Why I Love Wednesdays... Favorite Childhood Character

I am returning with my new feature... Why I love which takes place on Wednesdays. Today's proclamation of love concerns our Favorite Childhood Character
Why I Love...Laura Ingalls


Growing up, I got most of my book recommendations from my mother, at least initially.  I loved reading Nancy Drew and all the other books that my mom read because even when I was younger, I loved discussing books.  If I read books that someone else read (my mom) I would have someone to talk to about them.  I haven't changed much have I?  
One such series brought to me from my mother was the Little House on the Prairie books.  Although this series was centered around the entire Ingalls family, I, of course, became fast friends with Laura herself.  From the beginning I recognized Laura as a complex character who was smart but often had to learn lessons the hard way.  She was always trying to show her dad that she could do so many things and I loved reading about the bond between her and her father.  When the series first started Laura was pretty young and I loved growing up with her (I felt the same about Anne from Anne of Green Gables).  Of course I was fascinated by this completely alien world in which she lived but I only loved hearing about these adventures through her eyes.  It was the first time I learned about covered wagons and the hardships of that time.  I remember feeling truly sorry for Laura when I realized she had to go outside for the bathroom.  It's been a long time since I read this series but I remember loving it, and talking to my mom about a plucky girl by the name of Laura.