mothering

American  

[muhth-er-ing] / ˈmʌð ər ɪŋ /

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of mothering

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

Example Sentences

In her new Netflix movie “Goodbye June,” she’s the one who needs mothering.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

I just really, like, I can’t imagine mothering without their help, because they’re just so in tune to each other.

From Salon • Nov. 2, 2025

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 • Oct. 16, 2024

I wonder if Jesse Armstrong knows somebody like Lady Caroline, because there is such a specificity to her lousy mothering.

From New York Times • May 28, 2023

Her mother had always lived in an invalids shadow land, Briony had always required mothering from her older sister, and Leon had always floated free, and she had always loved him for it.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan