The Good Wife's Guide (5/13/55 Houskeeping Monthly)

Housekeeping Monthly May 13, 1955 | May 13, 1955 | Un-Named

[Go Gordon]

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.

[Tax-chick]

We're not perfect, but I like to think we're all staggering along in the same direction, with lots of eye-rolling and bad jokes. The Net-knight and I have been married 15 years, and things are getting better as time goes on, so I think we're good for the next 50 years!

[txhurl]

We didn't have home economics in my high school.

Really... so what'd ya have? 'Carjacking 101'? 'Bazoom Room free drink ticketing'? 'Intermediate Pidgeon Psych'?

:)

[PFKEY]

Your wife is a lucky woman, and I hope she realizes it.

We are both lucky and blessed beyound what we deserve.

We both realize these things and give thanks to God daily.

[agrarianlady]

I really liked this woman's response. She has a nice web site about marriage. She thinks the "Good Wife's Guide" was written by a woman. "Women were each other's harshest critics back then, just as they are today"

http://www.andtheylivedhappilyeverafter.com/66.htm

She writes a "Good Husband's Guide". I found it rather convicting because I often do feel that my problems are larger than my husband's. Here are some excerpts:

* Always arrive home refreshed and happy - put your bad day or your confrontation with your boss, the traffic, the crowds or the physical exhaustion you might feel aside and try to arrive home as cheery and lighthearted as you possibly can. Your wife has been struggling with the children and the housework all day, she does not need to hear about how bad your day was.

* Be prepared to help with household chores when you get home - let your wife relax or talk on the phone since she has been dealing with these problems all day. Make supper for her often, and offer to clean up afterwards so that she may rest and feel appreciated.

* Never expect your wife to have contributed to the smooth operation of the household. She has had a busy day and cannot be expected to provide meals or clean clothes for you. Never insult her by asking her to do such things while you're out earning money. Be mindful always that your wife may think you are being sexist if you ask her to help make a home for your family as part of your partnership.

* Always be prepared to take over in caring for the children when you get home from work. Your wife has been busy all day and deserves some quiet time. Allow her to watch television or chat with her friends on the phone, go shopping or simply relax. They are your children too, and it is unfair of you to expect to come home from a twelve hour day and simply put your feet up.

© Leanne Bell

[PFKEY]

Agreed. Its amazing how something as simple as a pronounced nose, or glasses makes a women uncomfortable, yet can be very attractive.

A secret not many woman are aware of. Who wants perfection in the physical sense? Talk about stress, then I'd have to live up to that perfection too.

I can't image the "beautiful" people are any more happy or have a better sex life.

[Krodg]

In my family being submissive means, the 5% of the time he says no... I think I won't get my way (but I do have my ways...)

[Fifth Business]

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/goodwife.htm

[viaveritasvita]

bookmark

[annyokie]

Mr. Annyokie is similarly spoiled rotten and I reap the benfits! ; )

[Trinity_Tx]

OK... I have to say this. I am very submissive, and I believe that the loss of traditional values is the #1 problem in our country. To me, there is nothing better than for men to be the masculine leaders and women to be femininely submissive to them. I agree withh everything on the list except the staying out all night part. lol

I agree with your post #65... well said. But this one (#76) as well as #57 and much of the linked material, comes off in a way that even I find offensive. You probably don't mean it to, but if you aren't careful, "Mens rights" taken to such an extreme, or carelessly posited cause even women like me to switch into self-protect/independent or even an aggressive mode.

Many of us are very intelligent and yes, wise... we are most happy submitting to a man who deserves it. But the first sign of intimidation or whininess from a man makes me feel like his mommy at best and easily leads to a sense of contempt.

I think we would all do better if men taught each other to be the men they should be and women taught each other the joy of submission to one of these awesome men.

Most women want men to be leaders... respectable, just ones. Lead us by example.

[annyokie]

We went to work because of high taxes and the threat of mid-life crisis divorces when that secretary looks like the dream come true.

[Gringo1]

Seconded.

[PFKEY]

It would easy for a sophisticated woman to laugh at this article, but I think men are justifiably hungry for peace and comfort in the home. I love the traditional role of man and woman in a committed marriage working together for the future of the family...we've been blessed in our 34 years together, but we've worked at it...

I'd say lets keep this a secret but then again what 's the point.

If people only knew what it is to have a marriage in the way that God intented for marriage to be this world would be as near a perfect place to live as I can image.

[Maximilian]

I've actually got a copy of the article.

Well then, you'd better notify Snopes.com because they have it pegged as a fraud:

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/goodwife.htm

First it was supposed to be from a home economics textbook, but the book was never identified. Then someone doctored it up further, added a phony picture, added some stupid neanderthal-sounding additions to make it seem more ridiculous (like the last point which Snopes particularly points out as fake) and then circulated it further.

[Maximilian]

I've actually got a copy of the article.

More info from Snopes:

An image purported to be a digitized photocopy of the 13 May 1955 edition of a magazine called Housekeeping Monthly circulates with this message, but the graphic is a fake, created by simply adding text around a 1950s-era magazine graphic. (The image itself even bears an "Advertising Archives" legend along its side.)

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/goodwife.htm

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Just having a little Friday fun!

[PFKEY]

Corporatism leads directly to socialism. The rival gangs against the bosses are probably going to be taking over, shortly. Policy against family is certainly in place for it (see former link to Engels' writings on that).

Did you forget the sarcasm tag?

I'm hoping so otherwise I'd say you were not a very happy person.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Nope. Actually, in 7th grade (my last year in public school), we had Home Ec, but my friend and I used to spend almost every Home Ec period with our English teacher instead -- talking about guys, clothes, parties and stuff like that -- and she gave us passes to get out of that class. So, we learned nothing!

By the next year, I was in private school and the choices were Art or Shop; I was one of 2 or 3 girls who took shop and have a wooden wine rack to show for it. :)

[KevinDavis]

Boy talking about missing the good ol days.. Even though I wasn't born then... Goddam lesbians...

[txhurl]

I've always considered you an honorary Texan.

Don't invite me to NY. I might embarass y'all.... :)