Little Home in the Suburbs
I missed the TV show of Little House on the Prairie the first time I watched it, and I always felt like it was something of a gap in my cultural stash, so I jumped at the chance when I saw the newly released DVD available at my local library.
Four episodes in, and I see why it was so popular at the time! I loved the books (and am now very tempted to reread them), but there series is very good at bringing home just how much *work* there was in that kind of pioneer life.
I’m watching the parents, not the kids. Funny how having kids of your own will do that to you. 
Of particular note was Pa Ingalls working two jobs to earn the money to cover seed and equipment for his farm, then ploughing all evening after a twelve hour work day. And when he goes walkabout to get dangerous work in a mine after their wheat harvest is destroyed, Ma Ingalls rallies the women of the town to save what remains of the wheat - including gathering and thrashing the wheat by hand, so they’ll have some flour that winter.
Boy, I take flour for granted!
And, boy, I’m glad I live in Australian suburbia. After watching the pioneers doing everything the hard way (and their children going to school with their mother’s book, and one slate between them), I got to cook dinner for my family using a rice cooker and electricity, while my man played on the Nintendo Wii.
And I, unlike Ma Ingalls, have the Wiggles to turn to when things get stressful.
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