Ma Ingalls Would Think I’m a Jerk

home insemination Kit

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the Little House books. I read them over and over (except for Farmer Boy—who really cares about Almanzo?). I watched the show religiously and my sister and I would play Little House until Mary grew up and left home. Being the older sibling, I always had to be Mary, which wasn’t as fun since I was living in a different town from Laura, Nellie, and the rest of the gang. But really, Little House was a huge part of my childhood.

This past winter, I decided to reread the entire series and even tackled Pioneer Girl, which is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoir with annotations. The stories were just as magical as I remembered, and I loved diving back into their adventures as they traveled across the western U.S. during pioneer times.

One chilly night before Christmas, as I was bundled up reading The Long Winter, I had to make a trip to the basement to switch my laundry. Holding a pile of cold, damp clothes in that frigid space made me grumble inwardly. That’s when it hit me: “Ma Ingalls would totally think I’m a jerk right now.”

Since then, I’ve developed this Inner Ma who chimes in whenever I’m whining about my so-called “problems.” Here are some recent moments when Inner Ma put me in check:

Inner Ma’s Wisdom

Me: Ugh, we’re out of salted butter! I guess I’ll have to use unsalted on my English muffin.
Inner Ma: When we moved from Wisconsin to Kansas, we had no butter until Charles traded for a cow, and then the cow tried to kick him! He had to build a pen before we could even get milk. Then I had to churn it by hand.

Me: Another snow day! So annoying!
Inner Ma: We once had a winter where blizzards kept the trains from delivering supplies and the whole town almost starved.

Me: My son’s glasses are so scratched up! I really need to get him new ones, but I hate that Lenscrafters nearby.
Inner Ma: My daughter went blind and we had to send her away to Iowa for her education. We didn’t see her for nearly a year.

Me: My husband has yet another business trip. I wish he didn’t travel so much.
Inner Ma: My husband moved me far away from my family more than once, and I had to churn my own butter.

Me: This bra is making me sweaty!
Inner Ma: I wore corsets under long dresses that covered me from neck to ankles.

Me: Why is this app update taking forever?
Inner Ma: We sometimes got old magazines sent from Back East.

Me: These deer keep eating my rosebushes!
Inner Ma: When we lived in Minnesota, we had a grasshopper infestation that ruined all our crops. The cows had no grass, so I couldn’t churn any butter.

Me: Ugh, the porta-potties at the park are disgusting.
Inner Ma: The outhouse behind our house was gross too, especially when the wind blew.

Me: What’s that noise outside? Is that cats making weird sounds?
Inner Ma: What’s that noise? Is it a bear trying to eat our livestock?

Me: Seriously? The kids have a dentist appointment, so I’ll have to skip the gym.
Inner Ma: We didn’t have dentists on the prairie. And for exercise, I churned butter!

Honestly, I wish I could say my Inner Ma is transforming me into a better person. But I’m still the same person who complains about app updates and sweaty bras. At least now I feel a bit foolish about it. Because as much as I adored Little House, I wouldn’t trade my life for that pioneer experience—not even for a second. The thought of churning butter by hand is enough to make me appreciate my life today. Checking in with Ma and the rest of the Little House family gives me the perspective I need when life feels overwhelming. Mom life in the 21st century has its challenges, but at least we have indoor plumbing and most of the wild animals we encounter are just squirrels—not bears!

For more insights on the journey of parenthood and home insemination, check out this helpful resource on pregnancy and home insemination. If you’re interested in exploring more about the insemination process, visit this site for detailed information.

Summary

Growing up with the Little House series left a lasting impression on me, so much so that I often hear the voice of “Inner Ma” whenever I complain about modern inconveniences. Reflecting on the hardships faced by the Ingalls family provides perspective on my own life, reminding me that while parenting in today’s world isn’t always easy, we have many comforts they didn’t.