Stop complaining. You’ll be fine here, Maddie, I don’t know what you’re worrying about. You’re a sturdy little thing. You’ll always be fine, not like…’ She trailed off without finishing her sentence. She didn’t have to. I’d heard it all before—her life was hard and she needed someone to look after her.
-- Momma and Maddie (chapter 2)

Importance: Momma says this to Maddie after dropping Maddie off at Aunt Etta’s with no warning. Maddie has little empathy for Momma at this point, whom she feels is abandoning her. Maddie fails to recognize Momma’s respect for her daughter’s self-sufficiency. Momma is aware of her main fault—her dependency on men for survival—and is actually proud of her daughter for not being as needy as her.

Your father would be proud, Maddie May.
-- Aunt Etta (chapter 23)

Importance: Aunt Etta says this to Maddie when Maddie tells her all about her...