mothering

[muhth-er-ing]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the nurturing of a child by a mother or in the way that a mother does.
I'm so relieved to be finally able to do the mothering of my children in my own home.
the act of caring for or protecting like a mother, sometimes in an excessive way.
Even though her cold wasn't better yet, she was getting tired of his mothering.
(in rural England) the custom of visiting one's parents on Laetare Sunday with a present.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mothering¹

First recorded in 1640–50; mother ¹ + -ing ¹

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Some of the people I know who have the most amazing mothering energy, who mother me the most, are people who don’t have kids.

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"I have always had a mothering instinct," she says, "but for years I had been suppressing it because it was too painful to go there."

From

In response to the measles outbreak in West Texas, caused by the surge of vaccine refusals, Kennedy skated past the expert opinion to vaccinate to hype his view that the real solution is intensive mothering.

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Reflecting on her character's journey in the film, Adams explained: "Through her parenting - through her mothering - she got in touch with something bigger and something primal."

From

"You couldn’t fault her mothering. She kissed him, cleaned him and she was so gentle with him," she said.

From

Mother Hubbard Mothering Sunday

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