Could You Survive Frontier House?
November 9, 2009
A while back we watched Frontier House, a PBS series about 3 families that go back in time to 1883 Montana. Most of the people in this series were not equipped skill wise to live off the grid and on the land.
I wish I could find a video clip of the teen daughters when they were interviewed at the end of the series. They were back at their million dollar home, in the pool, complaining how boring their life was now. When these girls went to Montana they learned how to work just so they could survive. They learned the value of a good day’s work and that life was about more than cell phones, video games and shopping.
If you can endure the constant complaining you might be able to teach your kids a lesson or two by watching this, plus show them how good they have it.
Of the 3 women, this wife had the best attitude.
The lack of a good work ethic in the kids was one thing, almost understandable in America today, but it was the women in this series that really got under my skin. They sabotaged their own 1883 families with their 21 century, feminist attitude. They did not embrace their position as the women, nor take pride in how IMPORTANT their "mundane" work was…and still is today! Mundane really is all about perspective.
So let’s say we don’t have to wash clothes at the creek, we don’t have to bake every meal from scratch, we go to the store several times a week rather than a couple times a year and we don’t have to heat water to wash. What do we trade that time for?
One thing all the families commented on was how they really got to know their children! It is true, you don’t really know your kids until you have to roll up your sleeves and work together, tackling the big things in life TOGETHER! Unfortunately, according to the end of the series, the families all went back home and life as usual.
Topics: Responsibility | 5 Comments »
Comments (5)
My husband and I watched this some years ago. It was very enlightening!! I can agree that getting up in the morning is also my hardest challenge- and if/ when I don’t get up on time- I don’t get all my day’s work done…..and I don’t even work all that hard!
I remember recording this when it was originally broadcast. I need to go get out that tape. It was very interesting to watch at the time.
I watched this when it first came out. I remember thinking how annoying those teen girls were and how annoyed I’d be if I were their mother!
I think I would be able to survive Frontier House. It would be hard, but it would be a joy to work alongside my husband my sons together for survival.
I really enjoyed this series. You are right, they were not prepared for real labor. It was a joy to see that family learn to enjoy ea hother! We just got rid of able and did not get a bla k bo. It is AWESOME to spend more time together, but we kould still get better at it! sorry, my keyboard is akting up! ~Moorea
I watched this with my oldest sons when it first came out. We were amazed at how unprepared the folks were for their experience, but also humbled by the meager possessions they were allowed to have. It was sad to hear all the grumbling and complaining that went on. It certainly made modern folks look petty and immature. Do you remember when the one husband kept getting ill? We KNEW right away that he was dehydrated and he had NO CLUE. That amazed us. Overall, I thought it was an interesting experiment and a worthwhile program to watch, especially if you happen to be studying frontier life. It will give you a peek into what life MIGHT have been like (though I think sometimes that their spirits were in a better place than modern man's). I still like to tell my kids, whenever they think they might want to complain about what work we have to do here on our small place…Just think what it would have been like on a REAL farm out in the frontier. You have it easy!