Etiquette for Mistresses BY Julie Yap-Daza

I don't want to sound defensive about this but there is truth to the saying, "Don't judge the book by its cover" and more so, I would add, "Don’t judge the reader by the book she reads." It's not because you see me bringing a book entitled 'Etiquette for Mistresses', you have the right to raise your brows on me and give me those dagger looks. For all that has been said about this book, I was just among those who is curious about it. 

The following 28 rules are what I stumbled upon: 

1.  Mistress is not Mrs. Know your place.

– a mistress who pushes his wife away so she can take her place doesn’t know her place. Her place is not to get stuck in monogamy … that is not the mistress’ calling.

2.  Even if he tells you he loves you more than his wife, don’t let that go to your head.

– as a rule, men are liars.

3.  Mistresses should be ready to give up Valentine’s Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Holy Week and his birthday (that’s why mistresses are also called “holiday orphans” because of this).

4.  Befriend his secretary but avoid all contact with his driver (Whether he is a company driver or the family driver, the chauffeur is not to be trusted. Family drivers owe their allegiance to whoever pays them their salary and who feeds them the free meals in the kitchen with the other help. In short, they are loyal to the Mrs. more than the Mr.).

5.  As tempting as it seems, don’t patronize the wife’s beauty parlor, jewelry shop, dress shop, or father confessor.

6.  Don’t call him, wait for him to call.

7.  To be seen with him in public once is risky. The second time could be fatal to one of you. The third time is The End for both of you (love is lovelier when it’s forbidden. Because it’s forbidden, it’s supposed to be hidden).

- Love is lovelier when it’s forbidden. Because it’s forbidden it should be hidden.

8.  Never believe, and never say anything unfriendly about his wife, not even after he recites a litany of her faults.

9.  Mistresses are kept by rich men. But a mistress who is a woman of substance and independent means is better (Translation: Don’t ask him for money).

10. Be discreet (Make sure he is not the type to talk in the sleep).

- There’s no fool like a fool in love.

11. Never travel together (Accidents will always happen. You can never tell).

12. When he breaks a date, charge it to fate, not his fecklessness (Men will be boys. They will forget to call. They will break a date at the last minute. They will stand you up. 

They won’t explain and they won’t ask for forgiveness. But don’t cry nor throw a tantrum. Don’t break down because a mistress is supposed to understand a man more than his wife does).

13. Wives have their own networks of spies and amigas. It is helpful for the mistress to have her own. A chaperone is not a good idea, however (Chaperones are passe. Besides, they talk).

- Because of her position and location in the underground, the mistress is a lonely woman.

14. Mistresses don’t complain (They shouldn’t. It’s the wives, according to the husbands, who are “always complaining).

15. Being No. 2, the mistress tries harder.

16. Send him home as soon as it becomes apparent that he’s overstaying.

17. It is practical for a mistress to be linked to another man, preferably her lover’s friend.

18. If he’s a public man and you’re thinking of staging an accident of running into him, think: How many accidents can I pull off in one month?

19. Don’t make unnecessary enemies of his children.

20. Remind him to pay for everything in cash – dinner, flowers, perfume, champagne, pearls, diamonds, a microwave oven, etc….

– In God we trust but pay cash you must.

21. Don’t use tears as a weapon. He’s probably had enough of that from the Mrs. (Wives nag. Wives cry. If only for that reason, a mistress doesn’t use tears to get what she wants).

22. Resist the urge to be found.

23. Perish all thought that someday you’ll be No. 1.

24. Married men who keep mistresses don’t like surprises, as a rule.

25. A man with a mistress leads a double life, his mistress only a half life. Cheer up! A career will make you whole.

26. Resist the urge to shower him with gifts. Evidence, evidence….!

27. When in doubt, disappear.

28. When all else fails, leave him.