As a child, I was enchanted by the Little House series, devouring each book countless times. My favorite was always Laura; I even pretended to live her life with my sister, playing out her adventures. Recently, I revisited the series, along with Pioneer Girl, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoir, and I was swept back into the world of hardship and resilience that defined the pioneer experience.
During a particularly chilly evening last winter while reading The Long Winter, I found myself grumbling about the mundane task of switching laundry in my cold basement. It suddenly struck me: “Ma Ingalls would probably think I’m quite the whiner right now.” This realization gave rise to my Inner Ma, a voice of reason that often interrupts my more trivial complaints.
Moments with My Inner Ma
Here are some recent moments where I’ve felt the presence of my Inner Ma:
- Me: Oh no! We’re out of butter, and I’ll have to use the unsalted kind on my toast.
Inner Ma: When we moved from Wisconsin to Kansas, we had no butter until my husband traded for a cow. Remember how difficult milking was? - Me: Another snow day? Ugh!
Inner Ma: We endured relentless blizzards that almost starved our entire town. - Me: My son’s glasses are so scratched up; I need to get him new ones, but I dread going to that Lenscrafters nearby.
Inner Ma: My daughter lost her sight and we had to send her away for her education. We didn’t see her for nearly a year. - Me: My partner has another work trip. I wish he didn’t travel so often.
Inner Ma: My husband moved me far away from my family multiple times, and I had to churn my own butter. - Me: This bra is so uncomfortable.
Inner Ma: I wore corsets under long dresses, covering myself from neck to ankles. - Me: Why is this app update taking forever?
Inner Ma: We sometimes received outdated magazines from the East. - Me: The deer keep munching on my rosebushes!
Inner Ma: Remember the years of grasshopper plagues that wiped out our crops entirely? - Me: The park’s porta-potties are disgusting.
Inner Ma: Our outhouse was equally unpleasant, especially on windy days. - Me: What’s that noise outside? Cats fighting?
Inner Ma: What if it’s a bear trying to get to our livestock? - Me: The kids have a dentist appointment, so I’ll miss the gym.
Inner Ma: We had no dentists on the prairie. My exercise involved churning butter.
Although my Inner Ma often highlights my trivial complaints, it also serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come. I still find myself grappling with frustrations over technology and comfort, but I now also recognize their insignificance in the grand scheme of things. While I adored the Little House series, I have no desire to live as they did. However, a little perspective from Ma and the Ingalls family helps me appreciate the conveniences of modern life. After all, 21st-century motherhood, while challenging, benefits from indoor plumbing and the occasional squirrel rather than a bear lurking in the backyard.
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Summary
Reflecting on the Little House series reveals the stark contrasts between pioneer life and modern challenges. While trivial complaints about everyday inconveniences may seem significant, a little perspective from the Ingalls family reminds us to appreciate the comforts of contemporary parenting, including advancements like indoor plumbing and technology.