For the past month or so my family has been watching The Waltons. For those of you that don’t know, The Waltons was a TV series that aired on CBS from 1972 to 1981. The show centered on a poor family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. What was most important about this family was that they knew they were poor but were rich in love. There were 7 children, mom and dad and 2 grand parents living under 1 roof. They all worked together to keep the home running. There were chores for the kids, the family sawmill for the men and a house to run for the women. The family ate together at every meal and the older kids helped the younger ones.
The kids valued the advice of their grand parents and respected them as well as their parents. They knew that life experience was a great teacher. They played together and worked together.
This was an incredible family unit.
Personally, I didn’t have this kind of upbringing. Quite the opposite. We didn’t have much money but we got by. Looking back I wish I had the kind of relationship with my parents and siblings like the Waltons. Do I wish I was as poor as them? No. Do I wish I was raised during the Great Depression? No.
This day and age we don’t value our older generation. We farm them out to seniors homes. Or they have no desire to live with their adult children and their families.
Pity.
I think kids would really benefit from being raised with the help, guidance and advice from their grand parents. A family unit that spans 3 generations.
Maybe it’s just TV magic. A clever story with great cinematography and a touching soundtrack. Maybe I’m jealous.
But when it comes to watching the family unit… I would rather tune in to The Waltons and Little House On The Prairie rather than Roseanne and Married With Children.
Maybe I was born in the wrong era…
I agree with you, in fact I used to watch the Waltons and Little House on the Prarie with my mother and her mother when I was a kid.
Great Post
I love both the shows as well,I watched them as a child,then watched them with my children and now with my grand daughter…Good life values are timeless.
I to have watched the Waltons over and over. I have a question I want to ask..In the photos of the great depression there are rows of men..Where are the mothers and children?I see very little of the female sex..This is so odd to me.
Thanks