Tips to look after your wife

I recently read an extract from a 1950's home economics book entitled Tips to look after your husband.  All of the "tips" seem outrageous in this day and age of shared roles and working mothers.  I thought I would update it a little...

Tips to look after your wife:

Have dinner ready
Plan ahead, even the week before, to have any type of sustenance necessary with you when you arrive home.  Don't forget to remember her favorite beverage exactly the way she likes it.  Do not complain about the cost of eating out often just understand that she has had to deal with all manners of bodily fluids throughout her day and count yourself lucky that you did not.

Prepare yourself
Take a moment to think of a fun game or craft to do with your young children when you get home so that your wife can have a few moments to herself.  She has had your spawn all to herself for the past 8 hours be a man and take 30 min so that your wife can go to the bathroom alone.

Clear away the clutter
Notice that the breakfast and lunch dishes are still on the table.  Move them to the dishwasher and start the machine. Do not just move them to the sink as this does nothing except make another job for your lovely wife.  This will clear the kitchen for the evening meal and calm the evening for everyone.

Prepare the children
Make sure that the activity that you have chosen is calm and soothing.  Do not get the children excitable or loud as this only heightens your spouses stress level.  Have the children wash their hands, make sure that they have a clean diaper and clothing.  Bodily fluids are stressful to your wife eliminate any that might bring her discomfort.

Minimise all noise
Children should be seen but not heard.  If you are going to play a game that involves tickling or loud laughter make sure that you can go outside to do so.  The home is a sanctuary noise should be kept to a minimum.

Some don'ts
Don't greet her with problems or complaints.  Don't complain about long hours or short deadlines.  Count this as minor compared with what she might have gone through that day.

Make her comfortable.
Have her lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest she lie down in the bedroom.  This is the time to hand her the specially crafted beverage that you have brought home for her.  Arrange her pillow and offer to take off her shoes.  Speak in a low, soft soothing and pleasant voice.  Allow her to relax - unwind.

Of course this is ridiculous, of course every family is different.  Every one has hard parts to their day. It is our job to love our family members and make sure that their load is light.  Many hands make the load light.  Look to see how you can help and do so.  

More importantly....Go out...Be kind!!  Happy Valentines day everyone!!