March is Women's History Month and I thought I'd share an article with you that was published in the May 13, 1955 issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine. I first saw it in an email sent to me by my sister-in-law. Most recently though, it was shared with us on NCIS, Season 02, Episode 02, The Good Wives Club. Enjoy and try not to laugh too hard.
| An Actual 1955 Good Housekeeping article. | 
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- 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 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.
- Gather up schoolbooks, toys paper etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.
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- 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.
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- 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. Minimise 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.
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- 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.
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- Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
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- Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other placees 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.
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- 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.
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- Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
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- Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stay out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.
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- 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.
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- Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
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- Don' 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.
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- A good wife always knows her place
Now that we've had a glimpse into a part of our history from a galaxy far, far away, I'll move on out of here. Happy Women's History Month and I'll see you in April.
As always, comments are welcome.
Love and hugs,
Carra
amazon.com/author/carracopelin
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We've come a long way Baby! Thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Karren. I remember those days, all too well. My dad's mother, especially, held to these beliefs and so did my mom until she went to work in the early sixties. I tried, but failed miserably. LOL
DeleteI do make all my husband's meals and have for the 35 years we've been married. I feel it's my contribution to the marriage since he has been the one with a day job all those years and I've only worked part time until I started putting my writing career at the forefront of my life. But the rest...he's lucky if the house is clean and it's quiet... And that I'm in anything other than jeans, T-shirt, and slippers.
ReplyDeletefun post!
My Hubs and I always split the duties(he did all the cooking) since I worked full time most of our married years. Only now, since I retired and have put my writing career to the forefront, does he want me to cook and tend to all the household work. Signed, confused. LOL
DeleteThis article makes us laugh, but think of the women who took it to heart 60 or so years ago (I didn't know there would be math involved). I suspect not every woman of the time embraced this advice. Not the smart ones.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Caroline, it does. I reread it as I prepared the post and I thought, yeah, right. But my grandmother lived it daily. My mom, not so much. LOL
DeleteAh, but you forgot the wonderful PHT degree that they conferred years ago on wives of college students. I know some women who proudly framed the PHT certificate they were given when hubby graduated from college. They kept their PHT -- Putting Him Through -- until shafted in a divorce once successful hubby picked up a trophy wife.
ReplyDelete