The Good Wife's guide

I was playing around on the computer a few weeks back and came across "The Good Wife's Guide" from Housekeeping Monthly from May 13, 1955.  I read it and thought "hmmm, I think I'll a few of this for when Cody comes home".  Oh that was funny.

Have dinner ready.  Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready and on time for his return.  This lets him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs.  For us, it just says "we're hungry and want to eat".  We do eat early most nights but it's because we have so many activities that dinner needs to be ready early.  Or, we're at the gym so dinner is either in the crockpot or in the fridge.


Prepare yourself.  Take 15 mins 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.  Well, I've been running around teaching the kids, taking care of the pets, running to speech, horseback riding, gymnastics or karate.  I've been taking care of your 3 kids all day.


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.  I'm sure his day has been anything but boring.  


Clear away the clutter.  Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.  Now this I can do because I can't stand a mess.


Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc and then run a dustcloth over the tables.  I guarantee my husband will not notice any of those things....especially the dust.  


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.  Hahahaha, if I've got the fire going, it's because we're cold.  It's not like he'll relax by the fire place.  


Prepare the children.  Take a few mins to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and if necessary, change their cloths.  MY FAVORITE PART They are the little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.  Minimize the noise and try to encourage the children to be quite.  They don't know our children.  I think Cody might feel like he's stepped into the Twilight Zone if he came home to this one.  


Be happy to see him.  Of course, because this also means that I get to be off duty for a bit and take a break.  :)


Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.  I did this and he thought I'd lost my mind.  


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 then yours.  This one is too funny.  If I let him talk first, then I'll forget what I've been wanting to tell him all day. 


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.  Cody actually laughed at this one.  He said "what about your time to relax.  You've been with the kids all day".  Yes my husband understands.  I do realize he has a trying job but he realizes I do too.  I love my man.  


Your goal: try to make your sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.  Like this is going to happen with my kids and pets.  Preslie doesn't know how to give peace and tranquility.  


Don't greet him with complaints and problems.  Cody said then it wouldn't feel like home.  Hmmm, don't know if I should be offended or not ;)


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.  Ok, I can handle coming home late because he does work in an Operating room and emergencies happen but if he stayed out all night, then we wouldn't still be married.  


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.  I tried this one and he looked at me funny.  


Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.  Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.  I'm not touching his shoes or feet.....yuck!!  I'm not a touch your shoes and feet person.  And if I can't yell then how can the kids hear me....I'm joking, or am I.  


Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity.  Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise hi will with fairness and truthfulness.  You have no right no question him.  hahahaha, really?


A good wife always knows her place.  Guess, I'm not a good wife by these standards.  


Ok, so after I read this to Cody and we laughed a little.  He actually said "You really want the girls to think it's ok to act like that?"  I LOVE that man!!!!!!!!!!

Funny things they say!!

My kids are full of funny things "I" say.

Chase and Preslie are working on counting by 2's, 5's and 10's right now by counting money and such. Well, one day I handed them a paper and told them we would work on counting pennies today. I asked "how much is a penny worth?", "1 cent mom". Good and then Chase replies with "but mom, I don't know how to count by ones".

Bolt loves to play with his kids. He loves to herd them and be right in the middle of the action. Well, they don't want him in the playroom. Not sure why, but they never have. So they always shut the door, he always opens it or just lays down in front of it and whines. Preslie has started shutting the door and telling Bolt, "Boltie, mommy has to go to work right now. I pinky promise I will play with you when I get home. I love you" and then bam the door shuts. He has this look of sadness that comes over his face. HIS P-pod just shut him out. I promise he does get over it. I send him outside to chase things and he's happy again, or he herds the cat.

Preslie is trying so hard to train Bolt and she wants to do it. She showed me her latest trick this morning. She placed a training treat in her hand and then put both hands in front of Bolt and asked "Bolt, which hand is it in". "Look mom, he's knows which hand. He's so good". Ya, because it has nothing to do with him smelling it. I of course couldn't say anything and just said "good job P".

Oh, I could go on and on but I can't think right now. Maybe because I want to "write" them down. I know I'll be back.

Semi Busy weekend!!

Weeks that led up to meets are busy, as well as the weekends. That was the case last week and then Saturday. Rylie had a meet at 8 am in Little Rock, then we stopped off and had lunch, made it back to town to get a horseback riding lesson in for Preslie and then made it to Mass on time. The kids were just a tad tired that night. Of course, Sunday the weather was wonderful (I should just say the temp). The kids and I headed to Sunday school and then came home and played around. We grilled out and played some more. I love having the windows open!

Rylie did pretty good at her meet. She got 4th on Floor, beam and bars and then 3rd on Vault and 3rd all around. I think she was a little disappointed on her beam score, but I think it also showed her that yes we know your good but you've got to quit being so cocky. She got just a tad fast and didn't hold her handstand long enough. I know a 9.1 is good but not good enough for her. Guess she'll be taking her time at her next meet.

I'm wanting to get out and mow the weeds down, because we all know I can't stand that shabby look of grass. But well the weather is kind of drizzly and overcast. Not sure if I really want to do it. I guess I'll go fold laundry and do some sewing instead.

It's been awhile!

I've been thinking about writing on my blog again for awhile but well, things just get in the way (and I kind of forgot my password). Well this morning I decided I'm going to do it. What I didn't realize is that I hadn't posted anything since Aug 2009. I can't believe my blog was even still here. Let's see if I can just jump back in here.

Today is going to be a crazy, hectic day around our house. Is there really a day that isn't crazy, hectic around here? We've got speech, gymnastics and karate. I want to try to fix the back screen door (a homemade job that really is bad) or just get a new one, I need to make Rylie a new grip bag, Chase wants some lounge pants and Preslie would love a new shirt or a dress. She loves them because they don't have tags.

Rylie has already finished her library book, we got yesterday. I'm letting them play outside right now and take advantage of this beautiful weather. I think they'll do some internet school work today. One of the great things about homeschooling, I get to pick what they do all day long. We can make anything and everything into a lesson.