Mrs. S is a compassionate, intelligent, but tough individual. She firmly puts the welfare of Kira ahead of her own interests, and did the same for her foster children, who still grew up to be mostly amoral and undisciplined adults. She is obviously protective of children in general, and has espoused left wing poilitics, gently ribbing Sarah that although Sarah inherited the love of Punk Rock from Mrs S, she did not inherit any of the political thinking.