At the end of the story, Dee (Wangero) tells Mama and Maggie that they don’t understand their heritage? Who do you think really understands heritage: Dee or Mama/Maggie?

Her appreciation of "everyday" objects like the butter churn or quilts lies not in their practical usage, but in the heritage she seeks to reclaim as an artifact rather than a way of life. It is really Mama who appreciates these items for the importance of "everyday use". Although Mama understands that Dee is objectifying her life, Maggie only understands that she will need the things life the quilts when she lives out her life: she will also need them for "everyday use".