April 29, 2015

We have been watching a few episodes of the classic Little House on the Prairie television series.  Do you remember it as a kid?  I loved it…more than loved it ~ I wanted to move right in with the Ingalls, squeezed between Mary and Laura in their sweet little white nightcaps, tucked under their quilt in bed, listening to Pa play fiddle music while drifting off to sleep.

A dear friend has loaned me the series, but wouldn’t you know most of it (like 85%) of the shows are wildly inappropriate for my kids.  People blown to bits, alcoholism, orphans, and the plague were not what I remember of the show, but sure enough, drama is what sells, in the 70s and even nowadays.  So I pick and choose.  The gold pan episode was a hit for my three and I remember all too clearly how I wanted to wade in a cool creek and strike it rich.

It was no surprise to find my kids like this recently…on more than a handful of occasions…

I have saved the watching times for those long stretches when my husband was away in the winter…or when the stomach flu hit our home recently.  But watching the old episodes sure brought back the nostalgia for me…and watching my own daughter dress up as Laura Ingalls, with a little more modern twist (hence the red cowboy boots that rarely come off), to play “store” in the garden…(I was instructed to be Mrs. Oleson and directed to be fussy about the eggs I bought from Ma).

(I haven’t shared how we made outfits for Sunshine’s dolls and how she creatively rigged up a play horse and buggy for Pa to pull…another day, perhaps.)

In the meantime, we are embracing our early spring and mild weather with picnics under our creekside apple tree and the beginnings of horse riding lessons for Sunshine.

For now, all four of us accompany each other to activities.  I have found with homeschooling, that we are a package deal, and the kids take turns learning the artful skill of patience and waiting their turn.  Just today a friend mentioned how Forrest is a very easygoing fellow who waited so easily for her to run errands when she was bringing him home from a party for me.  I hadn’t really thought much about that.  However, I suppose my kids have always spent a good deal of time waiting on each other and taking turns.  The most impatient one is often myself as I rush about preparing for lengthy periods away from home, with all the planning needed.  Once again, after hearing from my friend, I realize my children are leading me by their own example.  This mama continues to be humbled by these wonderful people with whom I spend all my time.

Lucky me.

Oh, yes…indeed.  My first spring bouquet thrust into my hands by my four year old…I can always count on his spontaneously chivalrous gestures.

Love.