Brain-washing

My husband says that mothers are the reason that grown men cannot figure women out. From childhood they are led to believe things that are not true about women. For example, a little boy runs up to his mother to give her a beautiful yellow flower. (Okay, it's really a weed.) But does she tell him it's a weed? No, she says thank you and acts excited. Not only is it a weed, but she is also carrying a baby and has no free hand to conveniently hold anything without her baby eating it. On top of that she is allergic to pollen. Now the little boy runs away steeped in deception. Perhaps. But I prefer to think the mother is appreciating his genuine thoughtfulness. We do try to teach our boys, as hard as it is for them to believe, that Mom really doesn't want a truck book, but sometimes it really is the thought that counts. Maybe we should treat our husbands more like little boys.