I Stand Here Ironing

The narrator of Tillie Olsen's story "I Stand Here Ironing", voices the guilt that can be found in the heart of many parents. She explains that her daughter's insecurities and conflicts may have come from her being "a young mother" and "a distracted mother" (p.288). She felt that her "wisdom came too late." (p.289). She replays the situations that left Emily alone or in the care of others, away from love and security, several times in her young life. She says she didn't smile at her enough, wasn't able to be there for Emily when she was sick and needed her. She wonders, "What in me demanded that goodness in her? And what was the cost, the cost to her of such goodness?" The impact of all these things is apparent in the actions and emotions of Emily, but it seems each situation that neglected Emily was unavoidable. The narrator had to raise Emily without the help of a father and was forced to rely on the help of others to care for her, while she worked to survive. When Emily's becomes ill, there are great risks involved with a new baby, that forces Emily to suffer alone.
The mother of Emily truly loves and cares for her daughter, even describes her loveliness, and mourns the things that hurt her child. Perhaps Emily would have benefited from an easier, secure environment, but her mother could only give her what she did, and it simply was all she could. Ultimately, there will always be something lacking and more that could've been given, but Emily's mother truly wouldn't be a good mother or fully care about her child if she did not feel this way.