Friday, September 21, 2007

How to be a good wife (1954)


HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE
Home Economics High School Text Book, 1954


Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. 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 are part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, 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. His boring day may need a lift.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

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, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home.

Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he 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, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

It must be very hard for you to believe that this could be true but it was very true. It was hard growing up in Stepford. No wonder women my age rebelled and burned our bras. :)

I must do a post on growing up in Stepford. Thanks for the good idea.

cathy said...

Babzy, I look forward to your posting!!

Unknown said...

Thank goodness we live in this day & age. I wouldn't take it if I couldn't bitch to my husband the moment he walks in the door! LOL

Alyson said...

My husband says that he agrees with the post. He says that it is missing a few unmentionable items however...o.k hunny, I'll get right on that.
Alyson

Hope Walls said...

Y'all can go ahead and laugh, but I wish my entire life consisted of doing nothing but ensuring my husband's home was nice for him to come home to. I look forward to him coming home and hearing about his day. Maybe I'm a little twisted that way. I appreciate a husband that helps out when I am overwhelmed, but I also think the women's libbers have given those of us who show appreciation for our husband through acts of service that have been deemed 'demeaning' a bad rap. I don't think I'm backwards or out-of-step with the times for offering to take my husband's shoes off and rub his feet or trying to make sure supper is ready for him when he gets home.

I'll have to find my birthing book, one issued by the Canadian Government in about 1924 - now THAT is funny reading...

Olena said...

Let me just pick up my jaw... it hit the floor on first paragraph, lol.

It is from men's fantasy book, right?

Every day I have dinner ready when my DH comes through the door and always ask how his day was. We also tidy up house a bit before he gets home but that's about it and I will keep it that way.

Good post, thank you.

cathy said...

You know, when I read this...I wasn't at all shocked. I in fact said to myself. I think do quite a bit of this, and I would like to do more! Life just seemed a lot more simple in the 50's...

Wendy said...

Oh that's what I've been doing wrong ... I haven't been putting a ribbon in my hair! Thank-you Cathy, all my life problems are now solved ;)