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Post by piggingardener on Sept 12, 2006 11:35:00 GMT
The following is from a 1950's Home Economics textbook intended for High School girls, teaching how to prepare for married life. 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 prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with alot 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 house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, 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 the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of 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 to see him. Some Dont's: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's 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 relax.      |
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Post by Plocket on Sept 12, 2006 11:52:59 GMT
Jeez to think that was written in only the recent past. How scary. One could almost imagine it had been written by a man!!!
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Post by piggingardener on Sept 12, 2006 13:00:53 GMT
It probably was!!!
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 12, 2006 13:31:33 GMT
Oooer...well, when I'd stopped sniggering..mind you, I may try the "be a little gay and a little more interesting" - that'd perk him up no end (nah, too old...)!! This is 2006 Norfolk style:
When your Husband comes home, tired and dirty after a long day, watch him beat a trail to wherever the wine bottle is. Listen to his general rant about site managers, caravan drivers and people who drive very slowly in the middle of the road with a vacant smile while you try and remember whether you put the water on for his bath - he's had a long day and stinks.
Let smallest daughter jump all over him shouting as she's been doing it to you for an hour and now it's his turn. Don't let the children change their clothes again as there's already a huge pile of washing upstairs you haven't got through yet.
Prepare yourself - at least clean your teeth you old bag, you've really let yourself go after all those children..and maybe a thick paste of gunk will erase those black lines under your eyes and make you magically look 15 years younger (but I doubt it). Still, have you looked at him lately?
Don't bother to clear up as you know your OH is a walking pigpen and the floor will be strewn with rubble, dust and red wine 10 minutes after he's home.
Ask him AGAIN what the hell he wants for tea as it's only Wednesday and you've already cooked all 2 of the meals he actually likes this week.
Make sure you tell him everything he needs to know in the next hour as he'll be fast asleep on the sofa pretty soon after that.
Try to get him to appreciate that your life is a world of strain and pressure and now he's home you need to RELAX!
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 12, 2006 13:34:23 GMT
PS Only joking....! My OH is lovely (ish)
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Post by piggingardener on Sept 12, 2006 13:58:27 GMT
Nice one 4P!!
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Post by sleepysunday on Sept 12, 2006 14:20:00 GMT
What's wrong with it? Seems like good, sensible advice to me.
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Post by sweetleaf on Sept 15, 2006 8:41:51 GMT
Im going with 4Ps version,forget make-up it makes me look older,the kids make enough laundry as it is, when OH comes home I remind him of all the things he promised to fix.... ;D Lawnmower  Strimmer Washing machine (leaking) etc Tell him his mother rang (AGAIN) make dinner... these things take time and I dont start till he gets home as he`s so unreliable,(he "walks his own road" time-wise), clue him about the kids behaviour, good or bad while he eats, so they cant get away with fibs, and shut up when he dozes off. ;D |
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