Tonight, as we watched the second episode, Laura Ingalls presented the perfect teachable moment for my daughter Lucy: Laura, along with her sister Mary, was expected to go to school for the first time. Laura was anxious about her inability to read, much like my six-year old towhead who just started first grade. The best part was when Laura was practicing her new spelling words, she recited the exact same words that were on Lucy's spelling list last week. I could see Lucy, with a slight smile on her pretty face, sounding out the letters right along with Laura. And then I wept through Laura's recitation to her class about how much she loved her ma. Not that I'm even close to being as even-tempered and reverent and willing to give up my indulgent new clothes for my girls like Caroline Ingalls, aka super mom of the 19th century who threshes her own wheat by hand with a smile on her face and barely a bead of sweat on her brow.
Even though the TV version of "Little House" offers a slightly faded reality after a few decades of life lived, I'm still a sucker for good wholesome drama - especially ones that tug the heartstrings and impart timeless wisdom about relationships, family values, faith, and love. I hope Laura Ingalls Wilder will help my children understand - and remind me - that “the real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." Wise words indeed.
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