one invisible and silent phenomenon associated with the acquired immune def
iciency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic is the return of mothers to care for their
adult sons who are dying of the disease. This article presents an emergent
fit of data from an interpretative study with 14 such mothers into Leonard
's practices of mothering framework. Conceptualizing mothering as a practic
e rather than a technical skill provides a context for understanding nurtur
e and care, The mothers' stories reveal moral content of mothering that is
centrally important to cultural life, as well as implications for nursing p
ractice.