It was difficult at first when my second child left for college. When my older daughter left, it was tougher on my husband. Now that my baby had left, I was the one depressed. Not only that, she moved to the opposite coast against my wishes. Then she left the week after graduation to start summer school instead of waiting for fall semester. I was forty-four years old and experiencing an empty nest. I dealt with the empty feeling by getting into shape; working out at the gym several times a week, swimming daily and playing tennis almost nightly. Of course, my husband did not mind, but he still seemed more interested in his work and fishing with his friends. I enjoyed lying by the pool in the afternoons sunning my skin to a healthy golden brown.
I must admit, I felt like a teenager again as my new shape drew attention. I dressed conservatively but still enjoyed it when men looked at and admired me. I am an upstanding member of the community, but I am still a hot, red-blooded woman. I felt something stir deep inside as I noticed men lusting for me. I was actually getting into the best shape I had ever been in my life. I felt a newness that made me more confident and more amorous. On the rare occasions my husband made love to me, I took full advantage of the opportunity. I tried to get the most from sex; though, he tended to be quick and mechanical. He is a sweet man but knows nothing of passion. I had been a good girl growing up and had saved myself for marriage. I had no comparison for his performance, but I knew it could be better. If I was right, it could be earth-shatteringly better. However unhappy I was at times with our sex life, I couldn't seriously consider cheating on him with another man. I did not think I could live with myself after that type of betrayal, at least for now.
Therefore, as I felt more comfortable with my body, I began to learn how to please myself with toys. I also surfed the Internet at night looking at porn and reading seductive stories. I learned how to please myself in new ways I had not known possible. The other ladies at church would die if they saw me sitting with my vibrator, my legs spread with my feet on the desk. They would probably ban me if they saw me playing with my anal beads.
Time passed and finally it was getting close to Christmas. My baby would be coming home for the first time. It had been more than six months and I was so excited. My older girl was home frequently and lived close, but I guess my youngest was secretly my favorite. She was a rebel and had caused my husband and me several sleepless nights but she was genuine and had a good heart. She called me on the phone.
"Mom, is it ok if I bring a friend home for Christmas break?" She asked.
"Of course, Sweety, what's your new boyfriend's name?" I asked. A mother always knows.
"Mom! I already told you I broke up with my boyfriend last month. This is a girlfriend from my dorm. She doesn't have a family and I thought it'd be nice if she came home with me."
"Of course," I replied. "By all means, bring her home."
"I hope you still recognize me when you see me at the airport. I haven't told you, but I'm a size five now."
"Good grief, Mom, what did you do to yourself?" She gushed.
"Just worrying about you, I fretted myself down to nothing," I joked.
"Please," she said sarcastically.
"Ok, I have your arrival time and flight number. Have a safe trip."
I eagerly waited, always the caring mother, for my child to come home. Finally, the day arrived and we left to retrieve her from the airport. As I went to greet my daughter, I was more than a little shocked at the appearance of her friend. She had a nose ring and was dressed provocatively. She had very short hair and hardly wore any makeup. Her jeans were too tight, too low and I could see her panties over the top of her hips. Her t-shirt said "Girls Rule" and was much too small and short enough it exposed her pierced navel. She also had a tattoo wrapping around one of her arms. She even wore black nail polish. 'What is my daughter into?' I thought. I hugged my daughter and squeezed her tightly. I had really missed her. She introduced her friend.
"This is Kim," my daughter said.
"Hey," Kim said her thumbs in her back pockets.
I felt horror again as I saw a flash of silver in her mouth when she talked. She had a pierced tongue. I surveyed my daughter looking for any signs of piercing or tattoos. I was excited to see my daughter but I was more than a little disturbed by her friend. I tried to catch my husband's eye to see if he too was shocked. I certainly did not approve, but I kept smiling approvingly. We gathered their luggage from the carousel and drove to the house. We went inside and the girls went upstairs to unpack their bags. I was alone in the kitchen alone when my daughter entered.
"Mom, what do you think of Kim, isn't she the coolest. She is on my floor in the dorm and majoring in Women's Studies. She has really opened my mind to new things."
Fearing the worst, I said, "This is not how we raised you. What's next, are you getting piercings or tattoos?"
"Mom," she replied, "that's not who I am."
