mothering

[ muhth-er-ing ]

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. (in rural England) the custom of visiting one's parents on Laetare Sunday with a present.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mothering¹

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

Example Sentences

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 BBC

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

From BBC

And it behooves city fathers and mothers to take this sentiment seriously, if they wish to keep mothering and fathering.

From Los Angeles Times

"When she was in town, she was very involved," is how she diplomatically sums up Cass's mothering style.

From BBC

Early on, its silky misery feels hollow — trite, even — but over six episodes, that emptiness becomes less of a void and more of a vessel, holding elegant, complicated ideas about class, pain and mothering.

From New York Times