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Stanley’s mother, Mrs. Yelnats, is the rationalist in the family who doesn’t believe in curses. Her refusal to believe in the Yelnats family’s bad luck creates humor and also highlights that the curse, at least in some form, is clearly true. For example, she focuses on the fact that Stanley’s great-grandfather survived his encounter with Kate Barlow, ignoring that he lost the family fortune in the process. While surviving is good luck, it does not erase the bad luck of losing the money. Mrs. Yelnats also brings balance to the Yelnats family, focusing on the material realities of the family situation that Mr. Yelnats ignores. She’s the one who worries about finances and is concerned about the family being evicted. She wants Camp Green Lake to be similar to a fancy summer camp for Stanley because she feels guilty that she can’t provide him with that experience. All of these worries and desires signal her love and care for her family. Because of his mother’s care and attention, Stanley writes to her because he doesn’t want to worry her. He lies in his letters because he knows imagining Stanley at a real summer camp will make her happy, and he wants her to have that happiness.
