lt of the mother or the daughter. Through her own relative thoughts, the mother illustrates the relationship that evolved with her daughter. Secondly, Emily, as a little girl wasn’t the epitome of what the ideal child should be Emily was “dark and foreign looking” when all the girls her age should be Shirley Temple look-alikes. Because she didn’t fit in she was awkward, therefore isolating herself from the rest of the kids her age. This attitude and feeling toward Emily has changed since then, and now she realizes that Emily is a talented young woman with the chance of a great future. As Emily grew older and the mother grew wiser, her attitude toward her daughter changed as well. When Emily grew out of her awkward stage, the mother realized what a beautiful and capable young women she had grown to become. The mother can clearly see this, and does not realize any problems with her daughter. When the social worker calls, she basically tells them to back off and let Emily be. Her main hope for her daughter is that she realizes what potential she has, and she won’t conform to society, but have a mind of her own do what makes her happy. The character of the mother in “I Stand Here Ironing” is one that is wise and strong. She is able to be pushed to the lowest and stand back up again. Those characteristics determine her attitude toward her daughter, Emily. At first while she was still young, she looks with pity upon her daughter who she so hopelessly was not able to provide for. But as time proceeds she realizes that her youth was just a small stage in her life that she has grown out of, almost like a butterfly. Emily now is a lovely young woman with much potential. All the mother can hope for now is that Emily herself can and will realize the power she holds within...
