Wednesday, January 20, 2010

"The Good Wife's Guide"

Yesterday, my hubby came home from work and gave me a piece of paper, and said.." Honey, read it"..he had the biggest smile I've ever seen!
Here's the excerpt of that photocopied page from " Housekeeping" Monthly, May 13,1955.
" The Good Wife's Guide"
  • Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time 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( esp. his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
  • 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.
  • 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. 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.
  • Be Happy to see him.
  • Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
  • 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.
  • Make the evening his. Never complain of he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you (my thought-- unless only occassionally hehehe). Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
  • Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order, and tranquillity.
  • Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
  • Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night- (my thought-depends if he is working late hahaha). Count this as a minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.
  • 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.
  • Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
  • 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.
  • A good wife always knows her place.

My reactions.....

  1. The bold and italic ones are the things I don't agree! I love my husband but I am not his slave!
  2. Am glad I was not born during that time! Hahahaha.
  3. I know I am not a perfect wife but all I can say is - I take good care of my family.
  4. I am blessed to have a wonderful and responsible husband that truly loves me and cares about our family.
  5. I just gave him my biggest smile too!:):)

2 comments:

  1. Jen, the same as you; I'm glad that I don't live at that time... Who made this guide?

    ReplyDelete