Monday, February 25, 2008

Rewind to 1955 - A Blast from the Past



Okay, read this excerp from "Housekeeping Monthly", and I dare you not to have the theme to "Leave It To Beaver" playing in your head ALL DAY.... Just goes to show you how things have really, really changed. Of course, I think my mother-in-law still subscribes to this magazine, 'cause she's just like the person in this article. (thanks to dlkdesigns on Etsy for sharing this with fellow Etsians):


Housekeeping Monthly May 13, 1955 May 13, 1955 Un-Named

The Good Wife’s Guide
1. Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
5. Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Be happy to see him.
9. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
17. 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.
18. A good wife always knows her place.
We on Etsy have been informed by a fellow Etsian that this article is most likely not authentic, according to Snopes. Maybe, maybe not, but it's still a hoot, and hopefully it will give you a chuckle today!

8 comments:

Tizzalicious said...

I wouldn't be surprised if it was fake no...but it's still a good read :D

OMB said...

LOL!!! When I was a child, my mother used to laugh at that show, she was a SHAM and thought that cleaning the house in pearls was a bit ridiculous. I will say, she did a great job running our household, and her cleaning wardrobe.... well it was not quite like June's ;O)

My Trendy Tykes said...

take his shoes off??? UHHH that is not gonna happen! lol

All of the other stuff is something I do on a daily basis already.






uh yeah RIGHT!

Linda

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing....I needed a good chuckle!

Raven said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Raven said...

I say we officially rename this to
THE GOOD HUSBANDS GUIDE!

xxx
Raven

Anonymous said...

I hate to tell you this, but this article is for real. My girlfriend Angie has an original copy of the magazine in first ran in. They brought it to a party as a joke.

monamigreetings said...

Real or not, I found it hilarious!!!
Thanks for the laugh :)