I Stand Here Ironing Literary interpretation

The first time I read "I Stand Here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen, the emotions it provoked made a tight ball of fear and guild appear in my stomach, I broke out in a sweat and my heart began beating triple time. There were so many similarities between the mother's story and my memories of the last six years tat it amazed me. But after reading it a few more times, I didn't feel quite so …

…I'll remember to smile more at my children and not to turn the face of worry toward them, and it won't be too late. After reading "I Stand Here Ironing," I realized that I am not the only mother who has regrets about some of the things I have had to do. I don't feel quite so guilty anymore. Like Tillie, "They were all the acts of love." We did what we had to do.