When I first picked up this book and looked at the title, I thought to myself how perfect this would be for a young couple starting out in life together.  And, of course when I read the introduction I found out as I suspected:  Susan R. Blaske Williams wrote this book because of her own struggles when first becoming a wife and mother.  How I wish a book like this would have been available 43 years ago when I married.

One of the chapters that made me smile was "The Family Table."   Susan advocates the importance, regardless of schedules, of sitting together at the dinner table.  My memories remind me of the time our daughter, I believe about 10 at that time, was angry because we weren't like other normal families.  We "had" to sit at a dinner table to eat when her friends could eat in their own bedrooms. Like Susan,  I also feel the importance of eating together at least once a day; to me that's "normal."

Susan covers all aspects of the household, from becoming a housewife to sibling rivalry, from home economics to doing the math, from laundry lessons to cleaning methods, and even home based businesses.  I doubt she has missed anything and if she did, it's not that important anyway.

I commend Susan for writing this much needed book.  She writes with candor and from her own experiences.  New couples have much to learn from her skills and self-proven methods.  This  book would make a great gift for those starting in marriage.