Which Bradley girl do you think got in trouble the most growing up?

[dorkil]

I would say Betty Jo. I think Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo would have gotten in some trouble too, but I think Betty Jo created the most mischief. Billie Jo even as a small child would have stayed in her a lot and tried on clothes and messed with her hair and primped. Bobbie Jo was a reader and would have been in her room reading. Thus, these two would have stayed out of trouble most of the time. On the other hand, Betty Jo had none of those quiet interests and was probably the most rambunctious. I think Betty Jo was probably the sweetest little girl and very well-mannered, but I think her energy level and interests would have gotten her in trouble. She would have kept herself occupied in a different way than her sisters. No telling how many windows she busted playing baseball. She would have been into everything. I can see her thinking that the Shady Rest needed to be a different color and getting a can of paint and painting the side purple or something. I can definitely see her getting her clothes dirty right after Kate warned her not to. I can see her throwing spit wads at school. I can see her sneaking off and exploring and worrying Kate. The list goes on and on. In fact, some of things Betty Jo did when she was older in some of the episodes gives an idea of how she would have been as a little girl. For instance, she went up solo in Steve's plane and scared Kate half to death. No way Billie Jo or Bobbie Jo would have done something like that.

Another question, how do you think Kate would have disciplined the girls when they were young? Was she the kind who would have just talked and lectured, or did she believe in a trip to the woodshed on occasion? What do you think the writers wrote Kate Bradley to be? Based on the show, I think Kate Bradley was a very understanding, patient, and gentle mother when her girls were small. If something could be solved by simply sitting down and having a long talk, I think Kate would have preferred that. I think she would have let her daughters develop the way they were going to and would have let them pursue their interests. I think Kate would have understood Betty Jo's adventuresome spirit and therefore propensity to get in trouble. Thus, I think Kate would have tried to channel Betty Jo's energy into constructive activities to keep her out of trouble. Thus, she may have asked Charley and Floyd if they didn't mind taking Betty Jo along and teaching her about the Cannonball, etc. Still, with all Kate's progressive qualities, I think she was also written to be an old school mother too. I think she would have marched her girls to the woodshed if she felt they really needed it for their long term good. Outright disobedience and certainly disrespect would have probably gotten them a whipping, or doing something dangerous such as playing with matches, etc.

[MichaelKeith]

Kate was a wonderful mother. She probably would have mixed the punishments up with mostly talk/discussion and time out in the girls rooms, but if one of them did something bad enough, I wouldn't put it past Kate to take a switch to them behind the wood shed. All the girls were of course good, but you're right that Betty Jo would have created the most mischief. But not serious mischief.

[Marvo301]

As a tomboy Betty Jo would have been the one to get in trouble the most.

[storrs19]

Yep. I agree with that. Being a tomboy would certainly get a girl in trouble.