
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 07:30:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: chris.germany@enron.com
To: ingrid.immer@williams.com
Subject: Words of wisdom

Whatever happened to the good ol' days!


>
>
> 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.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > 3.   CLEAR AWAY CLUTTER.  Make one last trip through the
main part of
> the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up
schoolbooks,
> 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.
> >
> > 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 the part.
> >
> > 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 kiss, letting him know you're glad
to see
> him.
> >
> > 6.   Some DON'TS: Don't greet him with problems or
complaints. Don't
> complain if he's late for dinner.  Count this as minor compared
with what
> he might have gone through that day.
> >
> > 7.   MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE.  Have him lean back in a
comfortable chair or
> suggest he lay down in the bedroom.  Have a cool or warm drink
ready for
> him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.  Speak in
a low,
> soft, soothing and pleasant voice.  Allow him to relax and unwind.
> >
> > 8.   LISTEN TO HIM: You may have a dozen things to tell
him, but the
> moment of his arrival is not the time.  Let him talk first.
> >
> > 9.   MAKE THE EVENING HIS: Never complain if he does not
take you out to
> dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead try to
understand his
> world of strain and pressure and his need to be home and relax.
> >
> > 10.  THE GOAL: try to make your home a place of peace
and order where
> your husband can relax.
> >
> >

