bucky
Reporter
Posts: 271
|
Post by bucky on Dec 11, 2010 7:40:34 GMT -5
A male friend of mine who watches the show is always astounded at how lazy the kids are, particularly the boys. He says it would never have happened that Grandpa and John would be doing the hard work without the older boys working alongside them. When boys were out of school, they were working on a farm. The girls are somewhat more realistic in that household chores were always shared. Girls usually helped in the fields when it was harvesting time, or alongside their parents if there were no boys. I must say I have to agree with my friend. My father did a man's job at twelve, and my brother was always in the field when it was necessary. I don't recall anyone addressing this on the forum, but do you think the kids were allowed to be lazy? It was a strict household in other ways. Just curious.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2010 8:13:47 GMT -5
If the boys were suppose to do John and Grandpa's job, what would John and Grandpa do?
|
|
|
Post by bothepug on Dec 13, 2010 8:47:49 GMT -5
You just do not see them doing a whole lot. Cutting timber, dragging it to the sawmill, cutting it up, delivering it. This is hard work. Grampa was old and while he worked hard, there is no way he could keep up with someone young. What chores did they really have to do? Milk the cow, then what?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2010 11:01:27 GMT -5
"What chores did they really have to do?"
Thats just it. What else were they suppose to do? I am country raised and I always had time to ride my horse. I was never expected to help my dad out in the business that he chose. Those were his choices. Other than the garden and a few house and outside chores, there wasn't much for them to do.
Let's not make their lives harder than it really was.
|
|
|
Post by bothepug on Dec 15, 2010 14:28:55 GMT -5
There was no fast food or much prepaired food, most was made by hand. The girls act like they didn't know what a kitchen was most of the time. While the boys might not follow their father in the family business, I just don't see them not helping every day. This was a poor man's way to provide and I am sure alot of the time needed help. But you can't make much of a story about working all day.
|
|
|
Post by davidm on Dec 17, 2010 14:34:43 GMT -5
There were times when John told the kids he needed their help and they helped. John and Livy both wanted their children to graduate high school and made sure that was a priority for the kids. The girls helped out in the kitchen often, and in cleaning the house. As all the kids got older only Ben showed an interest in the family business. John didn't want to force his business onto his children that didn't want it. But the boys had plenty of chores to do besides milking Chance. They mentioned it many time, though they rarely filmed it. Probably because it wouldn't be that interested to the viewers to watch. I see the kids having a balanced life of school work, chores, and playtime.
|
|
|
Post by waltonfan1 on Dec 17, 2010 14:43:55 GMT -5
I agree with davidm.........I think the kids did a lot of work around the place, they just didn't show it. Whenever there was stuff to be done, they seemed to be doing it.................and lazy is not a term that ever came to mind when I watched the show........which is daily lol. My Dad grew up in the depression on a farm, and he worked, but he played too, He said he had a great childhood, even though they had no money. A child that only worked would not think that way.,
|
|
|
Post by Marilyn on Dec 17, 2010 17:28:27 GMT -5
I always wondered the same thing and would even get irritated when the grownups were working so hard and complaining about it and the kids were playing. I'm a country girl and we worked hard, but we didn't know it was hard work! We milked cows, fed chickens, cleaned barn, slopped hogs, cleaned house, worked in the fields, hauled hay, and for fun we rode horseback. Truth be told, I thought the John Walton Sr. character was too easy on his boys.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2010 17:42:00 GMT -5
Please cite episodes as I agree with davidm and waltonsfan1. How many times did John leave to find work because there wasn't enough work.
The kids were not lazy
|
|
|
Post by dfnmeows44 on Dec 18, 2010 18:43:08 GMT -5
John knew Johnboy did not want to follow in John and Zeb's foootsteps at the mill but he expected Jason to do so. He explained to Jason why Johnboy was going to Boatright---to learn a trade---in other words he could use writing either in journalism,publishing, or teaching other people to be writers and journalists.
|
|
|
Post by Marilyn on Dec 18, 2010 18:58:29 GMT -5
Watched the Waltons on INSP last night and both Grandma and Livy were shocked when Mary Ellen happily went to the kitchen to help. They wondered where the real Mary Ellen was.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2010 20:23:09 GMT -5
Watched the Waltons on INSP last night and both Grandma and Livy were shocked when Mary Ellen happily went to the kitchen to help. They wondered where the real Mary Ellen was. They were all on the front porch when this scene took place. They were shocked because she went happily not because she went at all. So it could be construed that she did work. Hmm, both sides are going to need more proof. Okay, so if I find a scene where one of the kids are hospitalized due to overexertion from chores, will that be enough?
|
|
|
Post by Marilyn on Dec 18, 2010 23:08:52 GMT -5
I know Tanker...that's what they meant...they were surprised she went happily. That's what I got out of it. I think we're making too big a deal out of our comments and that's all they are..comments.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2010 23:16:19 GMT -5
I find it interesting that people can watch the same thing and come away with totally different ideas.
|
|
|
Post by Marilyn on Dec 20, 2010 1:26:25 GMT -5
If we all thought the same, we'd be a big snooze and have nothing to talk about.
|
|