both my mother and father worked.. i had to learn to get stuff done me self, or through observation.

cooking, cleaning, and other house chores.

My answer to the original question. For what do you need a mother then, if not to nurture children's needs.
A mother who tries teach her sons feminine chores probably don't have a daughter. I come from a country with high equality between the sexes and with generations of feminine logic in education.
The result is the highest divorce rate in the world!
A man can vacuum and wash dishes but 99% of women will not service the car, clean plumbing etc. OK a metro sexual man in an rented apartment maybe it's right to expect more house work from, But not if the family own a house.

i've learnt all aspects of housework..inside and out...cooking n baking.....and now the place is spotless...even the taps get shiny n clean just so i can see someones fingerprint and bust 'em

My mother said do not put your finger where you would not put your dinky

The more confident a man is with meeting his domestic needs, the bigger the challenge for a woman to show her qualities that he will appreciate.

I can't imagine what my mother went through having three boys within four years, and then having my sister and I, and also having a job, when able.

I learned in school by teachers an still respect them.
Mother is a blessing which no one can replace. Word's are lesser to descriptions, i had always earned from her is care an love.

What we are giving her is most important... Especially time.
Thank You.

Our mum taught my brothers and myself all household task, including repairing clothes. My dad was a great cook too. We learnt most of other practical stuff (boy's stuff - repairing cars / bicycles, electronic gadgets, wood/metal work, gardening, painting etc) from our dad. This was in the 60s and 70s in Africa.

Sorry to say I had to learn latter. This included cooking.