Friday, November 14, 2008

Being a good wife far beyond housekeeping



By Ruth Millett

A great many women seem to confuse being a good housekeeper with being a good wife.

Over and over in my mail are letters from women who more or less repeat what this writer says about her qualifications as a wife:

“I think I am a good wife, since I keep the clothes clean, look rather well and keep our home in good order.”

What that woman, and others who list similar reasons for feeling that they are good wives, are actually saying is, “I am a good housekeeper.”

But good housekeeping is just one of the skills necessary in being a good wife. In fact, if that were all a man expected to get from marriage he would just hire a housekeeper.

Married For Love

Instead he chose marriage, because in addition to having a woman keep house for him, he also wanted a woman he could love and who would return his love in full measure.

He also wanted a companion to share his interests and lead him to new ones.

He wanted a cheering section to applaud him when he did well and to encourage him when he failed.

He wanted gaiety and laughter around him.

He wanted the security of knowing that at least one person in the world approved of him just as he was and would continue to love him for better or for worse.

He wanted a home that was not only neat but interesting. A place for hobbies and learning for friends and lazy hours.

A woman has to look far beyond her housekeeping before she dare assume that she is a good wife.

Taken from The Daily Times-News. Burlington, North Carolina. March 18, 1958.


Angel's comment:

Being a stay at home wife didn't make me a bimbo. I 'm not just sitting in the house, I did attending my parenting/social group twice a week and volunteering in my community . King doesn't want an anti social angel; he encouraged me to go out and meeting people. He trust me and as loving angel, I'll always remember my place and duty to him. He not only want a clean house and a great dishes from his wife, but he want someone to talk and share about his work, politic and economic. Of course he didn't expect me to read Wall Street Journal, but he strongly encouraged me to read newspaper everyday; to know what happens around. So next time when he talk about something, I didn't blur or just saying " Who is Steven Harper? "

No comments: