Dagmar is jealous of a schoolmate who seems to have everything. The girl brags her father works throughout the world but Dagmar learns the dad is in prison. Mama counsels Dagmar on how to handle the information.
To impress a young lady Nels opens a charge account to buy a new set of clothes. When the bill comes due Nels is unable to pay and must turn to Mama for assistance.
Katrin enrolls in business school and is full of her importance. But after a few days Katrin decides she has m6ch to learn with Mama's many maxims being true.
The Hansen family find their lives turned upside down when Gunnar's Aunt Ingeborg is arriving from Norway. Her nephew has promised to take care of ingeborg, unaware of her demands.
An efficiency expert is hired at Papa's work to save money. Papa is worried his precise, methodical ways will get him fired from his job. Mama tries to ease his concern.
Mama give her ticket to Katrin so she and her aunts can go see their favorite actor. To cover her disappointment Mama goes shopping and encounters the perfomer and the two have a pleasant interlude.
Papa is chosen to give a talk at his his Sons of Norway lodge. He's nervous about it so it's up to Mams and the children to boost his confidence concerning public speaking.
Papa's friend Kelso stops by and is peddling his most recent get quick rich product. Kelso gets most of the Hansens excited but Mama has her reservations.
Katrin has great ideas on how to make things run betting at work. She starts making changes much to the displeasure of her boss who fires Katrin. At the Hansen's home Mama offers practical advice.
Ingeborg enters a contest and believes she won. But the young girl has difficulty collecting her prize so the Hansen family get involved to help Ingeborg out.
The teacher has cast T.R. as a buttercup in a school play much to the boy's disappointment. T.R. would rather play a zebra and continues to talk about getting a better part.
Nels has a big crush on an girl from a wealthier background. On the day of a Hansen family celebration Nels learn the lass is attending a ritzy gala and he decides to gate crash. The rest of the Hansens are disappointed at his absence.
Dagmar falls for a man twice her age and imagines a future with him as her husband. But reality sets in leading to an upset young girl but Mama is there with comforting words.
Papa decides he needs to bring more money home so he takes a second job selling insurance. Despite the encouragement of Mama and the children Papa is not cut out to be a salesman.
Aunt Jenny and Mama have an argument with Jenny leaving in a huff. Mama is angry enough that she plans an elaborate retribution against her sister. But as the scheme progresses the kind Mama has second thoughts.
Nels watches a skilled surgeon at work then comes home , gushing about the man's excellence. Papa feels like he doesn't measure up so Mama reminds the children everyone is good as something including Papa as a carpenter.
Mama is asked to teach a Sunday school class and she reluctantly agrees. But her interpretation of a bible story raise some eyebrows including by close family members.
Nels is tutoring a woman in medical studies. Her father thinks Nels' attentions are romantic and when he learns the truth he's forbids Nels to come over. Mama intervenes on the young people's behalf.
The Hansens invite a man they believe to be homeless to a meal and are pleased when he's a magician. They persuade the stranger to perform fora church benefit not knowing the entertainer also is a petty thief.
Katrin is asked by her boss to model one of the newer, more daring swimsuits. Aunts Trina and Jenny see the show then report to Mama how shocked they are by their niece's risqué behavior. Mama is more reasonable.
T.R. 's father gets a job that will take him to South America and can't take his son along. The Hansens get involved in the welfare of the boy and getting him a good home to stay in.
T.R. borrows Dagmar's private journal to practice his reading and when Mama retrieves it she reads a bit. Mama learns Dagmar dislikes her English teacher and the mother wants to know why.
Katrin finds the life of few rules of new friends exciting. Chafing under the strict rules of her parents Katrin moves to Telegraph Hill with her pals. Katrin learns quickly there are a reason for rules.
Nels decides to running a summer camp for boys, thinking it would be easy. Nels didn't count on T.R. being one of the campers. Nels is finding his job interferes with his budding romance. Mama steps in to help.