What I learned from “Little House on the Prairie” (Part 1)
This year, my Christmas gift to my hubby and I is a delicious 400-thread-count Pottery Barn blanket in all white.
I must admit it took me a few visits before deciding to buy the blanket because of its price. But after seeing our usual blanket look so shabby, I decided to purchase it the day before Christmas with three months to pay, 0% interest. So worth it.
Now my gift to myself is much cheaper—the complete season of Little House On The Prairie on iTunes.
That’s 300 episodes for just $49!!
Three years ago I gifted my husband four boxed sets (about 48 episodes) of his favorite series, The Love Boat.
He likes watching it because it brings him back to a ’70s cruise ship, which he loves.
I love Little House because it brings me back to grade school, when my sister and I would watch weekly in front of a Sony Trinitron TV and have a crying conetst (first one to cry wins).
Back in the ’70s, everyone in school watched Little House on the Prairie.
It really brings me warm, fuzzy memories of growing up in the ’70s, which I miss so much.
A priest once said in his sermon, when we are young we look forward to the future.
When we are middle aged, we go through a midlife crisis. When we are old, we look back to our past.
Thank God I am past my midlife crisis, but I must be old because I am constantly looking back and feeling nostalgic.
Let me take you back to my Little House memories.
First, watch the opening theme and closing credits of the show.
The Little House series ran on from 1974–1983. The genius that brought the TV show to the Philippines was GMA-7—the only sosy TV channel during that time.
The series was based on the real family of Laura Ingalls-Wilder, who authored Little House in the Big Woods in 1932. She also wrote 205 episodes of Little House during its nine-year run.
Michael Landon and Karen Grassle played Charles and Caroline Ingalls respectively.
I think every kid that followed the show wished they were their parents.
Charles and Caroline were poor and could hardly make ends meet, but they were very sweet to their children, and slow to anger.
Looking back I now realize my parenting style was heavily influenced by what I saw on TV.
My children are raised with hugs and kisses and positive reinforcement, just like Charles and Caroline.
Although I have to admit I have been extremely grumpy this past Christmas week, with the boys constantly at my side and bullying each other.
Sadly, Michael Landon died young from pancreatic cancer in 1991. He was 54.
Karen Grassle aged well and lives in San Francisco. She is 72.
Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls in 1974 and now
(To be continued)
