AARP Rewards Mother's Day Contest 2026!

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.

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!

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

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! 

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

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!!!

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!

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! 

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!

    My Mom, Shirley was a well-read lady with a precise vocabulary.  She was an excellent wordsmith who valued the economy of word. In her honor I created this Haiku.

                Words Shirley crafted

           The scorch of a pithy barb

              Praise meant to inspire

Thanks for the opportunity to stretch my brain a little!