How to be a "Good" Wife

So, there is an "article" that has been floating around that was published in Housekeeping Monthly, 13 May, 1955. I have NO idea if this is real (and if you look it up on Snopes.com, they can’t verify if it is indeed a real article, or not). But it made me laugh--loud. Maybe you have seen this before and maybe you have not, but, I thought I would compare the expectations from 1955 versus today’s day (at least in our household):

　

• 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 get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed

First of all, my husband is a weirdo. He eats dinner late, like 8:30pm late. I can’t do that and the rare times when we do make a plan and eat dinner together, if he cooks for me he knows I will be über cranky if I ate as late as he did (notice sometimes HUBS cooks, btw). And thanks to cell phones, we both text and email each other a few times throughout the day, so I think he knows I have been thinking about him all day and am concerned about his needs.

• 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

Ugh, yea. I, too, am one of these "work-weary people" that you speak of. Enough said.

• 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

Hubs actually really likes his job. It is me who doesn’t feel mentally stimulated a lot of the time after work. Just sayin’

• 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

Confession time: I am actually quite the neat freak and "if" I have extra time, I already "tidy up" as it is. Hubs could care less though and so "clutter" isn’t really an issue for my dude.

• 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

Wha?! Lucky we don’t have a fireplace, I guess…

• Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet

A)We don’t have children yet and B) Since we both work full time jobs, I can guarantee you I am not running any washer/dryer or vacuum at the anticipation of his arrival. Sorry.

• Be happy to see him

Well, that one I do agree with. But not to appease, but because I genuinely am glad to see 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

Ha! I am a terrible wife by these standards. I’m a loud mouth who doesn’t always know when to stop talking.

• Don't greet him with complaints and problems

Yea, I would say that is probably a good one. I don’t follow it though and really am can be a huge whiner and I know there are times, hubs wishes I wasn’t.

• 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

Um, if I took the time to cook for my guy, he better be home to eat it! And if he isn't staying out late with yours truly, you better believe I'd like to know who he IS with (and vice versa!)

• 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

Uh yea, I actually have told J if ever I am a kept woman, I will greet him happily everyday with a drink. Probably not, though. Let’s be honest here.

• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice

Arrange his pillow?! Should I feed him, as well?

• 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

I’ll give you a place

　

Thing is, I highly doubt that if this is a real article, women followed these "rules". I know that back in the day for most families, men were the providers and women took care of the home and children; though actually some of this would explain the (second) women’s movement that started in the early ‘60s. I’d start a riot myself for some equality if I had to take my husband’s shoes off everyday, fluff his damn pillow, talk in a soothing, low voice with well behaved children who didn’t make a peep while also getting dinner on the table in time. Just sayin'

I love that if I do things for my husband that are nice, it’s because I want to and not because I’m supposed to. I am soooo glad to be a newlywed in 2011, people!



Source:weburbanist via AmandaA on pinterest