How To Be A 1950s Housewife

I've always found it fascinating to learn about how people used to live back in the 1950s. But I feel that what women in the 1950s were expected to do for their husbands? Well, those traditions have certainly flown right out the window! I read an article that was published in May of 1955 in "Housekeeping Monthly" titled "The Good Wife’s Guide". And it's basically a detailed guide of how to be a good housewife and mother. It's amazing to me to see how different things were back then. Yet such a simple way of living. 

Well here it goes, these are the rules that were compiled back then for the magazine:

1.) 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.

2.) 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.

3.) Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

4.) 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.

5.) 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.

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.

8.) Children 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.

9.) Be happy to see him. Free him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him. Listen to him.

10.) 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 of 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.

And there you have it folks! Those were the guidelines back then to being a good housewife and mother. Now in the times we are living now these are some old traditions that maybe many people today can't actually believe that people really followed back then. Maybe it feels a little strange to accept these rules today, but it's so interesting to see how society once behaved. I for once am fascinated by it all. Could I apply every single one to my life? Maybe not but I feel that in those simpler times housewives and mommies were probably much happier and dedicated to their family life and their homes. And in all honesty is something that I strive for every day. And although I may not be perfect and fail at most of these many days, I sure hope to be that good example of a praise-worthy mother and wife some day. I may not be there 100% yet but I strive for that because there's nothing I love more than being a homemaker, wife, and mommy. As a child I always dreamed of being what I am today. When you are a kid people often ask you what you want to be when you grow up and most children will respond by saying they want to be a doctor, or lawyer, or police officer, or ballerina. I always responded by saying I wanted to be a mommy and wife and have many children. I've always been very motherly ever since I was a child. And It showed in the way I played with my dolls. Some women really are not that hard to please. Some of us don't really ask for much. The simplicity of just wanting to be a loving wife and mother who cares for her family, and loves to cook, clean, and keep them happy is a very rewarding job at the end of the day. When you see the smiles on their faces after a satisfying home cooked meal made by me brings me so much joy. To see my husband savoring every bit of my food and constantly praising me for my hard work and dedication really uplifts me and inspires me to keep striving to be a better housewife and mother. And no other feeling in this world compares to that. Would you be able to follow these 1950s housewife rules? Let me know below!