has a child who is autistic and has raised him on her own from the time he was 2. She never let anyone tell him he couldn't do something and has always fought to teach him that he isn't different.  Through the years she has made sacrifices so he could grow into a wonderful young man. Even through the struggles she has always maintained a positive attitude and would instantly help anyone who needs it without a second thought.  I have watched in awe as she navigates working full time, shuttling him to and from jobs or school and teaching him how to be independent.  She also helped to reunite her mother with a sister she didn't know she had this past year. It's so typical that she would put someone else first.  She always does and not a complaint to be heard.

[RachelH988037]

When I was 10 years old I got a newspaper route so I could earn money to get my Mom something for Mothers Day. I had remembered seeing my mom see a Mother's Ring she had told my Dad she really wanted one and he had told her probably not this year maybe next. So that night I snuck the Kay's magazine and had it in my room. The ring she wanted wasn't really all that expensive but for back then and for a 10 year old it was. The cost of the ring was 400.00. It was September so I calculated what I would have by April and ai would have more than enough. By the middle of March I had saved over 500.00. I went to Kay's that weekend with the money and all of my siblings birthdays and birthstone information and placed the order. The Jewelry lady asked me if I wanted it engraved and I hadn't thought about it. I told the lady yes and said Mom I Love you with my initials. Mothersday arrived I had got the ring 2 weeks earlier and hid it until that morning. I ran to the flower shop down the street got my Mom a carnation arrangement as that is her favorite flower. Ran home. She was already awake I was so excited so I handed her the flowers and the gift box. When she opened it she started crying and I thought she didn't like it so I asked her. My mother's reply has stayed with me going on 37 years now. She said Rachel you worked so hard and this is the reason why. My Mom put the ring on her hand and I am blessed to still have her with me now. She hasn't taken that ring off except for surgery since the day I gave it to her.

[SereneSeagull]

I loved hearing your post.  What a lucky mom to have a daughter so thoughtful.   Beautiful.