What would induce a young mother to leave her new baby with strangers? And then why, after reclaiming her baby, would that same mother later leave her ten year old daughter in a cruel convent home for unwed mothers and the mentally unstable? Human nature is an unfathomable mystery, but The Laundry Girl is the true story of a young girls struggle to understand her place in a constantly changing world. With a young mother who at times is fun and engaging, at others cold and distant, her life is an uncertain place in which she survives by holding her fears and feelings within. The Laundry Girls' story is one of great courage, resilience and strength, which is eventually rewarded with love, hope and companionship, only to have it dashed by devastating loss and disillusionment. This memoir will amaze and astound you, with the careless disregard a mother can have for her daughter, yet it will reinforce the power that youth has to cope with the often callous and thoughtless treatment that adults visit upon their children. Mostly, this story will show you that within all of us, there is an undying capacity for love and hope, regardless of our history or heritage.