"Harriet is there something wrong?" Charles asked as he walked over to the fence around the barn.
"I'll be fine." Harriet said staring out into the night sky. " I just can't handle all of this. I mean I know it is only for two weeks and a week has almost passed, but this whole farm life is harder than I thought."
"It is a hard life." Charles agreed. "I will talk to the girls about being more helpful."
"Oh, they have been plenty helpful. It's me. I have never had to work hard in my life, and now all of a sudden I am working harder than ever. Charles, I don't think it's fair. I mean, you always having to work so hard and hardly earning any money, and then here I am running a mercantile, which isn't difficult at all, and I am the richest person in Walnut Grove."
"You're right it isn't fair, but I am happy with my life. I think that is all that counts."
"Do you mind if I have a moment to myself to think?"
"Not at all. I will be inside."
Charles was astonished at what Harriet had just said. Maybe this Wife Swap idea is doing some good after all. He thought. Walking into the house he saw Mary, Laura, and Carrie already eating their supper.
"Sorry Pa, we were so hungry we couldn't wait another minute." Mary apologized.
"It's okay Mary, I understand." Charles said as he took a seat at the table.
"Where's Mrs. Oleson, Pa?" Laura asked.
"She is outside thinking." Charles answered. "Girls, Mrs. Oleson is feeling somewhat overwhelmed right now. Try your best to help her out in any way possible."
"We are trying, but sometimes it is hard to get along with her." Laura said.
"I know, but she isn't used to farm life, so imagine yourselves being put into an unfamiliar situation like she.
"Pa, since tomorrow is Saturday why don't we have a picnic?" Mary suggested. "Laura and I will do all the cooking. That should take some stress of Mrs. Oleson."
"That is a great idea Mary!" Charles said as he reached for the soup.
----
Nellie walked into the parlor. "Mrs. Ingalls, will you finish my homework for me? She asked.
Caroline looked surprised. "Why, Nellie, no I won't. You need to learn to do your homework yourself."
"I already did a few of the problems. You only have about ten left."
"I will help you, but I am not going to finish your homework."
"You are supposed to do what my mother does, and she always does my homework. So if you don't you are breaking one of the rules."
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Give me the paper."
"Thank you Mrs. Ingalls. Have a good night!" Nellie said in a sweet voice as she left the room.
"Nels, I do you think your children are spoiled a little too much?" Caroline asked as she worked on Nellie's homework.
"A little? They are the most spoiled kids in the state of Minnesota!" Nels laughed.
Caroline thought about what she had just said. "My comment was out of character. I'm sorry for being so abrupt.
"I'm glad you said something. I have never told anyone this before, but…" Nels stopped himself.
Caroline looked at Nels.
Nels continued. "Sometimes I wish I had different kids. I love Nellie and Willie, but they can be so mean and ungrateful. I guess I want the kids I have, but I wish they had different personalities. I envy you Caroline. Your girls are the most well behaved, well mannered children I have ever met."
"I wouldn't say that. Laura has been known for her share of fights."
"They are usually against my daughter though, and I think Laura has a right to those fights. Anyway, as I was saying, I wish I had nicer kids. I would like to punish them for their many wrongdoings but Harriet hardly lets me. I think they test to see how much they can get away with. And knowing they can get away with so much, they will do whatever they want because they can."
"I think we can change some of that attitude in this next week, Nels." Caroline said in an assuring tone.
"I sure hope this will work."
----
Harriet and Caroline were required to write about the week they had encountered. Here is what they wrote:
This week has been the longest week of my life. I never thought farming could be so hard. I figured you collected the egg, and cooked meals. Never did I once think a woman would have to do the plowing and planting. Luckily for me, Charles is understanding and did not require me to do much of the actual farming.
The girls have been well behaved. Too bad my Nellie and Willie aren't that way. But I would rather have my kids like me than to be a tyrant. I think Caroline can be too harsh with Mary, Laura, and Carrie. They deserve to have some breaks. Sure Laura goes fishing and Mary reads during their spare time, but that can't be fun. Come Sunday maybe I will be able to help the girls see that life isn't always about work, or at least at their age it isn't.
I think I disappointed the Ingalls. I wasn't able to cook well, I couldn't keep track of Carrie, like I stated before I didn't help much with the plowing and planting, I didn't wake up on time, and I didn't even enjoy a simple picnic.
With all this said, I am going to try and show the Ingalls where I am coming from this next week, so maybe then, they won't be so critical of me.
Harriet Oleson
This week has been a challenge, but I am glad I accepted it. I think I am learning more than I thought I would, and I think the Oleson's are, or will learn more than they thought they would as well.
I don't think I have ever seen such a dysfunctional family. I know they all love each other dearly, but there is no discipline. This concerns me very much. When Nellie and Willie become adults they are going to think everything will be given to them, which it won't be. I am afraid they think of me as mean and I don't want them to think of me as that, but they need to learn a lesson and how else am I supposed to teach them without being a little intolerant at times?
I always wondered what a life of luxury would be like, and now that I am living this dream I know I didn't miss out on much.
All I know is that I can't wait for the rules to change.
Caroline Ingalls