Post by angeldelight on Dec 7, 2006 17:20:35 GMT
To everyone who thought Paulines article was funny about the good wife guide this is a a new up to date version
This is an actual extract from a Home Economics textbook
re-printed in the early 2000's, the 50th revision of an earlier book
first published sometime between the 1940s and 1960s. .
The Good Partnership Guide.
Always remember a good partnership is grounded in a sincere and
mutual desire to please each other.
Ideally have dinner ready for when you both finish work. Plan ahead,
even the night before, to have a delicious and nutritious meal ready
on time. Share the joy of preparing food together and the clearing
up afterwards. The prospect of a good meal (especially a favourite
dish) is something you can both look forward to.
The reality may be that whoever finishes work and gets home free
first should bung together whatever leftovers are in the fridge into
either a) an omelette b) a sandwich or c) something on toast. If
the fridge is empty or the food in it has whiskers on it, then a call
to the local take-away is permissible. It is not considered fair to
make yourself a sandwich with the last piece of un-mouldy bread and
leave nothing for your partner. You need to prepare enough for two.
This is a way of letting your partner know that you are concerned
about his/her needs.
Ideally prepare yourselves before re-establishing contact with each
other at the end of a long day. Take 15 minutes to rest so you will
be refreshed when you meet up at the end of a long day. Perhaps if
you drive home you can sit in the car outside and listen to the radio
for 15 minutes. Or if you take the train or bus home, sit in the
station waiting room or bus shelter. If you walk home stand on the
street corner for 15 minutes, taking care to reject any unwelcome
advances. This is in order to relax and be able leave the hassles of
your day job aside in order to concentrate solely on each other.
Don't forget to use this time to check your reflection in the mirror
to ensure you are looking your best, and sniff under your arms to
check your level of personal freshness. Show you are happy to see
each other by greeting each other tenderly with a big smile.
The reality may of course be that you simply can't wait to get home
and crash onto that sofa. You don't actually know or care if your
hair is a mess and lip salve to prevent chapped lips is the most you
will ever to do improve your facial appearance. It is also possible
that your partner if already at home will see you arrive and wrench
the car door open and deposit a whinging child on your lap, unable to
cope alone any longer. In such circumstances it is understandable to
greet each other with a long moan about how foul your day has been
and what b******s you work with. It also may not be the moment to
point out to your partner their personal freshness problems or that
they have hair like a birds nest or a trail of snot down their
trouser leg.
Ideally, after you have taken off your shoes (taking off each other's
shoes is a lovely gesture!), you can have a quick clear up. You can
re-establish togetherness by clearing away the debris from your meal
and loading the dishwasher together. Then you can tackle the
clutter. While one of you gathers up books, toys, papers etc. the
other can vacuum and run a dust cloth over the surfaces. You need to
work together in order to feel your is a haven of rest and order and
it will give you both a lift and be very satisfying to make sure
everything is in its place. Try to make sure your home is a place of
peace, order and tranquillity where you both can relax renew
yourselves in body and spirit. Ensure you use relaxing cool pastel
colour schemes in rooms you use for relaxing. Scented candles are a
boon. If necessary you can ask a Feng Shui expert in to help
orientate your rooms for the best result, based on ancient principles
of harmony and the free flow of energy. Make sure your sofas and
chairs are really comfortable, so you can both stretch out and relax
fully. Modern designs can flip back at a touch of a button. Squashy
cushions with snuggly or soft silky covers are also essential for
your comfort.
In reality you may well be too knackered to do anything other than
kick a pathway through the debris of the day/last night's mess.
Dusting may never be done, the dust layer rarely gets thicker than ½
an inch anyway and disturbing the dust releases allergens into the
atmosphere which exacerbates asthma – oh did I make that up? Well
never mind! Vacuuming can be left until a visitor looms – for
example mother in law, a prospective client, Environmental Health or
an Ofsted Inspector.
A warm drink or maybe a large alcoholic one will facilitate
relaxation. You can take it in turns to be the one who makes these.
You will no doubt have dozens of important things to tell each
other. Try to leave work-related chat, complaints and problems to
one side, although you may have a wish to offload your dreary or
frustrating day, you will only be adding to your partner's burden.
To ensure the atmosphere is conducive to relaxed chat, minimise all
noise, turn off the washer, dryer and dishwasher, put the children
out and the cats to bed. Oops! Wrong way round! Your partner has
just been with a lot of boring, weary people, possibly even tired and
whiney little ones and will need a positive lift. You should both try
to be chirpy and ease away the problems of your working day with an
interesting and vivacious conversation. Try to speak in a low,
soothing and pleasant tone of voice. Ensure during the day you both
make time to read a paper or listen to a radio programme and make
notes on suitable topics for discussion. Make sure you really listen
to each other in a truly sincere way, if you can't stop yourself from
interrupting each other introduce the concept of a South American
Talking Stick, you can only talk if you have the stick, this ensures
turn-taking. But please note, hogging the stick is likely to end
with I being shoved aside, possibly somewhere inappropriate for
fostering good relationships. Always bear in mind that you have a
right to your own opinions, you can agree to disagree and still be
good friends.
In reality it may be that neither of you will have the time to open a
newspaper or turn on the radio, let alone catch up on current
affairs. Your conversation may be restricted to an initial long moan
and then snippets of gossip about your friends, neighbours and TV
personalities, or possibly just grunts.
At the end of the evening tidy the home ready for the morning and
think ahead to your breakfast needs.
In reality this may be a bridge too far and its all you can do to
summon up the energy to crawl up the stairs, have a quick wash and
tooth clean and tip yourself into bed.
Always remember that good sex is the cement that holds marriages
together, in the same way that an equal partnership with mutual
respect does. All previous comments about peace and tranquility
apply even more so to the bedroom. Keep the bedding fresh and clean
and the room neat and tidy. Ensure the décor is relaxing, with
scented candles and maybe even relaxing music. The bedroom is not
the place for watching TV or doing work on the computer, these
appliances should be banned from your haven of peace. Your night
attire should be attractive, an old running vest for him or a gym t
shirt for her is not usually a turn on. If either of you use
moisturising face creams, ensure they taste nice and do not leave a
greasy appearance. Sex, however, should be spontaneous, do not feel
under pressure to perform in order to keep up with the horny Jones
couple who may live next door. Remember, too, that sex may be better
when you are not tired and first thing in the morning can be more
fulfilling than last thing at night. The rules of an equal
partnership, turn-taking and mutual respect apply to sex as much as
they do to other areas of life.
In reality sex may be the last thing you can raise the energy for,
let alone anything else Physical intimacy is more than sex, it is
also the warmth and comfort to be gained from two bodies rolling
together briefly before drifting off to sleep.
It is unavoidable that there will be times when one or other of you
has to work late. It is a matter of courtesy to let the other
partner know as soon as possible. There will also be times when
either of you will wish to go out and pursue interests, hobbies or
let off steam with close friends, without your partner. This can be
irritating or disappointing but is fully understandable. In a
supportive partnership this will be negotiated on a turn and turn
about basis and no one partner will feel the other is taking
advantage or cannot be trusted. If a partner stays out all night it
is essential to phone or text to say why to ensure your partner is
not worrying about you.
If the partnership becomes strained, always remember the principles
of fairness and truthfulness.
This is an actual extract from a Home Economics textbook
re-printed in the early 2000's, the 50th revision of an earlier book
first published sometime between the 1940s and 1960s. .
The Good Partnership Guide.
Always remember a good partnership is grounded in a sincere and
mutual desire to please each other.
Ideally have dinner ready for when you both finish work. Plan ahead,
even the night before, to have a delicious and nutritious meal ready
on time. Share the joy of preparing food together and the clearing
up afterwards. The prospect of a good meal (especially a favourite
dish) is something you can both look forward to.
The reality may be that whoever finishes work and gets home free
first should bung together whatever leftovers are in the fridge into
either a) an omelette b) a sandwich or c) something on toast. If
the fridge is empty or the food in it has whiskers on it, then a call
to the local take-away is permissible. It is not considered fair to
make yourself a sandwich with the last piece of un-mouldy bread and
leave nothing for your partner. You need to prepare enough for two.
This is a way of letting your partner know that you are concerned
about his/her needs.
Ideally prepare yourselves before re-establishing contact with each
other at the end of a long day. Take 15 minutes to rest so you will
be refreshed when you meet up at the end of a long day. Perhaps if
you drive home you can sit in the car outside and listen to the radio
for 15 minutes. Or if you take the train or bus home, sit in the
station waiting room or bus shelter. If you walk home stand on the
street corner for 15 minutes, taking care to reject any unwelcome
advances. This is in order to relax and be able leave the hassles of
your day job aside in order to concentrate solely on each other.
Don't forget to use this time to check your reflection in the mirror
to ensure you are looking your best, and sniff under your arms to
check your level of personal freshness. Show you are happy to see
each other by greeting each other tenderly with a big smile.
The reality may of course be that you simply can't wait to get home
and crash onto that sofa. You don't actually know or care if your
hair is a mess and lip salve to prevent chapped lips is the most you
will ever to do improve your facial appearance. It is also possible
that your partner if already at home will see you arrive and wrench
the car door open and deposit a whinging child on your lap, unable to
cope alone any longer. In such circumstances it is understandable to
greet each other with a long moan about how foul your day has been
and what b******s you work with. It also may not be the moment to
point out to your partner their personal freshness problems or that
they have hair like a birds nest or a trail of snot down their
trouser leg.
Ideally, after you have taken off your shoes (taking off each other's
shoes is a lovely gesture!), you can have a quick clear up. You can
re-establish togetherness by clearing away the debris from your meal
and loading the dishwasher together. Then you can tackle the
clutter. While one of you gathers up books, toys, papers etc. the
other can vacuum and run a dust cloth over the surfaces. You need to
work together in order to feel your is a haven of rest and order and
it will give you both a lift and be very satisfying to make sure
everything is in its place. Try to make sure your home is a place of
peace, order and tranquillity where you both can relax renew
yourselves in body and spirit. Ensure you use relaxing cool pastel
colour schemes in rooms you use for relaxing. Scented candles are a
boon. If necessary you can ask a Feng Shui expert in to help
orientate your rooms for the best result, based on ancient principles
of harmony and the free flow of energy. Make sure your sofas and
chairs are really comfortable, so you can both stretch out and relax
fully. Modern designs can flip back at a touch of a button. Squashy
cushions with snuggly or soft silky covers are also essential for
your comfort.
In reality you may well be too knackered to do anything other than
kick a pathway through the debris of the day/last night's mess.
Dusting may never be done, the dust layer rarely gets thicker than ½
an inch anyway and disturbing the dust releases allergens into the
atmosphere which exacerbates asthma – oh did I make that up? Well
never mind! Vacuuming can be left until a visitor looms – for
example mother in law, a prospective client, Environmental Health or
an Ofsted Inspector.
A warm drink or maybe a large alcoholic one will facilitate
relaxation. You can take it in turns to be the one who makes these.
You will no doubt have dozens of important things to tell each
other. Try to leave work-related chat, complaints and problems to
one side, although you may have a wish to offload your dreary or
frustrating day, you will only be adding to your partner's burden.
To ensure the atmosphere is conducive to relaxed chat, minimise all
noise, turn off the washer, dryer and dishwasher, put the children
out and the cats to bed. Oops! Wrong way round! Your partner has
just been with a lot of boring, weary people, possibly even tired and
whiney little ones and will need a positive lift. You should both try
to be chirpy and ease away the problems of your working day with an
interesting and vivacious conversation. Try to speak in a low,
soothing and pleasant tone of voice. Ensure during the day you both
make time to read a paper or listen to a radio programme and make
notes on suitable topics for discussion. Make sure you really listen
to each other in a truly sincere way, if you can't stop yourself from
interrupting each other introduce the concept of a South American
Talking Stick, you can only talk if you have the stick, this ensures
turn-taking. But please note, hogging the stick is likely to end
with I being shoved aside, possibly somewhere inappropriate for
fostering good relationships. Always bear in mind that you have a
right to your own opinions, you can agree to disagree and still be
good friends.
In reality it may be that neither of you will have the time to open a
newspaper or turn on the radio, let alone catch up on current
affairs. Your conversation may be restricted to an initial long moan
and then snippets of gossip about your friends, neighbours and TV
personalities, or possibly just grunts.
At the end of the evening tidy the home ready for the morning and
think ahead to your breakfast needs.
In reality this may be a bridge too far and its all you can do to
summon up the energy to crawl up the stairs, have a quick wash and
tooth clean and tip yourself into bed.
Always remember that good sex is the cement that holds marriages
together, in the same way that an equal partnership with mutual
respect does. All previous comments about peace and tranquility
apply even more so to the bedroom. Keep the bedding fresh and clean
and the room neat and tidy. Ensure the décor is relaxing, with
scented candles and maybe even relaxing music. The bedroom is not
the place for watching TV or doing work on the computer, these
appliances should be banned from your haven of peace. Your night
attire should be attractive, an old running vest for him or a gym t
shirt for her is not usually a turn on. If either of you use
moisturising face creams, ensure they taste nice and do not leave a
greasy appearance. Sex, however, should be spontaneous, do not feel
under pressure to perform in order to keep up with the horny Jones
couple who may live next door. Remember, too, that sex may be better
when you are not tired and first thing in the morning can be more
fulfilling than last thing at night. The rules of an equal
partnership, turn-taking and mutual respect apply to sex as much as
they do to other areas of life.
In reality sex may be the last thing you can raise the energy for,
let alone anything else Physical intimacy is more than sex, it is
also the warmth and comfort to be gained from two bodies rolling
together briefly before drifting off to sleep.
It is unavoidable that there will be times when one or other of you
has to work late. It is a matter of courtesy to let the other
partner know as soon as possible. There will also be times when
either of you will wish to go out and pursue interests, hobbies or
let off steam with close friends, without your partner. This can be
irritating or disappointing but is fully understandable. In a
supportive partnership this will be negotiated on a turn and turn
about basis and no one partner will feel the other is taking
advantage or cannot be trusted. If a partner stays out all night it
is essential to phone or text to say why to ensure your partner is
not worrying about you.
If the partnership becomes strained, always remember the principles
of fairness and truthfulness.