Day 24- 1955's Idea of a Good Wife

I came across this article and was SHOCKED that this was the way that some of our mothers and grandmothers were to behave. Mr. Wright is lucky if he doesn't get handed a screaming, poopy baby and asked to make dinner while I run out the front door looking for the nearest padded room.

This reeked of something I needed to check out on Snopes, so I did a quick search and it is listed as undetermined, but there is a photocopy of the 'actual' article there.



From Housekeeping Monthly, 13 May, 1955.

* 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 be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

Mrs. Wright says: I can understand this one as everyone needs to eat, but I hardly think that the Kraft macaroni I make for Mr. Wright screams "I've been thinking about you and am concerned for your needs".


* 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.

Mrs. Wright says: I didn't get that fancy for my wedding. If I wasn't so busy thinking about him and being concerned for his macaroni needs maybe I'd look more rested.


* 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.

Mrs. Wright says: I don't think anyone would argue with the fact that I'm always a little gay, but I'm never interesting. I think Mr. Wright would rather I not talk over Sportcenter anyway.


* Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.

Mrs. Wright says: I totally run through the main part of the house before his arrival, but usually it's because I'm chasing a peeing toddler or checking for Target purchases that need to be hidden. And sometimes I even wipe off the table before he gets home to remove the evidence that we had Cocoa Pebbles for lunch.


* During 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 to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Mrs. Wright says: I'm great at starting fires, only we don't have a fireplace. Our home isn't really a haven when the smoke detector is drowning out the too-loud Sportscenter so I wouldn't exactly say it gives me a lift. And I do have immense feelings about catering to his comfort, but it isn't really satisfaction...


* Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.

Mrs. Wright says: We never really have to worry about the washer, dryer or vacuum being too noisy as they tend to only be noisy when running. If you don't run them, there's no noise. Problem solved. As for the children... ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?? If it worked to encourage them to be quiet don't you think I would have 'encouraged' that 8 hours ago??


* Be happy to see him.

Mrs. Wright says: I'm always happy to see him because sometimes he brings home Burger King. He's also the only person I live with that stops asking for things for 10 seconds to wait for a response.

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

Mrs. Wright says: This sounds like some kind of strange fantasy of Mr. Wright's. I would have thought he wrote this whole article if there were one or two more 'rules' involving things that weren't spoken about then, lol!


* 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.

Mrs. Wright says: Excuse me!? HIS topics are more important than MINE!? No one cares which minor leaguer Jim Rome interviewed today but the people want to know about Brangelina!!


* Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

Mrs. Wright says: Is "there's a really bad smell and I can't figure out where or who it's coming from" a complaint, or a problem?


* 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.

Mrs. Wright says: I'm sure work must have really sucked, but I have bad days too and they don't really justify me hanging out with a bunch of Thunder Down Under 'dancers'. Nice try 1955 guys. And I suppose it's MY job to get the mysterious lipstick off their 1955 twill suit with my crappy 1955 washing machine so that they can possibly have a bad day at work tomorrow and stay out again with a 1955 skank? I don't think so misters...


* Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Mrs. Wright says: Are you sure he doesn't want his 1955 skank to lie him down in bed?


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

Mrs. Wright says: Mr.Wright has the kids trained to take off his socks when he gets home, but I get the joy of picking up said socks and taking them to their home in the LAUNDRY pile. It's not rocket science people! I usually reserve the low, soothing voice for admitting the dollar amount that I spent at Joann fabrics.

* 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.

Mrs. Wright says: Luckily the law says I do have a right to question him, and if he's still with that skank then I have the right to the house, cars, and kids as well :) God Bless America!

* A good wife always knows her place.

Mrs. Wright says: I sure do know my place, and it's not 2 steps behind my husband attending to his every whim. Plus Mr. Wright never knows where to put anything, so I'd have to show him where to "put" me anyway.