Response to a reading

I Stand Here Ironing, written by Tillie Olsen, tells a story about a mother daughter relationship which I would never desire to have. 

Emily, the daughter of a careless mother, struggles in her day to day life. Emily has been sick with measles in her childhood and was not treated as she should have been on her return home. If I were ever sick in my home, my parents paid extra close attention to me. I would have felt extremely left out and unwanted if I were Emily.

Emily was eventually “sent” to a convalescent home. The care that she needed was promised to be available there. Unfortunately, when her family came to visit there was no real interaction. Emily stood on a balcony and had to shout down the speak to her loved ones. This would not be OK with me. It may be because I am incredibly close to my family, but if I were sent away for weeks on end, I would desperately need to have interaction with my family. 

School was not one of Emily’s strong points. Her mother allowed her to stay home even if there were nothing wrong. At the end of the short story, Emily mentions that she will not be going to her midterms. If my mother were aware of my lacking ability in school, she would motivate me to try harder. I would most likely be involved in a tutoring program due to my parents concern.

Emily’s future seems to be bright. She is performing at high schools and colleges, entertaining her audiences everywhere. Emily’s mother seems to think Emily no longer needs guidance. This is false. I will always need my mothers help throughout my life. Just because Emily is the same age as her mother was when she gave birth to Emily, does not mean that she can steadily take care of herself. 

Overall, I understand that Emily’s mother had her hands full while Emily was growing up, but there is no reason she could not step into her life now.

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.