Housekeeping Guide - 1955 Style

[Harold Bishop Killer]

Advice from 'Housekeeping Weekly' in 1955. These were the days.

• Have 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 favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

• 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.

• 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.

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

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

• 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.

• 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 the 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Your 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 and 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.

• 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.

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

• 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.

 

[OldBlueLady]

:p

Yeah, this was in the days when men also knew their place and that was doing the maintenance and repairs necessary without being nagged; taking the rubbish out; changing lightbulbs; complimenting the missus on her new hair do or new dress; being the disciplinarian with the kids rather than ignoring it; being home on time to eat the lovingly prepared food and stumping up the wages without being devious about it and just keeping enough back for a few pints with the lads!

Every woman knew her place right enough and that was in charge!

 

[Harold Bishop Killer]

:p

Every woman knew her place right enough and that was in charge of the kitchen

Edited for what was really meant.

;)

 

[OldBlueLady]

Edited for what was really meant.

;)

Fair point - but one I forgot to add in is that men went off to do their National Service and came back with a certain amount of discipline and at least knowing how to peel potatoes, clean shoes, to keep their things tidy and that clothes don't miraculously pick themselves up off the floor and find the laundry basket by way of some magic laundry fairy!

 

[Harold Bishop Killer]

Fair point - but one I forgot to add in is that men went off to do their National Service and came back with a certain amount of discipline and at least knowing how to peel potatoes, clean shoes, to keep their things tidy and that clothes don't miraculously pick themselves up off the floor and find the laundry basket by way of some magic laundry fairy!

:stunned:

Are you saying todays man is unkept, lazy and lack the basic skills of looking after themselves?

:nope:

 

[MK Shrimper]

Fair point - but one I forgot to add in is that men went off to do their National Service and came back with a certain amount of discipline and at least knowing how to peel potatoes, clean shoes, to keep their things tidy and that clothes don't miraculously pick themselves up off the floor and find the laundry basket by way of some magic laundry fairy!

Some of us are very domesticated without national service thankyou!

 

[McNasty]

Life was much simpler in those days. As a small child in the fifties there was no designer clothes, Playstations, computers and all the other things that stopped us reading and learning. The one thing we had was respect for others.

 

[OldBlueLady]

:stunned:

Are you saying todays man is unkept, lazy and lack the basic skills of looking after themselves?

:nope:

Certainly in my house! And his brother, and his step father! Must have picked a dud family!

 

[* ORM *]

The sooner we get back to those standards in today's society the better. I'm trying hard with Mrs ORM. By those standards she probably rates a 7. Fails on having dinner ready for when i walk in the door and refusing to tidy my clothes up after me. i also have to polish my own shoes.

 

[Slipperduke]

Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours

1, Boobs
2, Why Turkey might win the European Championships
3, Why they might not
4, Boobs
5, An interesting poo I had
6, The Treaty of Lisbon
7, Nik Kershaw
8, Boobs
9, How to fend off a zombie attack
10, Interesting things I have found between my toes
11, Lawrence of Arabia
12, Clive of India
13, Arabic women vs Indian women
14, Boobs
15, Bums
16, What's for tea?
17, Why Howard must die
18, That nice Simon Schama and his wobbly head
19, Wobbly bridges
20, Wobbly boobs.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I've seen this before and is definately a laugh out loud moment for us lads, i've also seen an x rated version which deals with the more intimate part of any given relationship ;)