"From a 1950's high school home economics textbook, teaching girls how to prepare for married life:
1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time. 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 prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will 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. His boring day may need a lift.
3. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables.
Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.
4. Prepare the children: Take a few minutes to wash the childrens' 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.
5. Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
6. Things to avoid: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
7. Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he 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, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
8. Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
9. Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
10. The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax."
7 comments:
I think I've got a copy of that somewhere - I think it was sent via e-mail but it looks like a Xerox copy of a textbook with a cheesy picture and everything. It is funny to have it all spelled out like that. I love the 'put a ribbon in your hair' part. I'll have to do that sometime just for fun.
What? You don't do all this?
My favorite line: "Be a little gay"
-Sounds like a guy wrote it! (Oops, did I just write that?)
hahaha! My favorite part is the suggestion of helping him take his shoes off!! Have you ever heard of the book "Fascinating Woman"? It is very similar to this-Alan bought a copy for me on ebay as a joke...I was not amused!!:)
It's good you live in a time when you can joke about this advice. My mother-in-law wanted to buy me that book for a wedding gift. I told her I had already read it.
I think in Number 2 they forgot to add,"Put on your best string of pearls and a starched apron and tell your husband to call you June."
My good friend Vicky gave me better advice to follow: "Right before your husband comes home, put a dryer sheet in the dryer and remove the hose for a few minutes. The house will smell like you've been cleaning all day and he won't notice the rest."
I did a project at BYU for my English Theory class on books just like this. I thought it was so funny and realized that I already do all these things so I must be on the fast track to sainthood. It's true, ask Adam. I cater to him hand and foot. :)
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