Conversations and 'stuff'

Today's conversation in the car as we drive by a liquor store: Max: "Mom what is a liquor store?" Me: "A store where people go to buy alcohol." Max: "So they have like hand sanitizer? :) my little innocent guy....hope he never has to find out they don't have hand sanitizer! I have been getting many of these types of questions lately....It seems Maximus is starting to take notice of the world around us...good and bad. He has heard certain 'words' at school and I have had to be careful to explain these things age appropriately. I always want to be honest with him, but I also have to be cautious to deliver an age appropriate answer. Today was a very trying day in many ways. But after I put the boys to bed and got ready for work, I thought about what I could of done better. There are always things I can think of....I often worry if I am doing enough to teach my boys what I need to, do they know I love them with all my heart? and that when I say "no" or "take a timeout" that I still love them? I felt blessed to have a husband that sat and listened to my heartfelt worries, and reassured me that we are in this together. I often have Mother's guilt where I feel like I am messing something up. But from what I understand after talking to several women, it is a common theory amongst us mothers. I do have elements of importance that I have always strived for to strengthen my relationships with my boys. I have always vowed to be honest with my kids. I think the greatest gifts I can give to my kids are unconditional love, honesty, openess, and to be able to say I am sorry when I lose it from time to time. I am grateful that Max comes to me and asks me questions. I hope that he will always confide in me and trust that I will be honest with him, and I will have a sense of humor even on those 'nail-biter' questions.....As I learn to understand my boys and watch them grow, I am starting to have a larger understanding of men. Boys need their Mom. There is just something with boys and their Moms....well, that is how I feel about mine. We set the tone for their relationships of the future. Soooooo.......I have some work to do! On a side note: We are finally installing our water filter tomorrow!...."Good bye orange and broken hair" This well water has been very harsh on my blonde hair, and has dried it out like crazy. There is a lot of iron in the water and it turns things orange. Luckily a friend told me about a cheap cleaning product that helps get rid of the orange stains, but man, I have never experienced this crazy water issue. I am hoping to get my blond back soon and say goodbye to my stained hair...not a fan. Jason and I have been so busy with work, callings in church, and obligations that we had to put our house projects on the back burner. But things should start moving along soon. I am getting ready to start my house construction scrapbook to show all the improvements we have made. I will try to post them here too! I think I have rambled on enough tonight, but here's to improving and moving forward everyday!