How to be "A Good Wife" (a la 1954)

Betty Draper must have missed this class in high school.

GOAL: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

* 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.

* Make the evening his.
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.

Try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
* DON'T
Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment.

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.

See: 30's Wife Calculator

HMMM... a few things that ring true today - an evening is improved when both partners are happy to see each other, happy to listen to each other, and neither complain all night long. I also think a good cocktail when you walk in the door isn't a bad idea!