Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter in the hope that other men will also seek to maintain the same level of housekeeping they came to expect as newlyweds. As our wives age, it is vital that men learn to encourage and assist their wives as I have Martha.
When I got laid off last March, it became necessary for my wife to get a job. I usually get home from golf or fishing about the same time as she gets off work and I have noticed that the housework has suffered. Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says she wants to rest awhile before making dinner. To be kind, I just tell her to gently wake me when she finally gets dinner on the table. Married men should pay more attention to the tasks their wives perform. For example, whereas Martha used to clean the table right away after dinner, now sometimes the dishes just sit there for hours. I help her by reminding her that dishes do not clean themselves. My encouragement seem to have helped, because now she usually gets them done before bedtime.
Martha also used to keep all our clothes clean. But since she is working outside the home, I assist her with the laundry by overlooking the fact that it doesn’t always get done on time. And, unless I need a clean golf shirt or my trousers pressed for my lodge meeting, I seldom complain that the ironing isn’t getting done on a regular basis. Younger husbands need to know how much their wives appreciate them noticing these little things. By allowing our wives more time to do their daily housekeeping, they have more time for the little tasks, such as dusting, shampooing the dog, or washing the car. If I have a good day of fishing, this can allow her the additional time necessary to gut, scale and fry them.
Martha is starting to complain that she can’t get all the bills paid during her lunch hour. But, despite her complaining, I have graciously let her stretch out the bill paying over several lunch hours. I also told her that, since she has begun to put on a little weight, missing a lunch now and then wouldn’t hurt her anyway. Remarks such as these show that a husband is concerned about his wife’s health.
A man must make allowances for his wife as she grows older. Even when she is doing simple jobs, like mowing the yard, she needs to take a break. I show my love by telling her to make herself a big glass of freshly squeezed lemonade, and while she’s at it, to make one for me as well. This way, she can take her break by sitting by my hammock and telling me about my virtues until I fall asleep.
To display this much consideration for a man’s wife is not easy. But even if my suggestions help a man to yell less at his wife, I believe my time writing this has been well spent.
EDITORS NOTE:
The man who sent in this letter is recovering from the severe injuries he sustained when he fell from his hammock under mysterious circumstances.