Why not try both?

You first decide to absorb her memories so that you can function like a ghost. You then try to pick up the remote but you can't your hand passes through the remote. You then think of what to do. You then decide to try what people do in sci-fi movies where people try to move object without touching it.

"Ok this should work" and you try to concentrate on the remote and for your luck the remote starts to float and with some struggle you make it point towards you and make the remote press the memories button. And then flashback of that ghost surges through your mind. Her name was Veronica she was 28 years old with 32dd breast and she was a drunk yard and was from a rich family. She always used to party, smoke and drive while fully drunken. She died in accident while she was driving the car drunken.

"I can still taste the last liquor you had you naughty girl" you say and now you were a man, a woman and a ghost at the same time. Now you know all the abilities a ghost can do you try to concentrate hard and change your form from ghost to your (John) form. "Wow I can be myself without have to worry about me being lost" you then try to switch back to your mom's body and in an instant you transform into your mom. "The opportunities and the fun I can have with this ability" you smirk at that thought and go to sleep.