Good Wife's Guide

[LushLox]

I'm sure many of you have seen this gem. It's done the rounds via email for a few years now, but it's quite a good read for those seeing it for the first time. This article was apparently published in Housekeeping Monthly in 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 just before your husband arrives.

• Gather up schoolbooks, 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 lift 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. 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. – pmsl!
  

• 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 or peace, order and tranquillity 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 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 judgement or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise this fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him!
  

• A good wife always knows her place!
  

 

[Charlie555]

All I can say is WOW! Especially at the "A good wife always knows her place."
Who really has time for all of this?
I'm not married but I can tell by these standards I would be considered a baaaaaddd wife! ROFL

 

[Vintageglam]

All I can say is HA HA HA HA !!!

Freaking hilarious !

 

[LushLox]

Here's an additional bit about bedroom etiquette and intimacy!

Once you have both retired to the bedroom, prepare yourself for bed as promptly as possible. Whilst feminine hygiene is of the utmost importance your tired husband does not want to queue for the bathroom, as he would have to do for his train. But remember to look your best when going to bed. Try to achieve a look that is welcoming without being obvious. If you need to apply face-cream or hair-rollers wait until he is asleep as this can be shocking to a man last thing at night.

When it comes to the possibility of intimate relations with your husband it is important to remember your marriage vows and in particular your commitment to obey him. If he feels that he needs to sleep immediately, then so be it. In all things be led by your husband's wishes; do not pressure him in any way to stimulate intimacy. Should your husband suggest congress then accede humbly all the while being mindful that a man's satisfaction is more important than a woman's. When he reaches his moment of fulfillment a small moan from yourself is encouraging to him and quite sufficient to indicate any enjoyment that you may have had. Should your husband suggest any of the more unusual practices be obedient and uncomplaining but register any reluctance by remaining silent. It is likely that your husband will then fall promptly asleep so adjust your clothing, freshen up and apply your night time face and hair care products. You may then set the alarm so that you can arise shortly before him in the morning. This will enable you to have his morning cup of tea ready when he awakes.

That's quality!

 

[VelvetRain]

I have seen this before and this is a bunch of BS now. I am not married but the only one I could even forsee doing is number one. My mom always had the food hot and ready to go when my dad got home.

 

[southernchocolate]

So where's the Good Husband's Guide?

 

[awhyley]

Here's an additional bit about bedroom etiquette and intimacy!

Once you have both retired to the bedroom, prepare yourself for bed as promptly as possible. Whilst feminine hygiene is of the utmost importance your tired husband does not want to queue for the bathroom, as he would have to do for his train. But remember to look your best when going to bed. Try to achieve a look that is welcoming without being obvious. If you need to apply face-cream or hair-rollers wait until he is asleep as this can be shocking to a man last thing at night.

When it comes to the possibility of intimate relations with your husband it is important to remember your marriage vows and in particular your commitment to obey him. If he feels that he needs to sleep immediately, then so be it. In all things be led by your husband's wishes; do not pressure him in any way to stimulate intimacy. Should your husband suggest congress then accede humbly all the while being mindful that a man's satisfaction is more important than a woman's. When he reaches his moment of fulfillment a small moan from yourself is encouraging to him and quite sufficient to indicate any enjoyment that you may have had. Should your husband suggest any of the more unusual practices be obedient and uncomplaining but register any reluctance by remaining silent. It is likely that your husband will then fall promptly asleep so adjust your clothing, freshen up and apply your night time face and hair care products. You may then set the alarm so that you can arise shortly before him in the morning. This will enable you to have his morning cup of tea ready when he awakes.

 

[MD_Lady]

People have posted the list on here before, but not this part:

...When it comes to the possibility of intimate relations with your husband it is important to remember your marriage vows and in particular your commitment to obey him. If he feels that he needs to sleep immediately, then so be it. In all things be led by your husband's wishes; do not pressure him in any way to stimulate intimacy. Should your husband suggest congress then accede humbly all the while being mindful that a man's satisfaction is more important than a woman's. When he reaches his moment of fulfillment a small moan from yourself is encouraging to him and quite sufficient to indicate any enjoyment that you may have had. Should your husband suggest any of the more unusual practices be obedient and uncomplaining but register any reluctance by remaining silent. It is likely that your husband will then fall promptly asleep so adjust your clothing, freshen up and apply your night time face and hair care products. You may then set the alarm so that you can arise shortly before him in the morning. This will enable you to have his morning cup of tea ready when he awakes.

I wonder how the people who gave this list feel about this section.

 

[Nina_deF]

I found The Good Husband Guide (33 ways to not suck) online.
It's from back in 2009 but it mostly still holds true.

Here are the 11 first points:



How to be a Good Husband

1. Throw routine out the window and surprise her sometimes. Change up your roles and do the things she usually does for you.
2. Let her choose how the toilet paper goes on the holder. She uses it more than twice as often as you.
3. Let her sleep in sometimes. Surely you can iron your own shirt and make your own cereal, right? Remember, a well-rested wife is more likely to give you nookie later.
4. Make your own lunch. How many special lunches does this poor woman have to make? Buy her some sushi or special convenience meals she likes so she can have a nice lunch. Women who are making lunches for kids everyday don't feel like going to the trouble to make themselves a nice lunch.
5. Learn to cook a decent meal and don't act like you just earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for doing so. Women are no more qualified to be good cooks than men. And a man who can cook is sexy as all get out.
6. Email, text, or tweet your wife from work. Be witty. Don't dwell on her body parts. Tell her with sincerity how wonderful a person she is.
7. Always remember, she is the goddess who raises your children and you are a mere man. Know your place. "Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels."
   
8. Prepare yourself before coming home from work. Tuck in your shirt. Put a smile on your face. Tell your wife she looks ravishing after a long day of attending to everyone else's needs. Ask her how her day was.
9. Act happy to be home. Don't complain about the state of the house or your wife's mood. Be grateful she's still there.
10. Tell her that her attendance at the local gym is necessary to inspire the other women there-- she is just that fetching.
11. Do not get the kids all riled up before bed. Make sure the atmosphere in the house is quiet and serene. Your wife has been listening to crying, whining, complaining, and fighting intermittently throughout the day.

 

[MD_Lady]

So where's the Good Husband's Guide?

I found The Good Husband Guide (33 ways to not suck) online. It's from back in 2009 but it mostly still holds true...

Good job Nina.

ETA: If this "good wife" (minus the devaluing ) and "good husband" were a couple, I think they'd both be very happy.

 

[Frostipuff]

I can see why many women of that era was prone to pop a valium and have a cocktail
daily.

 

[southernchocolate]

I found The Good Husband Guide (33 ways to not suck) online.
It's from back in 2009 but it mostly still holds true.

Here are the 11 first points:




How to be a Good Husband

1. Throw routine out the window and surprise her sometimes. Change up your roles and do the things she usually does for you.
2. Let her choose how the toilet paper goes on the holder. She uses it more than twice as often as you.
3. Let her sleep in sometimes. Surely you can iron your own shirt and make your own cereal, right? Remember, a well-rested wife is more likely to give you nookie later.
4. Make your own lunch. How many special lunches does this poor woman have to make? Buy her some sushi or special convenience meals she likes so she can have a nice lunch. Women who are making lunches for kids everyday don't feel like going to the trouble to make themselves a nice lunch.
5. Learn to cook a decent meal and don't act like you just earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for doing so. Women are no more qualified to be good cooks than men. And a man who can cook is sexy as all get out.
6. Email, text, or tweet your wife from work. Be witty. Don't dwell on her body parts. Tell her with sincerity how wonderful a person she is.
7. Always remember, she is the goddess who raises your children and you are a mere man. Know your place. "Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels."
   
8. Prepare yourself before coming home from work. Tuck in your shirt. Put a smile on your face. Tell your wife she looks ravishing after a long day of attending to everyone else's needs. Ask her how her day was.
9. Act happy to be home. Don't complain about the state of the house or your wife's mood. Be grateful she's still there.
10. Tell her that her attendance at the local gym is necessary to inspire the other women there-- she is just that fetching.
11. Do not get the kids all riled up before bed. Make sure the atmosphere in the house is quiet and serene. Your wife has been listening to crying, whining, complaining, and fighting intermittently throughout the day.

Thank ya ma'am!!!

 

[Mrs. N Lugo]

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. I don't agree with this. My DH would never have me lighting a fire for us. Anything dangerous he handles

Don’t complain if he’s late home for dinner or even stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day. This is crazy. Totally disrespectful.

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. Nothing wrong with a man coming home late as long as he lets his wife know what's going on.


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. – pmsl! The bolded is one of the most sexist statements I've ever heard. Utterly ridiculous.


Most of the other items on the list I do for my DH. Not all the time but often and I do make our home as stress free as possible for my husband.

As far as sex goes, I would never deprive my DH. I never tell him no.

 

[missjones]

It sounds like both of the lists are assuming the woman stays home.

 

[softblackcotton]

Wow. So glad I didn't grow up in 1955 for this and many other OBVIOUS reasons!