Olivia’s Job - besides an amazing wife & mother

[flossieskid]

I remember when money got tight for the Ingalls family on “Little House on the Prairie”, Caroline took a job waiting tables - I think at the restaurant started by Mrs. Oleson. Were Nellie and her husband part-owners or managers too? I just remember some episodes where Charles came into the town restaurant to talk to his wife while she was working.

But, what I don’t remember is if Olivia had any job during the series? I vaguely recall her trying to sell some items to Flossie ( like an Avon lady or Fuller Brush man in their day) but maybe I am getting confused with Jim Bob selling Flossie a car. I also think Olivia was volunteering at the hospital during the 2nd John Boy’s coma - but didn’t have a job there. I just don’t trust my memory.

I would think John would not be thrilled with Olivia becoming part of the workforce, with so much to take care of at home. But, the times were changing and I would expect Olivia to be an independent thinker and a bit of a feminist during that period: knowing that a woman can do ANYTHING a man can. I know Mary Ellen felt that way and was living that truth! But, just wasn’t sure if Olivia ever had a job outside the home?

[Brenda]

In the Season 4 episode The Test, Olivia took a job as a seamstress at a dress shop in Westham.

[Easton]

Jun 15, 2022 5:39:42 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

I vaguely recall her trying to sell some items to Flossie ( like an Avon lady or Fuller Brush man in their day)

That was in the episode 'The Cradle' and Olivia sells a "bubbling skin beautifier" to friends and neighbours, including Flossie Brimmer:

Olivia becomes very excited when she has the chance to be a door to door salesperson, selling bubbling skin beautifier. She is very successful and sells all of her kit to her neighbors. The Baldwin's bought several bottles because they need extra jars for the recipe and Ike Godsey is waiting on a shipment, Flossie Brimmer buys one for Miss Hunter's birthday and another for herself, and Maude Gormley watches the demonstration, wonders where the bubbles are, then promptly buys some as the tarnished bowl is no longer tarnished. Olivia manages to sell the entire kit and returns home feeling successful, but tired and ill. She has become pregnant again.

Olivia ultimately loses the baby which Elizabeth wanted to name 'Joy'.

thewaltons.fandom.com/wiki/The_Cradle

One of the funniest scenes involve Ben and Jim-Bob who take over for Olivia when she becomes too ill to do it herself. They visit Mrs. Breckinridge (the music teacher) and she brings them a bowl of warm water and a white kerchief. Ben pours some of the beautifier into the bowl. No bubbles. He stirs it with his finger. Still no bubbles. He adds more beautifier and drops in the kerchief. In a close up of the bowl and, with a bit of television 'magic', the kerchief turns green.

"Goodbye, boys."

[Brenda]

Olivia worked as a substitute teacher in a couple of episodes. In the Season 4 episode The Sermon, Corabeth and Flossie did a bit of gossiping about Olivia because they didn’t approve of her teaching methods.

[Deleted]

It was Ben that sold Flossie a crappy car. Jim Bob helped him fix it for her so she would not have aching feet. Livy tried to get a job during the Venture but could not because she did not have business skills that were marketable. 

Being Livy was as religious as she was, there really isn't that much in the bible that encourages women to work outside of the home or to be feminists. 

[flossieskid]

Thanks to everyone for all the info and for verifying the facts I got wrong. As I said, I can’t trust my memory, but glad I can trust all of you!