MAGPIE'S MUMBLINGS

A blog about my interests, which include fabric landscapes and various and assorted other artsy pursuits and sometimes known to contain mumblings of a random nature.

Monday, March 03, 2008

#499!!! and Good Wives????

This is post # 499!

Sorry there isn't a picture today. I am making progress on the bear front, but they look quite geeky at the moment and flatly refused to have their picture taken. So, you'll have to wait to see them.

In the meantime, I was given an exerpt from the 'Housekeeping Monthly' dated 13 May 1955, entitled 'The Good Wife's Guide'. Now I don't know about you but I certainly don't want the word to get around about this!! I quote:

* Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the 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 (especially his favourite 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. Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. and then run a dustcloth over the tables.

* 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, 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.

* 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 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

End quote. OK, was this written by a man or what?? We women must make absolutely certain this information does not fall into our mens hands else complete havoc will rule.

It's good for a laugh anyway!

4 comments:

  1. Just call me Geisha McStepford! I'm sure my husband would think i was secretly planning to kill him in his sleep if i did all that!
    On the other hand, change the pronoun to "her" and see how it sounds :) MMMMM HEAVEN! :}

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  2. You know....1955 is not THAT long ago in the larger scheme of things.
    I was 15yo then - married 5 years later.

    As soon as the 60's hit, the rules began changing, and my ex used to complain about that all the time.

    Just think how many women were actually trying to DO all those things!

    How could they ever succeed?

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  3. Yikes MA
    What cave did you find that information in.
    If I showed that to Stephen he may want me to do something around the house---heaven forbid.

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  4. I laughed aloud at several of those! Just goes to show you how times have changed (for the better) I wonder how many women actually lived up to that ideal, or is it just like the women's mags today who spout such rubbish sometimes that I wonder how it ever gets published ! It's just like the old Mothercare mags I have from my mother, such ridiculous advice was given about baby rearing, it's a wonder we all survived our babyhood !
    Thanks for the laugh, any big plans to celebrate no. 500?
    Hooroo,
    Christine.
    http://missmuffettwo.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

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