Saturday, July 18, 2009

from may 13, 1955

Housekeeping Monthly 
May 13, 1955

The Good Wife’s Guide


1. Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.


2. Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.


3. Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.


4. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.


5. Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.


6. Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.


7. Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.


8. Be happy to see him.


9. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.


10. Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.


11. Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.


12. Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.


13. Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.


14. Don’t complain if he’s late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.


15. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.


16. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.


17. Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.


18. A good wife always knows her place.


22 comments:

Jessica said...

OH my gosh... I would have been burned as a witch in 1955.

Rachel Sue said...

I am so glad that he doesn't expect this of me. . . because seriously? Seriously?

I think I threw up in my mouth a little. . .

Dione said...

I'm speechless - other than laughing out loud!

Dione said...

I just read this to my 15 year old daughter and husband. My daughter and I were laughing so hard, and then she said, "Where does this guy work?".

The Redhead Riter said...

Ummmm, yeah, WHAT-EV-ER

☼Hope you're having a sunshine ☼ filled Sunday!☼

Amy said...

Such craziness!!

Kimberly said...

Is this why feminism began to surface? Because I am pretty sure I would've started the movement if it hadn't come around. Good grief!!! :)

* said...

Pass the bon bons and the red lipstick. This stuff is like reading fiction!

Monica said...

Boy, how things have changed!

Emma said...

Nice, not who has the time, not me
stopped to say hi my mom is no botox allowed

Debi (Dubs2007) said...

I read this to my husband who smiled at a few places (I'm sure he wouldn't mind a few of those things - neither would I. I would love time/energy to freshen up, or 15 minutes to rest before he comes home)

but with several he almost looked sick - and disgusted with the "subservient" attitude.. SOOO Thankful it is not the norm, and --- I think I understand my grandmother better now. Could I copy this to my site?

Debi

Jan said...

How times have changed. Now it's - fix it yourself. :)

Momza said...

Not ever.

Amy said...

And the mystery of fewer divorces is solved. Just joking.

Jewel Allen said...

Wow, that's interesting. :-)

Kazzy said...

Love your first commenter! LOL I actually disagree with many of these details, but like the idea of serving each other. Where is the man's list?

Roban said...

Hard to believe that was the mindset back then. Reminds me of the Stepford Wives!

JennyMac said...

Too funny...where is my hair ribbon? And I am SURE they would have liked a whole extra dose of #3...why do I feel like that was subliminal message about threesomes even back then?

MakingChanges said...

I've read this before and I have to giggle. I would have died an old maid because this is SO NOT ME!

Ashley said...

This is hilarious! Did anybody ever actually DO all of those things??? Thank goodness the modern housewife is nothing like that!!!

Melain said...

OK. I just had a very strong, very surprising reaction to that. So I deleted the book I just wrote in your comments, and I think I'll write my own post about it. :)

Chelsea said...

had to be written by a man...