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I'm surprised "Alice" didn't have two "Ma's". 

However, she wanted nothing to do with farming as an adult, because she was made to work so hard on the farm growing up. But she had a lot of good stories about the farm in which she was raised.

This is always sad to hear, and I'll admit it's a bit disturbing to think about.

The whole "the grass is greener on the other side" phenomenon. Generation 1 starts out on a farm -- the family works hard, but you have peace and quiet, fresh air, privacy, freedom, independence, plenty of room for storage, play, exploration -- but what's on the other side of the fence? Hmmm... excitement, stuff to do, stuff going on, material things, wealth, comforts, luxuries...

Kids in generation 2 all move to the city in search of these things. Classic "Grass is Greener on the Other Side" effect. Family farm is sold off.

Then, generation 2 has kids: generation 3. They are all born into the city. But they are all-too-aware of all the shortcomings of city life: Traffic jams, noise, riots, crowding, pollution, lack of privacy, crime, etc. but what's on the other side of the fence? Hmmm.... peace and quiet, fresh air, privacy, freedom, independence, plenty of room for storage, play, exploration...

Kids in generation 3 ALL "wish" they could "get a place out in the country someday... grandpa & grandma used to live in the country..." a couple might succeed, but it's hard, expensive...

Those who don't move into the country have children (generation 4) who also yearn for the advantages of country life -- several of those children move back to the country.

Then all those kids who move to the country? They become Generation 1.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Second verse, same as the first.

Human nature is hopeless.

This is always sad to hear, and I'll admit it's a bit disturbing to think about.

The whole "the grass is greener on the other side" phenomenon. Generation 1 starts out on a farm -- the family works hard, but you have peace and quiet, fresh air, privacy, freedom, independence, plenty of room for storage, play, exploration -- but what's on the other side of the fence? Hmmm... excitement, stuff to do, stuff going on, material things, wealth, comforts, luxuries...

Kids in generation 2 all move to the city in search of these things. Classic "Grass is Greener on the Other Side" effect. Family farm is sold off.

Then, generation 2 has kids: generation 3. They are all born into the city. But they are all-too-aware of all the shortcomings of city life: Traffic jams, noise, riots, crowding, pollution, lack of privacy, crime, etc. but what's on the other side of the fence? Hmmm.... peace and quiet, fresh air, privacy, freedom, independence, plenty of room for storage, play, exploration...

Kids in generation 3 ALL "wish" they could "get a place out in the country someday... grandpa & grandma used to live in the country..." a couple might succeed, but it's hard, expensive...

Those who don't move into the country have children (generation 4) who also yearn for the advantages of country life -- several of those children move back to the country.

Then all those kids who move to the country? They become Generation 1.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Second verse, same as the first.

Human nature is hopeless.

I agree. The grass is often greener on the other side. Or seems to be. The city/country life tends to cyclic, as you describe. That's the case in my family anyway. Human nature seems to be difficult to satisfy.

My hope is that a few modern comforts can be incorporated into country life, so as to not make it too hard for children to live, even if they work a lot. Hard work is good for children, but too much can lead to resentment. Some sort of balance is needed, maybe. If Sundays are left to be a day of rest and attend Mass if possible, as it's supposed to be, it might help. But since I've not ever lived in the country or on a farm, I've no idea really.