Real talk: if a girl sends this, it's usually ironic, signaling 'mommy issues' humor, playfully 'mothering' you, or self-deprecating about her own parental dynamics. If it's to you from a crush, it's usually a red flag unless it's a very specific, pre-established inside joke.

How people actually use this in texts is almost always ironically, to joke about codependency, being overly protective, or someone acting childish. It’s rare to see it used sincerely for actual mother-daughter relations unless it’s with your literal mom.

It's almost always friendly and humorous, leaning into ironic 'mothering.' If it's flirty, it's in a highly specific, established dynamic of playful power, but it's super risky and often comes across as creepy or paternalistic if misread. Best to assume friendly and ironic unless proven otherwise.