I came across this and laughed a bit.... taken from a 1950s home economics text book. My how the times have changed... THANK GOD I am not expected to cook a fancy meal in advance each night! Dustin loves when I cook, I just cant imagine being this on top of things!
- 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 prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
- Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, 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.
- Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, 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.
- 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, 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 he is home.
- Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. 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.
- 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.
- 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
- The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
I like most of the overall principles! Some seem a bit extreme... I think the last bullet point in the picture is funny... if you can read it anyways.
2 comments:
It is quite antiquated, but the longer I'm married, the more I realize these really are things a wife can do to help her husband feel appreciated and to show her affection. It makes a big difference in my marriage and I have a feeling, a lot of marriages could benefit from this. If you look at the divorce rates then and now, they must have had something right! :)...But this is from my perspective as a housewife. When we were both working outside the home, the "housework" load was more evenly divided. Now he's the sole bread-winner, and I'm the bread-baker!
I just can't imagine planning and cooking an extravagant dinner each night... the night before! that boggles my mind. I do agree with a lot of the principles to one degree or another! Thanks for the comment!
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