AARP Rewards Mother's Day Contest 2026!

My mom always put my brother and I first when she was a single mom before she met my step-dad in 2019. She did everything for us! She had her own house, car, paid daycare, took us places, cooked, cleaned and graduated college with a 4.0 GPA when my brother was a baby. After 2019 when we moved into a new school district, my grandparents and my aunt hurt her pretty bad because they didn't like my step-dad. They withheld her wedding funds and became friends with my biological dad to have my brother and I taken away from her, but she stayed strong throughout it all. She lost a relationship with my grandma and her sister because of that. My mom hurt pretty bad for a long time and I'm sure she secretly still does, but she never shows it. She even wrote a book about her struggles, "Tornado Lies". She's an artist, an author, an interior decorator, a beautiful soul and the strongest mom anyone could as for. I went through a difficult time during the custody battle which caused me to drink, smoke and self-harm. She never gave up on me. She had to stay strong for me to heal. She is a great mom, she truly is a remarkable woman to have endured so much hurt and still rise above of it like a true Queen. My mom goes out of her way to accomodate for others people. She has an outgoing personality; she can carry on a conversation with anyone. She just has a way of connecting and understanding how someone else feels which is why she's loved by so many people. She never boasts, she rarely complains. She always puts herself last and I believe she truly deserves a break. All her money goes towards bills, daycare, our house, Christmas, birthdays, ect. I don't know how she keeps up with five kids, two dogs, a cat, a full-time job, and still manages to make dinner ever night. She's a great cook too!  She does so much for everyone else.  Despite her hardships, she always wears a smile and talks about her faith in God. Unfortunately, she had a miscarriage four months ago, a week before Christmas. I know she's been very sad lately; I can see it in her eyes. I don't know how she carries herself with such dignity and humbleness. She is an exceptional woman. If I can be half of the woman she is, I would be honored and proud to be like my mom. I wouldn't be where I am today without her.  I'd like to say I've matured over the years, but it's because she's always communicated with me and supported me.  Of all mothers in the world, I have the strongest, most beautiful mother inside and out. She deserves the world. I want to see her happy.

Plus if she won, the announcement would be made close to her birthday!!!! Her birthday is May 11th!

Happy Mother's Day and Birthday Mom, I love you!!!!

My mom passed away some time ago but the lessons of life she left my 7 siblings and myself are still very much alive and followed to this day. She and my dad came to this country where they did not speak the language and such a different way of life..but I saw how she always managed to get through the obstacles that came her way thus teaching us that we too could overcome and forge ahead in our lives..yet she was such a gentle and caring woman that never let the hardships of her life embitter her..always forgiving..our family is close even though we are now a very large family.. and it’s all because of what learned from our mom. We now strive pass those values to our own families.. and I am a better mom because of the example that was shown to me.

My mom was an inspiration not only to me and my siblings, but to do many kids in our community. She was a single mom raising 3 children under the age of 10, due to the early death of our dad. Her strength through all of this was incredibly amazing as she navigated working, raising us and be party of the community. She was s social worker and you could see the positive impact her work did in helping families in crisis find the assistance and foundations they needed. She was there for all of our events and accomplishments. She never complained about being tired or over worked. Always soft spoken, a spirit filled, and her suicide and guidance were always will thought out, never making the decision for you to but teaching us to critically think about out choices. I can hear her now when I have a decision to make, she would appreciate say," pray about it, listen and watch for God's reply, and remember there are consequences to all your decisions, some good and don't bad, you have to choose." Her dedication to us least each of us to find success. 

Even now years after her passing, people remember her fondly, admiring the impact she had on not only us but her community. How wonderful and blessed we were to have such a beautiful mom. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Happy mother’s day

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.