mothering

[ muhth-er-ing ]

/ ˈmʌð ər ɪŋ /

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noun

the nurturing of an infant or small child by its mother.

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

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Origin of mothering

First recorded in 1640–50; mother¹ + -ing¹

Words nearby mothering

Mother Goose rhymes, mother hen, motherhood, mother house, Mother Hubbard, mothering, Mothering Sunday, mother-in-law, mother-in-law's tongue, motherland, mother language

How to use mothering in a sentence

In other words, the gap in mothering time may be shrinking between less-educated and well-educated moms.
The gap in parenting time between middle- and working-class moms has shrunk|Sujata Gupta|July 9, 2021|Science News
They gave birth and then were thrown into mothering as if it were a journey that one should be forced to embark on all alone.
The Problem With Celebrating the Selflessness of Mothers|Anna Malaika Tubbs|May 7, 2021|Time
Making mothering and working an either/or robs us all of the powerful contributions mothers make to our economy.
Why Obama’s Plan for Working Moms Just Won’t Work|Cathy Reisenwitz|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the beginning of the series, she had a husband in prison; she had kids that required a great deal of hands-on mothering.
‘The Good Wife’: Creators Robert and Michelle King on the Season Finale, Alicia and Kalinda, and More|Jace Lacob|April 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST

They are now raising a 5-year-old boy who Jennifer is incapable of mothering.
California Police Ignored, Mishandled Sex Assaults Reported by Disabled|Ryan Gabrielson|November 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But the problem, says Badinter, is how those values have changed—morphing into a style of mothering she calls “crushing.”
Elisabeth Badinter’s ‘The Conflict’: Does Modern Motherhood Undermine Women?|Jessica Bennett|April 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And then, of course, there was poor Hester Prynne—branded with a scarlet letter for mothering a child with another man.
Is Cheating the Secret to a Happy Marriage?|Jessica Bennett|October 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He was a boy of eighteen, aching over his first love affair; and she was divinely mothering him.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
For behind the mothering words lurked, he knew, the other self that any minute would return.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
And a hint of mothering contentment stole sweetly over him behind this shadowy yet genuine consolation.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
She smiled lazily as she reflected that he would take to mothering; his curly hair begged to be smoothed and tousled.
Mountain|Clement Wood
The little maid repaid him with a passionate love and a quaint mothering care tender and infinitely comforting to the lonely man.
The Major|Ralph Connor

mothering

Origin of mothering

Words nearby mothering

Words related to mothering

How to use mothering in a sentence