An Actual 1955 Good Housekeeping article.
~ 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 be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal 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. Run a dustcloth over the tables.
~ During 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 to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
~ Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. 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.
~ Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
~ Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.
~ Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him 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.
Category: The World We Live InI see no reason why you should not adhere to these instructions.
Posted by: Tom at November 8, 2006 03:20 PMAccording to that I am a really crap wife but unlike Tom I see absolutely no reason why you should adhere to these instructions.
Scary that that was written only 50 years ago.
Posted by: emily at November 8, 2006 03:45 PMGood to see your researching your job jenny. Robert's suck a lucky man to have you do all that for him.
Posted by: Joshy at November 8, 2006 04:25 PMHahaha! I haven't seen that for ages! I forgot how awful it is!
Posted by: Ludicrousity at November 8, 2006 04:54 PMHahaha! I haven't seen that for ages! I forgot how awful it is!
Posted by: Ludicrousity at November 8, 2006 04:54 PMi'm glad you aren't following *all* those instructions... life is interesting enough
Posted by: steve at November 8, 2006 05:05 PMyes, if this is the standard, i'm quite content being crappy.
Posted by: jenny at November 8, 2006 06:19 PMIf I ever have a wife, I'd like to treat her that way. Although she'd probably get a bit freaked out.
Posted by: Ryan at November 8, 2006 06:35 PMseems pretty good to me, except the bit about lighting a fire for your husband. fires are my job!
Posted by: howie at November 8, 2006 09:08 PM