I'm looking for a romance manga/manhwa where the female MC becomes romantically engaged with someone else who sees (can be with or without his intention!) her as a substitute mother or caregiver.

I think what really brings out the "motherly" aspect to me is when the MC cooks, cleans, and cares for the other character without the formal obligation of being his maid or something. The female character usually just can't leave the male protagonist because of her motherly instincts or desire to want to take care of the guy.

Some examples are Rockin' Heaven and Jidokhage Kkeureoango Jidokhage Kiseuhago.

No yaoi/yuri please. Shoujo ai and Shounen ai are fine. Otherwise, all other genres are okay!

Thanks, guys! 🙂

I couldn't find anything exactly like you described, but you might be interested in some of these.

Love So Life - the female lead is very motherly, and cleans house/cooks for the male lead. She is the babysitter for his niece and nephew, so he doesn't think of her as a mother.

Dear Mine and Please Save My Earth - the female lead thinks of herself as a mother/older sister figure to the younger male character, but he doesn't see her that way.

Fruits Basket - the female lead cooks for the male leads when she moves in with them. She's kind of a motherly character.

Ah, thanks for the recommendations! You are definitely getting the right idea. I've read all of those, and they certainly have a motherly feel to them. ^^

Maybe you'll like
Issho ni Neyou Yo
The Other Side of the Mirror
Natsu no Zenjitsu
Samishii Hito
Abide in the Wind
Taisho Wotome Otogibanashi
50 Rules for Teenagers

Also some of Tsukuba Sakura's oneshots like Sabaki no Mon, Shiro no Keiyaku, and Birthday Presents

DONDAKEE!!

Thank you so much! I really like Tsukuba Sakura's work also ><
I actually started reading Samishii Hito after your rec. and so far it's good although there are only 2 scanlated chaps. Looking forward to your other recs! I'm reading 50 Rules for Teenagers rn. 😀

Hope it's of some help. If you like Samishii Hito, I'd recommend Hana no Namae as well (from the same author), it's really good and featured a gentle and caring female lead who's 'taking care' of male lead, tho since the setting is older male-younger female it's kinda hard to picture her as a mother figure for him.

DONDAKEE!!