i stand here ironing .

I Stand Here Ironing by Tillie Olsen

1. I Stand Here Ironing is a short story about a young mother talking about the affection and attention that she wishes she would have gave her children, mainly her daughter Emily because she has trouble fitting in society and understanding who she is.

2. Leveled Questions
Level One
Emily wrote to her mom every other day while she was at the convalescent home. What was it she would get if she wrote her letter nicely, although she never got one?

Level Two
What led up to Emily going to the convalescent home? What was the main plan for Emily and her mother while Emily was gone?

Level Three
“The old man living in the back once said in his gentle way: ‘You should smile at Emily more when you look at her.’” Why do you think affection is so significant even at such young age?

3. Observation; Just doing some observing.

The theme for this short story is that it is not easy to share the total amount of affection that you have not shared in the past for your loved once. At times it is too easy to get ahead of yourself while leaving the ones you care about behind. In the end, your lack of love and care hurts not only them but also you in the long run.
I found this short story to be rather sad. I felt sorry for the young mother just as much as I felt sorry for the children, especially Emily. I believe the young mother did not understand the complete sense of motherhood and what things she could do for her family that did not cost. Emily was a child who did not understand too much about herself. She did not understand why she did not have the same hair and skin tone as everyone else. It was hard for Emily to fit into society being that she was cared for or taught as much by her mother like the other children.
I actually liked this short story. I felt like the author made me clear of how the mother felt and what was going on with Emily. I was able to build an amount of sympathy for the mother, who wishes that she could turn back in time and start over. I believe the young mother is apart of the every day examples of not only young mothers, but many mothers in general. I think it starts off with the generations and hopefully Emily could someday share some affection with her children [but I would understand if she did not because she did not have it from her own mother].