I Stand Here Ironing “I Stand Here Ironing,” written by Tillie Olsen, is described to “resist easy optimism” (Galenet 4). In this story, a mother’s “tempted to blame herself for the deficiencies in Emily’s childhood” (Charters 5). Through not knowing about motherhood and not understanding childhood development, the mother shows the mistakes she made during Emily’s childhood. Having Emily at an early age shows how the mother was unprepared for motherhood. She says in …showed first 75 words of 624 total…

…showed last 75 words of 624 total…tried to go directly by the book when raising Emily. The mother sensed the lack of freedom in Emily’s life, because Emily was always under her mother’s feet whenever possible. Once Emily is encouraged to try for a talent show at school, things begin to change, when Emily wins the contest, she excitedly calls her mother. From this point forward Emily ventures past her horizons and sees the anything is possibly with faith.