The Good Wife’s Guide: Then and Now

Things Sure Have Changed
Robin Hoselton

Today: Have dinner ready. Stop by Wendy’s on your way home from work to pick up mandarin chicken salads. Most men aren’t that hungry when they come home because of their power lunches so a fast, healthy meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

GH: Prepare yourself. 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.

Today: Prepare yourself. Shed your shoes and put on a comfy sweat suit. He has just been with a lot of dressed up people so a relaxed, comfortable wife will be refreshing.

GH: 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.

Today: Ask him to be a little gay and a little more interesting for you. Your boring day may need a lift and one of his duties is to provide it.

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

Today: Push his clutter into one pile to remind him to pick up after himself. Make one last trip to clear a path to his remote just before your husband arrives.

GH: Gather up schoolbooks, toys, papers, etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.

Today: Shove the mail aside and swipe your sleeve across the table to make room for the Wendy’s containers.

GH: Be happy to see him.

Today: Be happy to see him. Imagine him with your favorite actor’s physique if that helps.

GH: Let him talk first. Remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Today: Let him talk first. Remember, his topics of conversation are more inane than yours. You can nod and make appropriate remarks during his blathering while deciding what to watch on TV later.

GH: Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment. 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.

Today: Don’t answer his questions about your actions. Remember, you are the mistress of the house and as such will usually exercise your will with fairness and only little white lies. He has no right to question you.

GH: A good wife always knows her place.

Today: A good wife always knows her place–in the House and the Senate.

Tagged modern, old fashioned, todays woman