During the 1950s, many housewives got frustrated with a life that seemed to consist solely of constant chores, housekeeping, and caring after family.  These frustrated homemakers started taking a prescription tranquilizer called Miltown which promised to make all their problems go away.

The real solutions to the problem of this ultra focused lifestyle, as we know from history by looking at the evolution of women in society during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, were positive lifestyle changes.

However, instead of looking for possible life changes as a solution (such as part-time careers, work-life balance, household help, etc.), family doctors everywhere in the United States began prescribing 1950s housewives a medication called Meprobamate, more commonly know by the brand name Miltown. 

Miltown became available to the public  in 1955 and was soon America’s favorite new  tranquilizer.  Advertisements for Miltown were aimed largely at women and homemakers.  These housewives were bound to spread the word about Miltown’s effectiveness and of their miraculous improvements once on the medication through their social and neighborhood circles.

Housewives across the nation were being prescribed Miltown for “insomnia, anxiety, and emotional upsets”, according to Wallace Laboratories, the company that manufactured Miltown.  Homemakers were told that Miltown would make their pregnancy “a  happier experience”, as seen in the vintage Miltown ad pictured above, although we now know Miltown to be a class D drug during pregnancy.  Miltown causes an increased risk of birth defects and passes through into breast milk and can affect the nursing baby.

1950s homemakers believed Miltown would make them feel better, allow them to do their household chores easier, and have an everyday life that was more enjoyable.  

The Ugly Side of Miltown: Dependence and Side Effects

Of course, despite all the promises of perfection, Miltown is still a drug, and a powerful tranquilizer at that.  Miltown is a habit forming medication, and users can develop a tolerance to the drug, meaning they have to take higher and higher doses to keep the same effects.

This tranquilizer was not safe to take while driving, and caused drowsiness (not such a good thing when taking care of children).

Withdrawals from going off of Miltown were worse than any mundane life.  Some Miltown withdrawal symptoms and side effects included anxiety, confusion, convulsions, hallucinations, impaired coordination, insomnia, loss of appetite, muscle twitching, slurring speech, tremors, vertigo, and vomiting. 

A Better Solution Than Miltown

Many homemakers today are able to be stay at home moms (SAHMs) or even part-time homemakers without having to take a prescription tranquilizer like Miltown!  The secret to having a happy home life rests in having balance in life, not having a so-called miracle pill that will fix everything that is wrong. 

Some women choose to work full or part time in addition to caring for their families and homes.  Some women look to moms’ groups or small groups through church to get support from other families.  Most importantly, remembering to share household responsibilities and take mom-time to do activities without the children can work wonders for keeping a homemaker’s constant tasks from becoming overwhelming. 

What are the Main Rooms in the Home to Make Comfortable?

1.  Living Room or Family Room:  This is where your family will end up to spend their free time together.  If you’re like many families, you may already be spending most of your family time in this room and realizing that it doesn’t function properly.  Ready to start your living room makeover?  Read 5 Ways to Change the Look of Your Living Room.

2.  Dining Room:  The dining room is an incredibly important room of the house to make comfortable because this is where your family will have meals together. 

The beginning of your day starts at the kitchen table for breakfast.  The afternoon brings homeschool moms and kids back to the table (not to mention infants and toddlers joining the meal in their high chairs and booster seats).  Dinnertime brings your family back together after going their separate ways to work, school, and daycare all day long. 

The dining table should be warm and inviting to make the whole family feel glad to be back home and in each other’s company.

3.  Kids’ Bedrooms:  Your children’s rooms should be comfortable because this is where they will get dressed, play, have story and cuddle time, and go to sleep.  A properly designed kids’ room can make all the difference for a smooth bedtime routine.

4.  Master Bedroom:  Mrs. Homemaker will want to pay special attention to making the master bedroom a warm and inviting retreat for mom and dad to connect in at the end of the day.  Ready to start making your master bedroom the most comfortable place on Earth?  Next, read How to Decorate a Peaceful Bedroom.

It doesn’t take a master chef at a fine restaurant to produce a delicious side of asparagus. Don’t be fooled by the fancy appearance of this luxury vegetable, it can be prepared with minimal effort in the comfort of your own kitchen. Even if you don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you can learn how to cook asparagus in no time.

Asparagus is considered a super-food, high in antioxidants and loaded with folate, vitamin C and vitamin B6. In addition to the well known green variety, asparagus is available in shades of white and purple, with either thick or thin spears. All offer the same nutritional benefits and share the same taste.

How to Choose Asparagus

Fresh asparagus is at the height of it’s flavor during the months of April and May, but will begin to pop up in produce aisles by late February.

When choosing asparagus, keep in mind that the different size and color varieties are not indicative of quality. If you want to decrease preparation time, opt for the thin spears to avoid having to trim down off the tough ends on the thicker spears.

Regardless of the size you choose, be sure to select spears that are firm and straight with unopened tips.

How to Store Asparagus Prior to Cooking

Asparagus deteriorates quickly, so to preserve freshness and maintain high antioxidant levels it is important to keep spears refrigerated and use within 2 days. By placing the spears in a bowl filled with cold water in an upright position, you will help to keep the stems hydrated and prevent drying.

How to Cook Asparagus

Always begin by washing the spears in cool water. Asparagus is versatile and can be cooked in a variety of ways.

Steaming Asparagus.  Steaming is a popular choice for traditionalists that enjoy their spears with a simple drizzle of olive oil. Start with a piece of kitchen string to tie the asparagus spears together at both the bottom and just below the tip. Add the bunch to 2 inches of boiling water in a large pot. Cover the pot and steam for 4-8 minutes. The bottoms of the asparagus will boil while the tips are steamed, resulting in crispy green spears.

Boiling Asparagus.  For more tender spears, asparagus can be placed lengthwise in a large skillet and boiled for 5 minutes in an inch of water.

Blanching Asparagus.  For dishes that call for cold asparagus, you can blanch the spears by placing them in iced water immediately after removing from hot water to halt the cooking process.

Cooking Asparagus in a Microwave.  If you are wondering how to cook asparagus in a microwave, you should know that it will take the same amount of time as steaming or boiling.

• Place asparagus lengthwise in a microwave-safe baking dish.
• Angle the spears so that the tips face the center of the dish and cover with ¼ cup of water.
• Cover the dish and microwave on medium for 4-5 minutes.

Baking Asparagus.  For crispy, baked asparagus, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place asparagus lengthwise on a nonstick baking sheet and drizzle one tablespoon of olive oil across the spears. Roast in center of oven for 8-10 minutes.

Sautéeing Asparagus.  Asparagus works well in sautéed and stir-fried dishes.  Cut spears into 2 inch diagonal pieces and add to skillet or wok with one teaspoon of olive oil. Sautee for 3 minutes.

Barbecuing Asparagus.  Asparagus can be an addition to any backyard barbeque. Preheat your grill and spray with olive oil spray. Add spears to center rack and grill for 5-8 minutes or until tender. For best results, turn spears every 2 minutes.