A Happy Home for Whom

 

How to Be a Good Wife

My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy;
if not, you'll become a philosopher.

- Socrates
 

A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband.

- Honore de Balzac
 

A mother's role is to provide a happy home for her family

bulletHave 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.
bulletPrepare 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.
bulletBe 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.
bulletClear away the clutter.  Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.  Gather up schoolbooks, toys, a paper, et cetera, then run a dustcloth over the tables.
bulletIn 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.

As long as I give myself enough time to touch up my make-up and put a ribbon in my hair - where did I put my new pegnoir?

bulletPrepare 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.
bulletMinimise 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.
bulletGreet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
bulletListen 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.
bulletMake 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 home and relax.

bulletYour 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 or 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.
bulletMake 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, soft, soothing and pleasant voice.
bulletDon't ask him 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.

Source: "The Good Wife's Guide" Housekeeping Monthly 13 May 1955.  And what do you want to bet the author was a man?

Source: Mysoginistic Ads blogofhilarity.com

Women in the Workplace

The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Mass Transportation.  This was a serious article written for male supervisors of women in the workplace during World War II, a mere 60 years ago.  (For those of you who find yourselves working inefficiently during the day, the solution will be found in #8).

Eleven tips on getting more efficiency out of women employees:  There is no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men.  The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point.  The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage.

  1. Pick young married women.  They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, and they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.
  2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives.  Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy.  It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.
  3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls, those who are just a little on the heavy side, are more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
  4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination, one covering female conditions.  This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses that would made her mentally or physically unfit for the job.
  5. Stress at the outset the importance of time - the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules.  Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.
  6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes.  Numerous people say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.
  7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day.  Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.
  8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day.  You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology.  A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.
  9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms.  Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do.  Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
  10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women.  Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.
  11. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit.  This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy.

Source: eatliver.com, a source of funny, unusual and bizarre pictures.  I don't think using Lysol for feminine hygiene withstood the test of time...

Women - Know Your Limits

For more articles related to Men including sperm donations on the net, the effects of testosterone, condom sizes, buddies, smells, nagging, gynæcologists, mid-life crises, fathers and more click the "Up" button below to take you to the Table of Contents page for this section.
 

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