Miss Plum Little House On The Prairie

Let's talk about Little House on the Prairie. We all loved it, right? Laura Ingalls, the sweet prairie family, Almanzo Wilder. But, let's be honest. There's a character we secretly, or maybe not so secretly, judged.

The Unpopular Opinion: In Defense of Miss Plum

I'm talking about Miss Eliza Jane Wilder, but you probably know her better as Miss Plum. Yes, Almanzo's sister. The schoolteacher. The one who dared to be a little...particular.

She gets a bad rap. People find her stuffy. They call her judgmental. But is she really all that bad?

Hear Me Out

Think about it. Miss Plum was a woman in the late 1800s. She had a respectable profession. She valued education and proper manners. Was that so wrong?

The Ingalls family was great. But they weren't exactly sticklers for etiquette. Remember Laura's wild spirit? I love her for it! But Miss Plum probably winced every time.

And honestly, I would too. I'd wince when my kids are not on their best behavior.

Maybe Miss Plum wasn't the warmest character. But she had standards. She wasn't afraid to uphold them. In a world that could be rough and uncivilized, that's admirable. Especially when that world contains Nellie Oleson.

More Than Just a Prune

Sure, she could be a bit rigid. But didn't Almanzo need someone like that in his life? Someone to keep him grounded? Someone to point out when he was being a stubborn mule?

Okay, maybe she was a little overbearing with Almanzo and Laura. A lot of older siblings tend to do that. Can you imagine the pressure she felt to ensure he made a good choice?

I mean, Laura was a sweet girl, but she also had a tendency to wander off and get into trouble.

And let's not forget her devotion to education. She clearly cared about her students. Even if she did have a slightly old-fashioned approach.

Teaching those kids in the prairie! They needed structure. They needed someone to push them. Maybe Miss Plum was just what they needed. I think she's a heroine.

Relatable Queen

Let's be real. Haven't we all been a little bit "Miss Plum" at some point? Have you ever quietly judged someone's fashion choices? Or cringed at their table manners?

I am the queen of doing that. I can be really judgemental. Sometimes, I am not even hiding it!

Have you ever felt the need to correct someone's grammar? It's a guilty pleasure! We all have our inner Miss Plum waiting to come out.

So, next time you're watching Little House on the Prairie, give Miss Eliza Jane Wilder a second look. She might just be the most relatable character of them all.

She's just trying to do her best. Just like the rest of us. And maybe, just maybe, she deserves a little more credit. And a little less teasing.

We should be less judgy about her. I am not the right person to say that though, since I am a judgy person.

So, I guess, I should thank Miss Plum. Because because of her, I was able to accept my flaws!