New York Times Best Selling Author
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perfection
January 11, 2010
The other day, my friend Amy and I were talking about a soap opera that I started watching as a kid because my mother watched it. She said she could remember her mother telling her how one of the older characters—now a family matriarch—used to bake wearing her pearls. Amy and I agreed that, at one time, that was the epitome of the perfect wife. It seems to me Donna Reed (The Donna Reed Show 1958-66), Jane Wyatt (Father Knows Best 1954-60) and Harriet Nelson (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet 1952-1966) might not wear pearls every time they baked but they were always baking, always had on an apron, and always wore a dress.
I have pearls. I can’t remember the last time I wore them but I have them.
The definition of a perfect wife has certainly changed through the years. I know I’m breathing a sigh of relief at that. Until the last half of the twentieth century a woman’s place was in the home and the perfect wife knew that. She took care of all matters regarding her household so that when her husband came home to his castle it was in proper running order with everything well in hand and dinner on the table.
If dinner was on the table when my husband came home, the shock would probably kill him. I’d like to avoid that.
I asked him what he thought the perfect wife was. He looked at me and started laughing. I’m not sure what that means but in my quest for perfection I won’t question it. The Daily Mail Ideal Home Show (now celebrating 100 years—take a look at http://www.idealhomeshow.co.uk) conducted a survey for this year’s show that found while cooking was still a skill men appreciated, they think the perfect wife should also have a handle on the family’s finances, be willing to stand up to her spouse and enjoy a drink. Works for me.
Pearls, apparently, are optional.
So, what do you think makes a perfect wife?
Hi Ms. Alexander~
I have just completed reading your book “Desires of a Perfect Lady,” and besides my liking the story, I am also finding myself a bit confused after reading the Epilogue. Could you explain that as it made no sense to me and has since been bothersome.
Thank you for your time and consideration
What do I think makes the perfect wife? The ability to convince him that you are the perfect wife for HIM…whatever that may entail! As far as the pearls go, wearing them with nothing else works for me!