THE FOLLOWING IS FROM AN ACTUAL 1950'S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK INTENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS, TEACHING THEM HOW TO PREPARE FOR MARRIED LIFE:
1. 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.
HOLLY'S TAKE: TRY and have dinner ready. (Though actually, this year I've done really good!) My trick is to start dinner in the morning right after breakfast. I'm usually too tired if I wait until the afternoon. But, what typically used to take place in our house was (before the new year, John is trying to do really good too), I would make dinner, hold the kids off to eat until when I thought John would get home, and about the time John should be home, he'd call to say he was still at work... Not a happy wife. But, like I said, he's done really good in the new year.
2. Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you will 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. His boring day may need a lift.
HOLLY'S TAKE: Rest? What's that???? Make-up? Only if I had an appointment of some sort... and not always then. A ribbon in my hair? Will a pony tail do? Fresh looking? Probably not... Work-weary? I think that describes me at the end of the day. At the end of the day, I can't muster up the energy to be a little gay or more interesting. Most likely I need a lift from my afternoon with Mallary.
3. Clear away clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gather 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.
HOLLY'S TAKE: I'll be honest, I wish I had the energy to do this at the end of the day. I try to be consistent at five o'clock to get the kids to pick up their toys, etc. But it doesn't always happen. It just depends on how the day has gone. I would love to have a haven of rest and order...
4. 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 their part?
HOLLY'S TAKE: Whatever. You've seen pictures of Mallary's hair right? I do it, and it's messy within the next five minutes. Why in the world would I change my kid's clothes right before dinner, so they could dirty two outfits in a day??? That's just stupid. Playing their part? Right.
5. Minimize the noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
HOLLY'S TAKE: I can pretty much guarantee the vacuum is not running when John comes in the door. I can also pretty much guarantee that Mallary is not ever quiet. I am glad to see John at the end of the day, but I don't know if there is always a smile on my face at that time of day. With my kids, the late afternoons are usually the most challenging. Poor John having to come home to my makeup-less face, ribbon free hair, and tired face. I guess I should feel lucky he comes home at all.
I think the best tips are the last five. Stay tuned until tomorrow.
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