Friday, October 3, 2008

Sassy Saturday

This coming weekend is very exciting, and very emotional for me - my youngest, little, baby is turning 1.

I'll soon have 3 little guys running around, playing, growing up, and no little baby to hold in my arms any more.

In preparation, I'm getting ready for his party, and posting for this weekend ahead of time since I'll be going none-stop until Monday.

I found this amazing little tidbit of history over at Boo's blog Kicking and Screaming, and thought it was a little sassy, so here you go.

I so do not qualify as a good 1955 housewife!!

Thank you very much Housekeeping Monthly for bringing to my attention that I should tighten my apron straps to the point of near suffocation, get out the good old duck tape while I'm at it, and smack a piece across my mouth. Because, otherwise I might not be able to follow any of these rules that were clearly written my a man (I hope.)

I typed it out because it was hard to read (or just click on the image, and it will show up larger):

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The good wife’s guide - Housekeeping Monthly, 1955

- 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 jut before your husband arrives.

- Gather up school books, toys, paper, etc and then run a dust cloth 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 little too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with 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. 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.

- Be happy to see him.

- Greet him with a warm smile and show your sincerity to 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 ans 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 a minor complaint 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 hot 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 judgement or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house, and as such will always exercise his will fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.


- A good wife always knows her place.


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The part about no worries if he comes home late, or not at all.....his thoughts are more important than yours....not to ever question him - that so would not fly in our home.

My goodness, it is my luck I was born to be a wife in the 21st century! Otherwise I'm not sure I would have survived. I can picture it - I'd be a real wild women according to onlookers, shunned, someone who all the other men would keep their wives away from for fear I might turn them on their husbands.

In my rebellion, I would write books, and publish them in the black market (if there was such a thing, perhaps under a pen name) all about how women should break free of living as slaves to their husbands.

OMG I could go on forever about this article!

While there may be some good points about how to be a good housewife here, I'm pretty sure I'll just stick with what my mom taught me:

Treat others the way that you want to be treated. Say "I Love You" often, very often. Work as a team. Speak your mind. Never call people names. Stand up for what you believe in. Love your family like no other. Treasure friends, and family. If you're going to do something, do it right. Be passionate about all that you do. Live your dreams.

Don't forget to go on over and check out Boo's blog, it's great.

Happy Weekend everyone!


Sincerely,

Mama of Romance
xoxo

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8 comments:

Petra a.k.a The Wise (*Young*) Mommy said...

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

My husband would like me to be a little bit gay too. It doesn't have anything to do with being happy though, it has to do with me, another girl and my husband watching like a drooling neanderthal.

Isn't it amazing that this was just 60 years ago that women actually THOUGHT this way? (or didn't think, I should say). Oh my aprons and high heels!

Keely said...

*snort* I've seen that before, and it makes me seethe every time. I think my husband would be checking his drink for arsenic if I started behaving like that.
My little guy is turning 1 this weekend too - gah!

Boo said...

anti-stepford wife...

Kgirl said...

Love your blog! I am a woman and I KNOW my place....te he....its right between his legs...Where I choose to be....too funny!

Diana H said...

This was written by a woman, they were so much harder on us and themselves than the men were. The men probably didn't even notice that they took care of things until they tripped on something and wondered who left it out.

Unknown said...

I am in total agreement with you - if I were born in the 50s there would be serious trouble. I like the list that you have for a wife much more realistic.

Straight to Your Hart said...

My hubby while in college brought me home this same article...I about died of laughter and shock!! He actually would like it to be that way...cough..cough...NO!

Kirsten said...

LMAO!!
My husband wishes!!