Little House On The Prairie...

I always watched Little House On the Prairie as a kid and loved it. It always had a heart felt message and lesson to be learned. It wasn’t a “cool” show and I always cried at the 8:40 PM mark.  You could set your watch by it.  My brother counted on it, because then he would crack up laughing as I got a tissue to dry the flowing tears. Now that was good, wholesome television the whole family could watch together and take away something important from it.

Because it was based on a true story, it meant all that much more to me.  How far we have come from those days where life was so much simpler and yet they seemed happier and more fulfilled.  The father went out to work or to find work.  He worked hard.  Then he would come home and take care of his farm.  The mother took care of the children, the laundry, the cooking, and if her husband didn’t have enough time for farming she would even go out and try to do some of it for him.  The girls went to school and came home to help with chores.  Everyone worked.  No one minded or complained about it.

The thing I loved most was how the family unit was so close.  The parents were “partners” in life and worked together to raise their family.  They were devoted to each other and put each other first.  They got up at the crack of dawn together and went to bed early. They discussed parenting, finances, how to help other people.  They took their family to church.  They taught their children to be respectful of others.  Their girls were always polite and well mannered.  They all ate dinner together, spent some quality time talking, laughing, singing and then it was bedtime.  They all said their good nights, hugs and kisses and the girls were tucked in.  

Sometimes, I wish I could trade in everything to live life like they did on the show.  The simplicity appeals to me.  You know what to expect everyday.  You are surrounded by people who love you and who you love. Family came first.  There were no material or technological distractions.  There was just your few personal possessions and your family and friends.  

And, at Christmas time, they would make each other gifts or find a few pennies to buy something special.  Maybe they all got one gift each, and one simple gift was enough.  Maybe it was a scarf, a shirt, a dress, a doll. No matter what it was, they were happy with it and thankful for being together. 

Have we really made progress or set ourselves back?  You tell me.