The following is a list of what the Good Wife’s Guide. Notice it was written in 1955, and it is completely based on the old dynamic of women staying home and men working. With women working though it is virtually impossible to happen. The real question is what does a man need to do to deserve the following? Do women today even think that men today deserve the following? If a man is serving his wife / family properly, like Jesus serves the church, would women today do the following. After the Good Wife’s guide is a list of what modern women do and contrast it with the Housekeeping woman. Women out there, post and give us a Good Husband’s guide for comparision.
The Good Wife’s Guide
Could such advice have appeared in a 1955 issue of Housekeeping Monthly?
“You’ve come a long way baby!”
* 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 favorite 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. Minimize all the 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.
* 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 and 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 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 if he 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 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.
Good Housekeeping v. Real Women
The Good Housekeeping Way #1
Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
The Real Women’s Way
Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for God’s sake. You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it anyway.
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The Good Housekeeping Way #2
To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
The Real Women’s Way
Buy Smash mashed potato mix and keep it in the pantry for up to a year.
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The Good Housekeeping Way #3
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking tin, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won’t be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
The Real Women’s Way
The Cheese Cake Shop sell cakes. They even do decorated versions.
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The Good Housekeeping Way #4
If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking, drop in a potato slice.
The Real Women’s Way
If you over salt a dish while you are cooking, that’s tough, Please recite with me the Real Women’s motto: “I made it and you will eat it and I don’t care how bad it tastes.”
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The Good Housekeeping Way #5
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
The Real Women’s Way
It could keep forever. I don’t eat it.
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The Good Housekeeping Way #6
Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield beautiful glossy finish.
The Real Women’s Way
Sara Lee frozen pie directions do not include brushing any egg whites over the crust so I don’t do that.
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The Good Housekeeping Way #7
If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
The Real Women’s Way
Go ask mister tight butt, cutelegs, single neighbor to do it for you.
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The Good Housekeeping Way #8
Freeze leftover wine into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
The Real Women’s Way
Leftover wine?????