"I Stand Here Ironing"

In “I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen, the female narrator is faced with a hard life. Despite everything occurring around her, the same experiences she went through resonate with women of today. Many women and families are confronted with distractions, hardships, and difficult decisions.

For first time mothers I imagine it is a very overwhelming feeling to have someone else's life in their hands. The mother in the story tells of her attempt to be a good mother by saying, “I nursed all the children, but with her, with all the fierce rigidity of first motherhood, I did like the books then said” (283). Even in a hard time in her life, she tried to be a good mother. Mothers today, I'm sure, feel the same way toward their children. That is, no matter what they're going through, motherhood is their first priority. One strong element of this story is the neglect the narrator's first child, Emily, suffers. Emily's mother has a tough time finding work in a failing society so Emily has to stay with other people so she can look for work. She says, “...I had to leave her daytimes with the woman downstairs to whom she was no miracle at all, for I worked or looked for work...” (284). This situation is very common with mothers and families of today. Many children are at daycare more than they are with their parents since providing for the family becomes a major priority to parents.

Not only does Emily feel neglect through being separated from her mother because of her mother's working, but once her mother has more children she becomes even more withdrawn. Being the oldest of five children is hard for Emily. She feels neglected because her mother now has other kids to look after. Although she never got much of her mother's attention, now it is impossible to have it all because of her siblings. The mother tells how “there were other children pushing up, demanding” (288), explaining why she didn't always have time for Emily. I think this feeling occurs very often in today's families. Children always feel as though their parents never have enough time for them because of siblings. Emily as the oldest had to help her mother with chores and be like a second mommy to her siblings because her mom had so much going on.

Once Emily starts to grow, she feels different from others, like an outcast. At school she felt different because she was “thin and dark and foreign-looking at a time when every little girl was supposed to look or though she should look like a chubby blonde replica of Shirley Temple” (286). Emily struggled in school and was expected to do well, like the other children. Not only did Emily feel different at school, at home she felt outcast as well. Susan, the first child after Emily, was “...everything in appearance and manner Emily was not” (287). Susan was how children were 'supposed' to be. I strongly believe this situation happens in today's society simply because of kids wanting to be popular and perfect. With everyone trying to be the best, obviously someone is going to feel less than wonderful and end up being the outcast. Like some children today, “food sickened her, and I think much of life too” (286).

A change happens in Emily when she discovers she is funny and came make people laugh. She has “the convulsing and deadly clowning, the spell” (288). She goes on with her talent and shares it at schools and city and state events. It would be great for her to continue even further, “but without money or knowing how, what does one do?” (288). This situation is common in society now. With money ruling the world, it is hard to get anywhere without it. Having a gift is great, but without the means to make it continue, dreams shatter easily.

A lot of ups and downs occur in “I Stand Here Ironing.” Emily and her mother both fight their own battles, but I believe they both are able to overcome them. As the mother ages, she becomes wiser and realizes that she “was a young mother,...a distracted mother.” (288). Emily suffers the most of the children because she was the first and was left on her own to discover things in life. Many of the events Emily and her mother go through are events women, children, and families go through today.