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 

[RobertK4666]

My mom accidentally put a cup of salt into a kool aid mix instead of the sugar!  It is a longstanding joke with our family that has helped all of us learn kindness, forgiveness, grace and to this day it is a great source of giggles!

[AshleyS153105]

My momma is truly the kindest, most loving person I know, and anyone who gets to be around her feels it instantly. The way she shows up for others, loves so deeply and gives without ever expecting anything in return is something really special. 

She has given her all to take care of me (and my siblings) which led to shaping me to who I am today. I'll never be able to fully put into words how much that means to me. 

I'm so grateful for everything she does for me - and for all the extra love she gives to my pup, Hershey! 

There's no doubt, she's the best momma out there and she's MINE!  

We bond over our daily AARP findings - so, momma (Debbie Senters) if you are reading this, I love you! 

[avalon44]

When I wqs about 16, we lived in the country and had dirt bikes. We kids used to ride all of the time and were always having spills or getting banged up. My stepdad finally told us we could no longer ride the bikes. Well I slipped out one afternoon and took one of the bikes for a ride back in the woods. Sure enough I had a spill and got some cuts and bruises on my knee. I returned home, came silently in through the basement door and was cleaning myself up so my stepdad wouldn't see. Suddenly around the corner came my mother, and i could see that her knee was bleeding also. She had secretly taken the other bike out for a ride, and yes......she had a spill! We laughed about it forever afterwards and never did tell my stepdad. It was a fun secret between the two of us!

[AnneY945739]

My favorite memory of my mother was this.

Every year my mom's church would have a special mother's day lunch for the mom's and their guests. And to make it more fun the lunches would always be themed. Sometimes it would be a garden party, favorite desserts or cherished memories. This particular year, when my mom called to ask if I was coming to the Mother's Day lunch, I replied, of course and asked what the theme was going to be. She thought about it for a moment and then said, " I remember something about hats. I think we are to wear our funniest hats."

So the following weekend we set off to find the most ridiculously, funny hats we could find.

 We had a blast trying on all kinds of hats; straw hats, berets, hats with fruits and feathers until we finally settled on a large, floppy, floral, bedazzled hat for my mom and a multi-colored clown wig for me.

On Mother's Day, giggling, we proudly strode into the church confident that our hats were going to be the most notable hats there. And boy were we right!!  For there, sitted at the luncheon table were all the mothers and their guests, not wearing silly hats as my mom had incorrectly remembered the theme to be, but dressed in their finest Victorian costumes adorned in flowing dresses, lace gloves and "large Victorian hats"

I will never forget the bewildered and amused look on those ladies faces staring back at us. Neither will I ever forget what was my all time favorite Mother's Day celebration with my mom.

Thank you mother for the most wonderful memories!!!

[DorotheaB151463]

My Mother was the hardest working person I know she had to retired from her job the day she passed at 84. She lived like she was going to live for ever and always happy. On her 75 Birthday I cried all day did not want her to get old she lived 9 more wonderful years. We were a big family on holidays she would make every one’s favorite dish all of us had so much food to take home that made her happy cooking for us. 

[PandoraG811239]

This is about my oldest daughter who is a mother of two. This story is a span of about five years. She had a 33 pound tumor removed which was thought to be reason kidneys were not fully functioning.  She was diagnosed with end stage kidney disease, a rare disease that less than 1% of the population has. Her daughter's dad died unexpectedly. A year later her husband and father of her son died.  She has continued being a caretaker during this time.  She started dialysis a little over a year ago, doing dialysis three times a week. She had hernia surgery earlier this year caused by removal of tumor. She has been there for her children, raising her son who will graduate high school in June. I am amazed how strong my daughter is. She continues her life the same as before dialysis. She attends all family functions and even hosts some herself. She never complains about anything or being tired. I am so proud of her!  I don't think I would be as strong as she has been.

[MaggiB708253]

My mom had six children and every one of us felt like we were her favorite. 

[SarahG647236]

I love seeing my daughter in "Mom mode". She is so patient and explains thoroughly to my young grandchildren how/why things work the way they do.  She makes sure they eat healthy (getting treats here and there), stay active, and is so good at re-directing them when they don't make the best decisions.  It is such a blessing to become a grandparent and see your children become amazing parents! 

[AnnaH348637]

my mother, who is no longer with me, was a hard lover, a strong lover, and an amazing woman. She taught us everything we know she raised seven of us by herself and spoke the Lord of God to us every single day in hopes that one day we would also find the Lord in which we did. It’s seven of us and I’m the youngest child and I have so many members for my mom. she was my hero. She was my true life. She is my queen. She showed me what it is to be a mother. She taught me how to be a mother. I now have three children and seven grandchildren and every day it brings like to my life, knowing that everything she taught me has come into place I miss her every day. I carry beautiful memories. She made me the woman I am today. I’m truly blessed and proud to say I love my mommy

[mz4814]

It wasn’t until I became a mother myself that I realized how much of an influence my mother’s laidback parenting style had on me. I fully appreciate how much time she spent caring for us and how much she enjoyed just being with my brothers and me. She was patient and never lost her sense of humor no matter what nonsense we threw at her! Thanks, Mom, for teaching me how to be an easygoing, confident mother like you were!

[CynthiaT524941]

My mom is a wonderful woman, she's no wonder woman but a wonder woman to me. She sacrificed many things  in order for us to eat. She's my shero, she hasn't been many places in her life cause she had to work a lot. She's gentle and deserves a lot lot, wish I could  give her the world. Love you mom.

[LolitaB634327]

Words can’t describe how thankful I am that the universe allowed and granted me the ability and access to conceive children and become a mother. And grew into the mother that I am today of three wonderful children!

[wvondan]

My mom was there for me think and thin.  I gave her hell as a teenager.  She never gave up on me.  She was always there when raising my daughter.  She was a tough cookie, but couldn’t beat pancreatic cancer.  Cheers to the best mom!  Love you!

[BritK801]

My mother, despite our differences, and her age, did something that I couldn't do.... And that was care for my beautiful children! She took on my 3 boys when she didn't have too. She has more maternal instincts then I do. I gave them more! I didn't give them up. She protects them, and provides for them, and I'll never be able to repay her for this. I appreciate her and love her very much! 

[a831700k]

My Mother-In-Law helped me feel like part of the family, ever since my wife 1st brought me to meet her family. My dad died years ago, and my M.I.L. shared her husband with me as a surrogate father. My M.I.L. also helped bring my ailing mom up from Yankee country to attend my wedding, which my M.I.L. hosted from her own HOUSE. My M.I.L. has encouraged my relationship with her daughter every step of the way in our dating and now well past the 7-year-itch stage. When my own mother passed away, my new family fully stepped up in every way, led by their Matriarch - and the mother to whom i dedicate this praise. Thank YOU - to my Mother In Law.

[BeCalm]

My mothers' super power is being able to forecast bad things to come. For some reason, she has a 6th sense about certain things, even if you don't want to hear of it. The neat thing is, I've learned to appreciate the present more because of this and to not stress over the "what ifs." Something may happen, but the good news is, we can weather the storm together. That's what being a parent is all about..."you can't stop the rain, but you can share an umbrella."- me (haha, I think that is an original quote or it is to my brain!) Thank you for the contest 🙂

[Conniefab5]

My Mom was always so caring and giving. One Christmas after her memory started to give her concerns, we were all gathered around for gift giving. She was so excited and wanted to give each grandchild a gift. One by one she called them and handed each child an envelope with their name on it. All 10 grandchildren jumped up and down hugging and thanking her. Telling her how much she is loved.

What she didn't know is that she had forgotten to put anything in the envelopes. I aways thought this was such a testament about the wonderful woman she was. 

Not one child, all of different ages, complained or questioned why the envelopes were empty. They kept their envelopes like it was treasure knowing the woman who gave it, had given her love and caring continuously. She never missed a school event or a piano recital, etc .... She taught them everything she knew. 

[AprilP939710]

2 1/2 years ago my mom had to move into assisted living due to dementia I'm her only child ever since she's been there I bring her things to cheer her up she tells everyone there what I bring ending the evening with calling me mom and how much I love her and I'm the best mom

[AnnF436417]

MY mother was a hard work and I basically grew up with not much guidance because of it.  She had dementia for ten years and through all of that, I feel blessed that she taught me life lessons that I am truly grateful for.  patience, compassion and love for her deeply as she went through that awful disease kindly and appreciative of all that helped her through it.  

[Lkm05039]

The greatest gift my Mom gave me was the joy of laughter.  She taught me that laughter is a survival tactic.  Miss her every day!

[YolandaC243325]

Thank you for all the lessons I learned 

[DonnaB672969]

As I grown older I truly appreciate the wisdom and thoughts on life my Mom shared with me.  It was not until her passing 4 years ago I came to realize what she meant by staying close to my brother and his family and appreciating the meals, trips and adventures we shared as children but as adults as well.  I miss hearing her voice and laughter after hearing about our adventures as a family.  She was a lady in every way.

[MelissaH39823]

Happy mother’s day

[BardeesF108020]

Motherhood is life; without it, we lose care and spiritual peace.

[m449441w]

My son used to call me every day on Mother’s Day just to say how much he loved me. I would always say to him “my Mother’s Day is not today, it’s July 15th.”  Because this was the day he was born.  He would just laugh and say “you’re so funny Ma.” He passed away in 2021. There’s a quiet space on Mother’s Day now where his voice used to be. I miss him deeply, but I’m thankful for every memory—especially the laughter we shared. I miss those calls more than words can say, and I carry that love with me always. But at least I have this wonderful memory of him on Mother’s Day. However, July 15th will always be my real Mother’s Day because that’s the day I became a mother to one of the most beautiful souls that ever lived. And Mother's Day will always be the day I get to truly reminisce on what we shared on this day.

[ElizabethG812502]

This is a wonderful tribute to your son.  It sounds like YOU were an amazing mom. He called you because you instilled the value of family and love in him. May your Mother's Day be blessed with the lovely memories the two of you shared.

[SereneSeagull]

I’m sorry for your loss.  I love how you’ve made his birthday, the real Mother’s Day for you.  Quite lovely, that sentiment.  I gave my mother gifts on my birthday, thanking her.  You have a very thoughtful son.  I’m sorry he’s not physically here, but knowing that love is very special.

[c790525a]

When my mom was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at the young age of seventy, I was devastated. She decided to die at home so my brothers, my sister-in-law and I, took care of her with the help of hospice. At first, my mother retained her playful ways.  As we pushed her through her small apartment in a wheelchair, she waved her oxygen tubes yelling, "Yee-ha!", like she was a cowgirl from one of her favorite Roy Rogers shows.  We put wiggly eyes on her oxygen tank and treated it like one of the family. One day, the house filled with smoke because of a small piece of food on the coil of her electric stove, so the smoke alarm went off.  I waved a dish towel at the alarm hoping to clear the smoke away.  Suddenly I heard my mother's voice.  "Cathy!  Cathy!  Why are you waving that towel at the doorbell?"  We both laughed so hard, our eyes filled with tears.

After a few weeks, the laughter decreased as my mother struggled to breathe.  She sometimes crawled across the bed frantically, trying to escape suffocation.  Watching her struggle with an inability to breathe was torture for me.  This woman I loved was suffering and I felt helpless.  After I gave her medicine she calmed and often asked me to write thank you letters to people.  She dictated letters to the nurses at the county nursing home where my father was cared for because of Alzheimer's Disease.  She even dictated letters to members of her bank.

Just a few days before her death, my mother woke up and planned her funeral with me.  I wrote a eulogy and read it to her.  She said, " You wrote that about ME?  That's beautiful!"  

My mother started exhaling long drawn out breaths in her sleep.  Her mouth was open.  We knew the end was near.  One day she suddenly woke up, her eyes filled with wonder.  "Cathy, it's all so simple! It's just all about LOVE."  She was quiet for a moment and said, "My last breath on earth, will be my first breath in Heaven."  Later, "I'm ready to become a bigger part of God.  Or maybe it's a smaller part.  I'm not sure."

I wrote these profound words in my journal and visited them many times after her death, working them into a poem.

:    Her Last Breath

As an angel stood by her side,

love was her answer,

a whispering sigh.

 Breath out,

then in,

and one more time.

Her last exhalation,

a wisp of air,

an umbilical cord

to her soul,

forcing a birth in reverse.

Moving from physical form

to light and energy,

a transformation and continuation.

Simultaneously becoming

both a bigger and a smaller

part of God.

Her last breath 

on earth,

Her first in Heaven.

Love was still her answer,

her whispering sigh,

as an angel stood by her side.

[SereneSeagull]

I had tears welling up as I read this.  So beautiful, thank you.

[sv97338129]

My sweet Mother transitioned to her heavenly home on May 4th, 2016. That first Mother’s Day without her was so hard, I thought I would not survive it but here we are 10 years later and I have survived and thrived! I was an only child and so we were best friends. I feel her with me everyday and am excited to share her legacy with my 4 granddaughters! When they are having a hard time, I share my Mom’s favorite saying, “This too shall pass”, when they see a ladybug land on them(which is quite often), I tell them she came to say “hi”, she loved ladybugs!! When we cook muffins together, I comment on her delicious muffins that she loved to make and share. There are so many ways to keep a Mother’s love in your heart forever. Until we meet again, dance in the clouds and send us many Mom winks!!!!!

Love, Sharon