I try to as well. Maggie's actually all right other than post-natal depression. (just went through round 4 this morning) no matter what i do, she just remains depressed or blue.
I do find that her happiness level tends to take longer to rise and fast to decrease. I actually let her do anything she wants (within reason of course, waking up at night to brush her hair is nonsense).

Maybe fourth time's the charm because she's much better after the first year of carrying baby Jerry. The second year was much more rewarding. She actually did LOADS of housework. She even competed with her husband, Caleb, for laundry duty (I swear, this family, including their teens, love laundry duty).