Do you remember the episode of Little House on the Prairie when Albert Ingalls becomes addicted to morphine? It was a doozy complete with Albert stealing from Doc Baker, hitting his teacher and then going through severe withdrawals after Pa takes him away to a makeshift rehab at Mr. Edward’s cabin.
This episode shows that no matter the era, parenting is a really difficult job. Kids are kids. You will always have the needy infant, toddlers who throw fits for no apparent reason and of course, the rebellious teenagers.
The differences that come in to play between parenting during the 19th century and the 21st century, or even the generation before us is all of the technology and advancements to our world.
A lot of the technology and new inventions have made parenting in the present much easier. I feel bad that my mother’s generation had to use cloth diapers. I feel bad for the pioneer woman that had to wake up before dawn and start a fire in the house and bake bread even though she had probably been up all night with a baby. I know that dishwashers, microwaves and washing machines have made my role as a parent so much easier.
Technology is a double-edged sword though. It puts today’s parents in predicaments that Charles Ingalls never would have thought possible as he sat and cleaned up the vomit from one of Albert’s major puking sprees as he withdrew from that morphine.
The other day when I was in the shower, my 6 year old son came running into the bathroom screaming that my 3 year old son puked in the recliner while they were watching television. I quickly rinsed the shampoo out of my hair in a frenzy, horrifically anticipating the mess that waited for me when I got out.
I was happily surprised when I entered the living room and saw my 3 year old sitting in the recliner, watching his episode of Dora the Explorer with a blanket on his lap covered in puke. There was not one single drop on the chair or anything else. All I would need to do is deal with the blanket. As I lifted the blanket off of him I noticed something sticking out from the pile of vomit.
It was the remote control for the television.
Pioneer women may have had to make their own candles and hand sew all of the family’s clothes but they never had to figure out how to wash a remote control covered in puke.
lol – GROSS!!!! I’ve had that issue before, puke covering an electronic device and I’m not going to lie, I have just issues with vomit that my internal debate is always “Do I clean it or can I just buy another one?” Considering that I’m a single mom on a tight budget, especially when T was little, that shows what an issue I have with it!! So, kudos to you for cleaning it! (I probably would have too, as it’s $20 to replace my cable remote!)
Hi Kate! Oh I’ll admit I definitely thought about just replacing it! It was have saved me a lot of gagging!
Oh man! The picture of your little guy smiling with his blanket and that remote, just crack me up. Great read this morning.
Thank you so much!
Clean with wipes? Definitely can’t bleach the remote! I watched Little House on the Prairie when I was kid. I don’t remember much of the episodes, but I remember loving the dresses! π
Hi Dean! It was a process of paper towels, wipes, q-tips and disinfecting spray. It still kind of gives me the shivers using it though! Yes, I loved the clothes too!
Melissa, welcome back!!! I’m believing your Thanksgiving was very thankful. Thanks for sharing. Kind regards to the children and hubby. Blessings, Mtetar
Thank you! I hope you are doing well! Take care and thank you for stopping by!
I was obsessed with Little House on the Prairie growing up, so of course I know that episode! Ha Ha!
Hi Christine! That episode always stands out in my mind because it was so different than most of the others! Who would have thought the Ingalls ever would have to deal with that??
Ha Ha! Poor Ma and Pa! I liked the Laura and “Manly” ones the best.
Such a cute pic! And I love your story-telling abilities! I want to watch that episode now- lol!
Thank you for the compliments! I haven’t been blogging much so I need to head over to your sight and see what creative things you have been up to!
It’s nice to see you back on WP π x
Love the Laura Ingalls Wilder lead-in! Ewh to the remote! How did you clean it?!
Happy to see your blog in my reader again! Hope you don’t have any more stomach flu!
Hi Cathy! I know almost all of the Little House on Prairie episodes by heart so I could probably tie more of their story lines in! I hope you and your family have been doing well! Cesar actually didn’t have the stomach flu. It happened the day after Thanksgiving. Since he didn’t eat a ton of turkey or stuffing I’m assuming it was because he had too much pie and cookies. I still have the stomach flu to look forward to this winter!
Oh for a minute there I thought you had it made…..
Hi Colleen! WHC!!! I know, I thought it was my lucky day!
( I WHC’d at your WHC!) π
It was WAY too good to be true! π
oh boy, what a surprise )
No kidding Beth! Can you picture the look on my face??!!
OMG — He’s getting so big!
My kid used to throw up every time we went to Home Depot (which, unfortunately, was a lot!) — she was very considerate, though. She used to make a cup of her hands and throw up. (To this day, I have no idea what it was about Home Depot that made her puke!)
Happy Holidays!
Hi Jackie! Nice to hear from you! Yes, Cesar is growing up fast! He and Bency really give me a run for my money! I’ve never had a kid throw up at a store…thanks for throwing a ray of sunshine my way today!
Well, you know, that’s the kind of gal I am — always throwing rays of sunshine people’s way!
So great to see another post from you. Welcome back.
Yuck – what we will do in the name of entertainment!
Yes, television is pretty crucial around these parts…the remote definitely needed to be cleaned!
Lol… I have the entire DVD set of little house on the prarie if you ever want to have a 2 week marathon you can borrow it.. Love your prospective. Glad to hear the smile in your blog. π
I own the entire DVD set as well Pam!! I always thought my kids would want to watch them all but so far Bency is the only one who has kind of enjoyed them!
Welcome back lovely and I’m so tired reading about puke..just makes thing of pβ¦.
kidding – nice story and pics π
oh! Melissa, my friend, welcome back, so happy to read a post of yours this evening! π hope to read more π & yes, I loved Little House on the Prairie when I was a kid, I watch it with my mom and grand ma π & wow! Cesar has grown up, he looks adorable with that gorgeous smile of his, I can’t believe he puked on the remote control ha!ha! π
hope you are well Melissa & once again WELCOME Back! π
Ewwwww! Vomit is something my kids have never done (age 3 & 4), so I think the first time will be quite a shock for all of us!! I do love technology, but I am sometimes wistful for the old days where the mums and kids were all home together and not off working/childcare. Good to see you back. Cheers, Alison
Ha! Wow. : /
WOW! Good save, I thought…till the remote thing. Glad you got it rectified. Miss you much!
Yuk, but at least you got some cleaning done and it could have been worse. He could have been eating liverwurst before he threw up!
Ha! That’s definitely a new one! Sorry I’ve been absent around these parts…I was on a hiatus. The break was nice, but now I’m trying to catch up on my blog friends. Hope the holidays were good!
I laughed out loud. I’m glad you figured out How to clean that!