physically

21:22 May 17, 2020 

I agree with Tony. In addition to it meaning that the mother had a physical disability that prevented her from caring for the child, it could also mean that she was disabled due to her location or physical circumstances, such as being in another country, being in jail or otherwise physically restrained.

14:17 May 16, 2020 

Thank you all.

05:46 May 16, 2020 

By the way, there is possibly an implication here that the 'physically' suggests it was really her last resort: had there been any other reasons, she would have carried on looking after the child, but she was physically unable to; it was something out of her control that prevented her from being able to do so, against her will. In other words, the writer could, to some extent, be trying to exonerate their mother from any blame in giving up her child "so easily".

05:03 May 16, 2020 

Pertinent extra context might also be "at what age the child was taken away from their mother?" — this might help to explain in what way she was physically unable; e.g. bad back so unable to life a baby as it got bigger; not in good health, so couldn't walk the child to school; unable to cope with large amounts of washing needed; child growing older and difficult, she was not physically strong enough to restrain them.
The fact that the writer specifically says 'physically' suggest they are deliberatly try to avoid saying the mother was mentally unable to care for them, nor even simply in terms of financial resources.

19:03 May 15, 2020 

"physically able to look after s.o." could mean/equate to financial problems.

That person may well ALSO have financial problems, but that wouldn't IN ANY WAY change the meaning of "being physically able".

Just because a box is red and also made of wood could NEVER be construed that "red" is the same as "wood".

17:48 May 15, 2020 

No, it is not financial at all, so in essence, I was merely confirming what others have said!

17:45 May 15, 2020 

I thought financially would be more convenient in this context. So I asked if physically could be used in that context. That's it.

17:41 May 15, 2020 

What do you mean exactly "But I thought it could (be) used in another sense"? The sentence "...because my mother just wasn't physically able to look after me", means "....because my mother just wasn't capable of looking after me" [due to her physical limitations], whatever those may have been? Hope this helps and regards and P.S. Sjaatoul, remember to provide adequate context with your queries, won't you?
Thx and regards. Stay safe!

17:34 May 15, 2020 

That's the obvious meaning. But I thought it could use in another sense.