AARP Rewards Mother's Day Contest 2026!

My favorite Mother’s Day was when my boys were young. We made it a tradition to go out for every meal of the day and in between play soccer in the front lawn. They never wanted to see me do any type of work. 

My favorite Mothers Day was my first one after my sweet daughter was born, I celebrated with my Mama & we went to church and spent a beautiful day together, Mama is gone now but the sweet memories with her & the ones that r still being made with my daughter are forever in my heart. 

It became tradition that the weekend of Mother's Day, the Baden Powell Boy Scouts would hold a Cub Adventure. Myself and Carol as well as the best volunteers would put together the  most what we considered to be entertain time for the Family. One year we decided to make it a Drive in so that they could sit outside in the cars they created out of boxes an watch a Family friendly movie. My own Mother was their to assist in putting together the cars. They were creative and interesting. That night unfortunately the weather turned and it rained so we had the movie night inside. I wasn't aware the imp that that adventure had till years later when I was doing a Craft training for some of "our" boys and one looked at me and said " Your the Lady that helped at Adventure weekend " I nodded in response. "I remember making cars out of cardboard to watch a movie,, that was the best one ever". We thought we had fail but obviously we didn't.

My mom, my youngest brother and I were driving to South Carolina (long ago in the days before cell phones) for me to take the University of South Carolina journalism school test. I was a ball of nerves; yes, nervous about the test, but also because the plan was to drive halfway from NY and stay at a hotel, then drive the rest of the way to SC the next day - same day as the test. I thought that was cutting it too closely.

Everything was going to plan on day 2…until we ran out of gas. No phones. My mom was apologetic and embarrassed, and I was a snotty teenager seething with “I told you so” rage. We got out of the car and walked about a mile in the Carolina heat…until we saw a sign reading “If your car breaks down STAY WITH YOUR CAR.” So then we had to walk the hot mile back to the car. 

I watched the time for my test come and go as we sat in the stiflingly hot car waiting for help. At last the police came and gave us enough gas to get to a station at the next exit. 

We weren’t far from the university at this point. We found a motel, where my mom checked us in. I was to call the university and explain what happened and ask to take the test tomorrow. She would go out and find us something to eat, as we were starving and thirsty. 

An hour passed. Then two. All of my rage melted, to become a frozen chunk in my heart. She was dead in a ditch somewhere, and my last words to her were spoken in anger. My little brother was beside himself with fear. I didn’t know what to do. 

Suddenly the hotel room phone rang - it was the police. The second they identified themselves my knees gave way. I thought my worst fears had been realized. 

It turned out that my mom, in the frenzy of broken down car/angry daughter/exhausted hungry little son/missed journalism test, had forgotten what motel she’d put us in - all that she remembered was that it had a number in it. So she went to the police, and they called every Motel 6, Hotel 8, and every other stay over in the area with a number in it until they found us. 

She finally returned…with a pizza, a bucket of chicken, bags of candy and snacks, soda, and a six pack of Rolling Rock beer. I tearfully apologized for my behavior, and she apologized for missing my test. 

Then, she offered me a beer. I thought it might be a trick. But when she saw me hesitate, she said I’d be 21 in 2 years, and had just undergone a pretty adult hell-of-a-day and deserved a beer.

I’ve never tasted a more delicious beer. To this day, Rolling Rock isn’t easy to find by me - but when I do see it, I have one, and remember the day I had my first adult hell-of-a-day beer with my mom.

One thing you have to know about my mom is that she is a fearless adventurer.  The stories about here are endless as she inspires our whole family to take chances and enjoy life to the fullest.  One memory I will never forget is the time we went to see the Shuttle Discovery's last launch from Kennedy Space Center.  It was something I always wanted to experience, and I knew my mom would be up for joining me.  Growing up I remember tagging along with my mom as she took flying lessons and eventually getting her private pilot's license.  I do believe that is where I got my love for all things aviation and space.  I knew I wanted to do something to surprise her on our trip to see the launch at Kennedy Space Center, so I called around to a couple local airports looking for interesting things to do.  I came across a guy who gave rides in his side-by-side pusher style open air ultralight.  Of course, when we arrived that day at the airport and I told her what the opportunity was she jumped at it and said yes.  Not only was that a great adventure but spending the next day with her and watching the shuttle launch from the Kennedy Space Center causeway just me and my mom are cherished moments.  I could write a book about her accomplishments, the person she is, the devotion she showed to us for God, family and country.  That's an idea... maybe I just will.  But to me... she's just my amazing mom!  Love you Mom

Mom is gone, but not forgotten. She gave us 4 kids every opportunity she could afford. Music lessons, attending plays, nature excursions, and little travel trips. Did the best she could with not a lot of paternal support.

Mother's Day 2003 was the last celebration I had with my mama. She was my first and best friend ❤️ I have so many memories of our trips together, to Maggie Valley or just to Walmart. We argued from time to time, after missing her for 23 years, those have become blurred. She was a typical Mama Bear and my greatest champion throughout my life. She cried with me, laughed with me and helped me out whenever I needed her. She was only 59 when she passed. In closing Mother's Day is a bittersweet day for me. However I know how much I was loved and I loved her. Miss you Mama and know I'll see you when I get there ❣️🙏❤️😻

There are moments in life when a single person changes the entire direction of our future. After being abandoned by my biological mother in December 1978, my life stood at a crossroads filled with uncertainty, heartbreak, and unanswered questions. Then, just two months later, Helen Louise Brandenburg Barks came into my life and became far more than a surrogate mother—she became my mom in every sense that truly matters. When my life could have turned down the wrong path, she arrived at exactly the right moment to guide me toward a better one.

Her love, patience, and unwavering presence gave me stability when I needed it most. Because of her, I learned what unconditional love looked like and what true family felt like. She believed in me during moments when I struggled to believe in myself, and her influence shaped the decisions that led me toward a far greater and more promising life. Every good choice, every lesson in compassion, and every ounce of strength I carry today has roots in the care and wisdom she poured into me over the years.

Even though twelve years have passed since her passing, her spirit and emotional presence remain alive within me and within my children. The legacy she created did not end with her life—it continues through the values she instilled, the love she shared, and the example she set. My children know her not only through stories, but through the kindness, resilience, and love that she helped build within our family. Her fingerprints are forever on our hearts and woven deeply into the fabric of our lives.

Not a single day goes by that my thoughts do not drift toward her. My heart still spends time with her in quiet moments, cherished memories, and the endless gratitude I feel for the woman who rescued me when I needed saving the most. I carry her love with me every day, and I always will. Helen Louise Brandenburg Barks was not simply the woman who stepped in—she was the mother who chose me, loved me, and forever changed my life.

Though our blood lines never crossed, my love for her goes deeper than that of most blood relatives. She did not just save the day for me, but that of my life as a whole with her presence, her love, and continued guidance.

My most special and memorable Mother's Day - and maybe my best, for existential reasons-  occurred back in the late 1990s, when I was a single mom, and my son was 12. We were living hand-to-mouth in NH, rarely having the funds to go anywhere. But it was a special day, so we excitedly decided to celebrate it at an indigenous powwow about an hour north of us. We loved powwows, and considered them sacred time.

We hit the highway, and about 40 minutes north, my little SUV engine burst into flames! I pulled over, and hoped for some safe help to come along, as there were no cell phones in those days. Sure enough a good Samaritan stopped and assessed our situation, and gave us a ride up to the town where the powwow was being held, but to a mechanic and towing shop, instead. I don't remember how, on a Sunday, the place was open, or if this person knew the mechanic, but this was small town connectivity, and somehow, things happened in our favor. With towing and repairs, I knew this would deeply hurt my finances, and I was feeling it. Worse, after the mechanic picked up our vehicle and brought it back to his shop, he discovered that he would not be able to repair it. This meant paying for my vehicle to be towed yet again an hour south to our little town where my regular mechanic would (hopefully) be able to repair it. 

Throughout this hours-long ordeal full of standing, waiting and phone calls, my son and I were living in the moment and feeling some despair. As I was making the plans with AAA over the phone for the tow back home, I was asked when I wanted my vehicle picked up, and felt this weird little happy jolt inside me as I unexpectedly said 5:00PM. I had no idea until it happened that that was going to come out of my mouth. But it felt exactly right. The vehicle could wait, but our time as a family could not. We were going to that powwow. And I will never forget the look of joy on my son's face as he heard me say this, and realized that the day was NOT lost, but FOUND anew.

We both learned something that day. Moving through challenges is about choice and rising above. No, an engine fire did not stop us that day, which turned out to be one of our most magical. In fact, my years of raising my son were all magical, and I am forever grateful he chose me to be his mom. 

Hi there,

I have a heart-felt Mothers day story.  My infant son born almost 39 years ago was born very premature and the doctors did not hold out much hope for his survival but in spite of everything, he survuved and then I was faced with awful truth, as I was told if he ever walked, he would never run and so many other negative things.  Almost 9 years ago, he had completed a marathon in all 50 states and then about 2 years ago, he gave me the greatest gift ever, when his son was born.  I couldnt be more proud of him and his little baby (who. is now a toddler) On Mothers day, the baby looked at me and said "Happy Mothers day Nona"!!  It was hard to hold back the tears as my son's legacy had come full circle.  

Thanks for letting me share this moment!!

Libby Mehrens