Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Old School

It is a gloriously beautiful hot day outside (the first great one of my vacation), and frankly, there are a hundred things I would rather be doing than sitting inside blogging (like, pretty much anything). So, instead of writing my own little version of 2010 Housekeeping Daily, I present to you this actual magazine article from Housekeeping Monthly from 1955. Just in case you think I'm too much of a throwback, take a gander at these Good Wife tips. There are some real gems in this one, so I'll just let it speak for itself.  We've come a long way, babies!

Transcribed text:

-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 dishcloth 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 will immense personal satisfaction.

-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.

-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 greet him with complaints and problems.

-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.


Article found on:carolynspreciousmemories.com
Finder credit: John Fink (thanks, dad!)

23 comments:

Blessed Rain said...

Love everything but the last part of not being able to question him - I thought that was what my ring entitled me to? I mean if I was a two bit hooker than what would it matter?

Anne said...

amazing. don't let our hubbies get ahold of these newfangled blog-things (mine still doesn't understand), or we're all in for it...!!! ;)

Chloe said...

Yeah when my husband is gone all night I just assume he had a hard day at work- lol.

kmogilevski said...

Yes, we HAVE come a long way! Amazing!

Christine said...

I have to admit...I think I could deal w/ most of this if I could avoid the inevitable really crummy day at the office or commute home.

Lily said...

I've been thinking about it, and if you changed them all to be things you do for EACH OTHER, it would be awesome (except for the not fussing when they stay out all night- that's just stupid).

Frances said...

This is exactly how my grandma and mom treated my grandpa and daddy! I guess it's part of the Filipino culture, even though my daddy is an American guy. I remember that every time he comes home, I used to bring him his slippers. There is always dinner ready for him too.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you, Lily.

Apart from "you have no right to question him," as long as it goes both ways, most of these sound like good suggestions for maintaining a happy marriage with the underlying message being "this person is important."

(as far as staying out all night, it depends on whether there's a reason or a plan--honest communication at least--not a no questions asked dictum)

Muffy said...

YIKES!!!!!!

Mary said...

His topics of conversation are more important than yours? Never complain if he stays out all night? You have no RIGHT to question him? A good wife knows her place? Heaven help us!

I first saw this misanthropic piece when I was a young bride...my grandma sent it to me as a "how to." If my husband had wanted a Stepford wife he probably wouldn't have married ME in the first place! :)

Anonymous said...

My lovely, ever-so-liberated husband said this sounds more like a Geisha training manual than anything else. Having been born in 1953 though, this sure does explain my mother...

Unknown said...

I have to agree with Lily and Mary.I've been married to the same man for 46 years,and it took at least ten of them to get all the crapola between us ironed out.And we still have our moments!As long as he treats me the way he'd like to be treated,I'll roll with the rest.

Anonymous said...

Ah, the days of naivete when even the media believed the man was the moral and intellectual center of the family...of course, it may be the particular publication. After all, there was True Detective and other tales of tawdriness and violence co-existent with Good Housekeeping and other so-called "upright" Middle America publications. Even if I were a 1950's housewife, I would question the "out all night" entry on the list. After all, wouldn't the wife worry that the husband might have been in an accident, been robbed, met with misfortune, etc.? Was a husband being out all night such a normal thing in 1955? I find that hard to believe.

Anonymous said...

Sounds more like a servant than a wife. Staying at home can be just as challenging, exhausting, stessful, rewarding, boring etc.; it is what you make of it, just like any job. Joyce

Unknown said...

Ah... this "how to..." probably written by a man posing as a wife. As long he lets me keep my sovereign right to think for myself, I'll stick with the rest here that works for him.

Anonymous said...

omg, lily! you're right, we've come a loong way. I have a sweet husband and he was the one who removes my shoes and socks when I was pregnant. I think the tips in the article is still doable, though. My husband would love it.=)

Unknown said...

Hoo boy! I think I've seen this somewhere before. I've also seen an entry in one of my mom's cookbooks from the 60's about always being prepared in case your husband brings home unexpected guests (his boss!) for dinner.
I lol'd.
I especially enjoyed the part about encouraging your children to be quiet.(Am I the only one whose children are quiet and well behaved until Daddy gets there? He's the *instigator*.)
Love it!

Rhonda said...

Women of today have no idea what's it means to be a home maker and be unselfish. I like blog honey and you keep doing what your doing!!!! Our world has lost it's value system and women today have forgotten what it means to be unselfish!!!

Sarah said...

as suprising as some of these are, i cant help but imagine how better off marriages would be if we tried some of these things. if we truly respected each other enough to show love through service... we might not have such a high divorce rate.

Tiffany Willis said...

Love this stuff!

emmcphee said...

I'm not sure where this came from, but it wasn't Good Housekeeping. So you know, it may very well be a hoax according to snopes: http://www.snopes.com/language/document/goodwife.asp.

Matt said...

This is pretty good. I'm thinking of printing it out to hang on the fridge at home :) But a little research suggests this article could be a hoax. Check out the wikipedia article on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Wife's_Guide

Lily said...

Thanks for the hoax warnings- I had a feeling this might be too bad to be true! I'm such a sucker, I'll fall for anything, but at least this is pretty entertaining, even if it is a fake!