Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Good Wife's Guide

Thursday, January 20, 2011
There's a popular guide to being a good wife that's been making the rounds on the internet for probably years. Some say it's a hoax, some believe it's real, some say it's still a valid article for today's world, some say it's antiquated and irrelevant to today's society. Everyone's free to make up their own assumptions. I'm not so concerned about whether it's real or not as I believe a lot of 1950s women would definitely recognize some of the advice given inside. Now in Nigeria, I'm absolutely certain most women believe and agree that the advice is sound advice as a matter of course. Sometimes I believe our society now mirrors America in the 1950s and 60s, whether that's a good or bad thing is entirely relative.


As for me when I read the article I think I try and understand the motive behind the writer giving the sort of advice he/she gives or what exactly are they trying to say. In my home of course I try and make it a sanctuary, a home, a safety zone for my husband and I, and of course I'm mindful to always look nice and smell nice etc because...well, he's my husband and I need him to desire me. To me it's natural to want these things. Where I think I differ is that I would require my husband to also feel that same way and want to do those same things too! I think it's both our responsibilities to make and keep our home a sanctuary. We both have to be ready and willing to listen to the other and to talk to each other. I see these things more like a partnership where it's each partner's responsibility to nourish the soul of the other and ensure that the other is fulfilled.

Anyway, without further ado, here's the list:

The Good Wife’s Guide

1. Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

5. Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.

6. 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.

7. 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 or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

8. Be happy to see him.

9. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

13. Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

17. 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.

18. A good wife always knows her place.

16 comments:

Blessing said...

I love this article! And I agree with it for the most part...thanks for sharing!

Lami said...

Wow, just wow. I guess this applies to housewives only.

Myne said...

OMG! I've never really seen this before. And I'm guessing it's written by a good wife *read woman*
Thank God we're not in those days anymore.

Giagerry said...

LOL @ the part that says be a little gay--lol hope I read dat right!

LucidLilith said...

If I was a housewife, I think the above is very appropriate...however, the same should apply to the male....

As a housewife I may have to deal with children, school work, PTA, laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, the plumber or the roofer the gardener, doctor visits, paying bills .....

This is not easy either...he should be willing to come home and make MY day a little less housework weary.

DarLyn said...

Interesting post there. The to-dos are what the modern day lady would kick against and say it is an equal right world.
But I think the truth is, often the "power women" we know are all that and also the above to their husband and so he in turn is willing to go the extra mile for them. I know a few of such women and they get the best deal if you ask me.

Meanwhile, Kemi I tagged you as a Versatile and Stylish blogger, though I see you've got the award before. This post is one of my many reasons I had to give you the award.Yourself and Bo are really a cool couple. God bless you.

Anonymous said...

Love your blog! Everyone is different and there is no textbook answer for everything so whatever works for you and your husband...do it :)

I'm a newbie...

http://woomie.wordpress.com/

Abby the Tiny Traveler said...

I've seen this particular article before and find it interesting. My mom and all my aunts would agree that it is good sound advice for a married women. So I totally agree with your statement that societies expectations of American women in the 50s mirrors societies expectation of Nigerian women in the 21st century.

Kemi said...

@Blessing you're welcome

@Lami, i think it was supposed to apply to all married women since not a lot of them worked out of the home at that time

@Myne, I'm thanking God with you believe me :-)

@Gee, it's funny you picked up on that because online there were a lot of comments like "I'm sure my husband would love me being gay" lol

@LucidLilith, Amen sister! Though I'm not a housewife I also think a loving partner should help the other out.

@DarLyn, thank you so much for your kind words and the award. God Bless you too.

@woomie, welcome and thanks for stopping by. hope you'll comment often :-)

@Amy, it really does. I always say this whenever I'm watching Mad Men. That show is almost exactly like the workplace in Nigeria is now (minus the alcohol)

@ilola said...

Easier said than done, in these recent times

Anonymous said...

This article might be a long running hoax to promote movements back in the 70s

Anonymous said...

I can see this being a very helpful artical if you are with a truely honest man. As many women would agree these kind of me are hard to come by in this age, plus it needs to be taken into account that unlike in the 50's where most women stayed home, most of the families of today are two income. And with women sharing just as much of the finantial responcablities as their male counter parts it is a great feat for women to live upto these expectations. Even witht the fact women are equal on the finatial front, that is if they are actually payed equally which many companies still don't, women still take on the majority of the respocibilites when it comet to child rearing. So, while it would be nice to let men know how much their exertions are apriciated but women often need the same thing from them. Although if you are luck and have one of the trust worthy one you also have a man who sees what you do and will understand there will be days you can not keep up with the expectations an artical such as this protrays. I do however believe very strongly that no matter how hard your days may have been you do need to take a few mintues to refresh yourself so that you partner sees that you care enough about yourself and them to still look good for them, which believe tit or not will also help you feel a bit better about yourself.

Ruprick Huybers said...

The most intellegent analysis since Germ Greer decided to shoot herself.

Mo said...

GET RID OF THE CHINESE WRITING IT IS INAPPROPRIATE IN ENGLISH REFER TO PORN STUPP

Unknown said...

The article was interesting,but this would be more of my grandmother type of marriage. I don't disagree nor do I disagree with all of the information shared.

Unknown said...

yea

Post a Comment

 
Till My Dying Day © 2008. Design by Pocket