Hello. Did you forget to mention that this question is about "Smart cookie", by Sandra cisnero.
Answer:
It is reasonable to think that the mother is really a "smart cookie", because she has a shrewd vision about going to school.
Explanation:
The mother is very strict about going to school and having a good education. She understands that the only way to be someone and obtain better quality of life than the current one is through study. For this reason, she is very clever when she says that her daughter must study, must not leave school and must not let shame prevent her from studying.
The mother dropped out of school, but she recognizes that this was a bad choice, because she is a "smart cookie," meaning she is smart, despite how her future has developed.