Looking for Just 10 Good Men

Published June 21, 1984. Like the U.S. Marines, I am looking for a few good men. Only I am not looking for good men to serve their country. I am looking for good men to serve their wives. Literally.

A few weeks ago I wrote a column about Mother’s Day. On that day I did all the cooking and washed all the dishes, so Susan could have a day of rest and relaxation. Several women wrote to me and indicated their husbands did the same. Some wives also suggested husbands should do it more often.

I’ve been thinking. Suppose we try to initiate a little social change. Let’s choose a day in the future, say Sunday, July 29 – and call it Mom’s Day Off. On this particular Sunday we will ask for husbands to make it a day of rest for their wives. Let the wives sleep in late, get up and have a leisurely breakfast, read the Sunday morning paper, have a late shower, or even watch a program or two on television. If they want, they can even complain a little if the children aren’t ready for church on time.

And what are husbands going to do on Mom’s Day Off? They are going to do all the cooking, dish washing, housework, and on top of that, take care of the children. Just one day while Mom enjoys her day of rest.

There seems to be a problem in some homes. Sunday does not always turn out to be a restful day for women. Husbands make sure they rest up from a hectic week. Children, likewise, want to lie around and take it easy. And what is mother usually doing? The same thing she has been doing during all the other days of the week: cooking (often larger than usual meals), dishes and housework (sometimes more if there are guests). In addition, she is usually helping everyone else get ready for church services.

For just one day we are going to try to change all of that. Are there 50 husbands who would volunteer to be Mr. Mom for just one day? Who out there is willing to step forward? Are there 50? Are there 40? Per adventure, are there 30 or even 20 righteous men who will accept the challenge?

Like Abraham of old, I will settle for 10 righteous men who will be willing to take over on Sunday, July 29 and do what wives usually do. If 10 such husbands will so commit, I will print their names in a future column, on the Mom’s Day Off Honor Roll. Ten are all I am asking for. Just a few good men.

Wives, talk it over with your husbands. Encourage them to take over for just one day. If he is hesitant, have him contact me. I did it all one Sunday not long ago, as noted. And survived. All he has to do is buy lots of paper plates and cups, call all your potential guests and tell them to stay home, and find a few good recipes for such things as Jello, mashed potatoes, frozen meat pies, Kool-Aid, and cooked peas.

Ten willing husbands are all I need. Will I get them? My petition has been made. Now it’s your turn to respond. If your husband agrees to participate in your newly created Mom’s Day Off, write and let me know. The first 10 men to volunteer will be so recognized, in print, in this column before July 15. How about it?

The Marine Corps motto is, “No one likes to fight, but someone has to know how.” We now have a new motto for Mom’s Day Off; “Not everyone likes to do housework, so both husbands and wives should know how.”

If the husband in your home is willing to participate in Mom’s Day Off on Sunday, July 29, let me know. Also include how many years you have been married.

Perhaps you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, but maybe you can teach old dogs old tricks. Housework has been around for a long time!