Hints at Happiness
At my second visit to the Saugerties Library book sale two weeks ago, they announced that all books could be taken for free! I happily began piling books into a box, ones that I wouldn’t normally buy including Great Tasting Recipes with Spam. I chuckled at the opportunity of buying a can of Spam, and wrapping it up as part of a gag gift.
Another book caught my eye, Heloise’s Housekeeping Hints. The edges were brown and stained, and I thought it would make another perfect gag gift for someone who (like myself) is challenged in this area. Yet this morning when I picked it up and began flipping through her housekeeping tips, the humor disappeared as fast as dust being vacuumed off a dirty floor.
Written in 1962, I expected a certain amount of outdated references such as “office girls” and “housewife”. But I was struck by how certain parts of the book undervalued women when read with today’s perspective. For examples, she connected happiness to cleanliness with comments (both explicit and implicit) that a clean home is a happy home. In addition, she diminished the potential of women with references such as “accept the fact that you are a woman” and “I am no writer and never intend to be. I am just a mother and housewife, like you.” Other parts just left me baffled. What does she mean when she says “Keep in mind too…the second wife always has a maid!”
At the same time, I surprisingly related to some of her ideas. I think all women can relate to feeling like their work is never done (being totally tired all the time, and have envy for those with super clean houses.) So forty-five years later, women still share housekeeping tips, reveal stories about frustrated expectations, and chit chat (and vent) with each other about their children, husbands and careers. Yet luckily within my circle of women (married, single, with/without children), we bond in ways that value each other’s potential and goals, and support each other with our personal decisions. We know what happiness means, and it’s not found when folding clothes.
So this may not be the best book for a gag gift. I’m not sure what to do with it. I think maybe Great Tasting Recipes with Spam will be more appropriate for light-hearted humor. Though Spam may still be eaten by a small sect of society, luckily the rules of happiness are not tied to the pan it’s fried in.
Below is an excerpt from Heloise’s Housekeeping Hints.
Dear Fellow Housewives:
To each and every one of you mother’s, housewives, homemakers everywhere, a special blessing. You certainly deserve it!
I’m not talking here to the fanatical housekeeper (I used to be one before I took some hints) but to the everyday housewife with children, tired working mothers, office girls and those who just never find the time to get everything done that needs to be done. You never will….don’t think you can.
All women have more than they can do because they take on more than they have strength for. A woman did not (in the old days) paint her kitchen, wash the car, drive the children to school, weed the lawn, pay the bills, worry about budgeting and insurance. Her husband did these things or hired someone.
Today’s woman is expected to be well-read, faultlessly groomed, a nursemaid, laundress, seamstress, hostess, cook, gardener, painter, appliance repairman, wallpaper hanger, carpenter, exterminator (for those awful bugs of all sorts) and jane-of-all-trades!
Being a homemaker is a big job for anyone, and you and I are going to make mistakes. But so what? That’s the way we learn!
So relieve your mind of a lot of its frustrations by simply accepting the fact that you are a woman. Next, make yourself believe that you do the best you can. Probably you do! Tranquilizers are expensive…so are doctors’ bills. Instead of worrying yourself into a state of jitters over keeping a “perfect” house, let this book show you how to make it easier for yourself.
I’ll try to write and talk in everyday simple down-to-earth language…as in a telephone conversation or while sharing housewives’ chores with a friend and neighbor. I am no authority and I admit it! I have had to do things the hard way, by trial and experience. I am no writer and never intend to be. I am just a mother and housewife, like you. But the things in this book worked for me – they will for you too!
First of all, when you neighbor or friend tells you she has everything done …don’t believe it! She hasn’t. No woman ever does. And won’t even when she is six feet under. (That “six-feet-under” means dirt!)
Accept this fact. Don’t try to keep up with your neighbor. Enjoy living day-by-day (and keep up with yourself) by learning the short cuts. Top clean first, then get around to deep cleaning.
The chapters in this books are definitely concerned with “top-cleaning” and quickie-jet-age-make-do methods to help you run your home as best you can and still keep calm. (This is your most important job…keeping calm!) My main purpose is to help you get your home in order so that you have the extra time and inclination to really deep-clean later. With your home top-cleaned and in order you will find the time to plan occasional, thorough cleanings.
Keep in mind when reading each chapter that this book was not written for anyone except you: my fellow woman, and I hope, my friend. Not your neighbor, not your husband, not your mother-in-law or the boss’s wife. These are the very people you are trying to impress with your neatness. Keep that secret to yourself!
Keep in mind too…the second wife always has a maid! Your husband will not look under the bed or on the ceiling at night to see if he can find a cobweb. Your husband wants a neat house and a happy wife and family. That’s all!
And you know what? I have never had a guest in my home move a sofa or open a drawer to check and see if I had clutter, dirt or cobwebs! Really!
And girls, another thing. Jar loose once in a while and spend a few nickels or dollars on yourself. Don’t do without those few simple things that would make your life easier, such as a carpet-sweeper, plumber’s-friend, feather-duster and pants-stretchers. Spend that few dollars for them.
Life is so very short and so sweet. Live every day. Be neat and get rid of clutter and top-clean your house. It’s easy! I am forty-two years old and had to learn the hard way. Take it from me: Learn the short cuts.
Then spend the energy and time you have saved being kind to your family and friends, but most of all to yourself. You deserve it the most.
At my second visit to the Saugerties Library book sale two weeks ago, they announced that all books could be taken for free! I happily began piling books into a box, ones that I wouldn’t normally buy including Great Tasting Recipes with Spam. I chuckled at the opportunity of buying a can of Spam, and wrapping it up as part of a gag gift.
Another book caught my eye, Heloise’s Housekeeping Hints. The edges were brown and stained, and I thought it would make another perfect gag gift for someone who (like myself) is challenged in this area. Yet this morning when I picked it up and began flipping through her housekeeping tips, the humor disappeared as fast as dust being vacuumed off a dirty floor.
Written in 1962, I expected a certain amount of outdated references such as “office girls” and “housewife”. But I was struck by how certain parts of the book undervalued women when read with today’s perspective. For examples, she connected happiness to cleanliness with comments (both explicit and implicit) that a clean home is a happy home. In addition, she diminished the potential of women with references such as “accept the fact that you are a woman” and “I am no writer and never intend to be. I am just a mother and housewife, like you.” Other parts just left me baffled. What does she mean when she says “Keep in mind too…the second wife always has a maid!”
At the same time, I surprisingly related to some of her ideas. I think all women can relate to feeling like their work is never done (being totally tired all the time, and have envy for those with super clean houses.) So forty-five years later, women still share housekeeping tips, reveal stories about frustrated expectations, and chit chat (and vent) with each other about their children, husbands and careers. Yet luckily within my circle of women (married, single, with/without children), we bond in ways that value each other’s potential and goals, and support each other with our personal decisions. We know what happiness means, and it’s not found when folding clothes.
So this may not be the best book for a gag gift. I’m not sure what to do with it. I think maybe Great Tasting Recipes with Spam will be more appropriate for light-hearted humor. Though Spam may still be eaten by a small sect of society, luckily the rules of happiness are not tied to the pan it’s fried in.
Below is an excerpt from Heloise’s Housekeeping Hints.
Dear Fellow Housewives:
To each and every one of you mother’s, housewives, homemakers everywhere, a special blessing. You certainly deserve it!
I’m not talking here to the fanatical housekeeper (I used to be one before I took some hints) but to the everyday housewife with children, tired working mothers, office girls and those who just never find the time to get everything done that needs to be done. You never will….don’t think you can.
All women have more than they can do because they take on more than they have strength for. A woman did not (in the old days) paint her kitchen, wash the car, drive the children to school, weed the lawn, pay the bills, worry about budgeting and insurance. Her husband did these things or hired someone.
Today’s woman is expected to be well-read, faultlessly groomed, a nursemaid, laundress, seamstress, hostess, cook, gardener, painter, appliance repairman, wallpaper hanger, carpenter, exterminator (for those awful bugs of all sorts) and jane-of-all-trades!
Being a homemaker is a big job for anyone, and you and I are going to make mistakes. But so what? That’s the way we learn!
So relieve your mind of a lot of its frustrations by simply accepting the fact that you are a woman. Next, make yourself believe that you do the best you can. Probably you do! Tranquilizers are expensive…so are doctors’ bills. Instead of worrying yourself into a state of jitters over keeping a “perfect” house, let this book show you how to make it easier for yourself.
I’ll try to write and talk in everyday simple down-to-earth language…as in a telephone conversation or while sharing housewives’ chores with a friend and neighbor. I am no authority and I admit it! I have had to do things the hard way, by trial and experience. I am no writer and never intend to be. I am just a mother and housewife, like you. But the things in this book worked for me – they will for you too!
First of all, when you neighbor or friend tells you she has everything done …don’t believe it! She hasn’t. No woman ever does. And won’t even when she is six feet under. (That “six-feet-under” means dirt!)
Accept this fact. Don’t try to keep up with your neighbor. Enjoy living day-by-day (and keep up with yourself) by learning the short cuts. Top clean first, then get around to deep cleaning.
The chapters in this books are definitely concerned with “top-cleaning” and quickie-jet-age-make-do methods to help you run your home as best you can and still keep calm. (This is your most important job…keeping calm!) My main purpose is to help you get your home in order so that you have the extra time and inclination to really deep-clean later. With your home top-cleaned and in order you will find the time to plan occasional, thorough cleanings.
Keep in mind when reading each chapter that this book was not written for anyone except you: my fellow woman, and I hope, my friend. Not your neighbor, not your husband, not your mother-in-law or the boss’s wife. These are the very people you are trying to impress with your neatness. Keep that secret to yourself!
Keep in mind too…the second wife always has a maid! Your husband will not look under the bed or on the ceiling at night to see if he can find a cobweb. Your husband wants a neat house and a happy wife and family. That’s all!
And you know what? I have never had a guest in my home move a sofa or open a drawer to check and see if I had clutter, dirt or cobwebs! Really!
And girls, another thing. Jar loose once in a while and spend a few nickels or dollars on yourself. Don’t do without those few simple things that would make your life easier, such as a carpet-sweeper, plumber’s-friend, feather-duster and pants-stretchers. Spend that few dollars for them.
Life is so very short and so sweet. Live every day. Be neat and get rid of clutter and top-clean your house. It’s easy! I am forty-two years old and had to learn the hard way. Take it from me: Learn the short cuts.
Then spend the energy and time you have saved being kind to your family and friends, but most of all to yourself. You deserve it the most.
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