God gave us the Ten Commandments for our well-being…following them leads to a better life. Years ago an author came up with the Ten Commandments for husbands and wives hoping for the same result.
In 1947, Edward Podolsky penned a book titled, Sex Today in Wedded Life. It included a series of adages, many of which would be considered sexist today, but there’s no denying there’s truth in them as well.
First, some of his suggestions for wives:
1. Don’t bother your husband with petty troubles and complaints when he comes home from work.
2. Be a good listener. Let him tell you his troubles; yours will seem trivial in comparison.
3. Remember your most important job is to build up and maintain his ego (which gets bruised plenty in business). Morale is a woman’s business.
4. Let him relax before dinner, and discuss family problems after the “inner man” has been satisfied.
5. Always remember he’s a male and marital relations promote harmony.
6. No man likes a wife who is always tired out. Conserve your energy so you can give him the companionship he craves.
7. Never hold up your husband to ridicule in the presence of others. If you must criticize, do so privately and without anger.
8. Remember a man is only a grown-up boy. He needs mothering and enjoys it if not piled on too thick.
9. Don’t live beyond your means, or add to your husband’s financial burdens.
10. Don’t try to boss him around. Let him think he wears the pants.
Now his advice for husbands:
1. Remember your wife wants to be treated as your sweetheart always.
2. Remember her birthdays and your wedding anniversaries.
3. Bring her some gift every week, no matter how inexpensive it may be. (It’s not the price, it’s the thought.)
4. Don’t take love for granted. Don’t “ration” your kisses. Being a woman, she wants you to woo her.
5. Respect her privacy.
6. Always be tender, kind and considerate even under trying circumstances.
7. Don’t be stingy with money; be a generous provider.
8. Compliment her new dress, “hair-do,” cooking, etc.
9. Always greet her with a kiss, especially when other people are around.
10. Remember marriage is a 50-50 proposition and you are not the majority stockholder.