Growing up in a conservative household, I didn't receive much sexual education beyond the old "abstinence only" method. In fact, my parents didn't often discuss anything intimate or sexual with me, including how to be in a healthy relationship. As such, I got married at 19 to my high school "sweetheart," and less than a year after the wedding had already given birth to my daughter, Charlotte. A year after that, I gave birth to my son, Ben. My husband simply couldn't handle the trials and tribulations of parenthood, and left us soon after.
My husband leaving finally jolted me awake as to how I wanted to have a far more open and honest relationship with my children than my parents had with me. Raising a son on my own had its difficulties, but I always took great efforts to relate to Ben as he went through the ups and downs of boyhood, and teach him how to become a man. Despite the hardship, raising them has been the greatest joy of my life, and in a certain sense I wouldn't have it any other way.
Being 39 now, I have just one year left before I'm an empty nester. Charlotte is beginning her freshman year of college just as Ben is beginning his last year of high school. She had always been the brash, bold, outgoing one of the pair, while he was more shy and quiet. I had tried to get him into sports or hobbies that might attract more girls to him, but he generally seemed more content to spend time on schoolwork, or otherwise on his own. It didn't worry me too much, but now that he was 18 I was a little concerned that he hadn't ever had a girlfriend yet.
I will obviously miss Ben once he leaves, but I was enjoying having more free time without having to do much for Charlotte, save for the regular phone calls. I always kept pretty fit, but I was able to really up my workout routine and spend more time at the gym. Despite pushing 40, my tits were still nice and perky, and they never seemed to get smaller after having kids. At a D cup, they fit nicely on my slender frame. My real ASSet though is, well... I don't want to brag, but I'm constantly catching guys - even guys who are out with their woman! - checking my ass out. It's perfectly round and supple, and now with my workouts was staying nice and perky. It's a good few handfuls, not too big nor too small.
One day, Ben surprised me by saying that he wanted to start working out and getting into shape too. Dropping Charlotte off at college seemed to spark something in him, and seeing me workout probably helped inspire him too.
"Mom, do you think we could go shopping for some workout clothes? I don't really have any shorts or shoes that would work," he said one Saturday morning.
"Of course hun!" I replied. "Are you thinking of joining a gym or a sports league or something?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I just want to be in better shape once I start college next year. Figure it'd be easier to get in the habit now y'know."
"Oh well that's great! We can go right now if you'd like."
We hopped in the car and were off to a sporting goods store. I was honestly just happy that he was trying something new, and pondering if he would start trying to be more outgoing too. But I didn't broach the subject now as I didn't want him to feel embarrassed or self-conscious at all.
At the store, we picked out some nice running shoes that fit his size, then went to get some shorts as well. He took a while to try them on, and I was wondering if he felt self-conscious about how he looked in them. He was pretty skinny and usually just wore standard pants all the time, and baggy shorts in the summer. He wasn't really an athlete and I couldn't even remember the last time I'd seen him swimming.
Just as I was about to ask if everything was ok in there, he came out with a somewhat confused expression I couldn't quite place.
"Did they fit ok?"
"Um, yeah I think so. Do you think we could also look at leggings or something to wear under them? They're kind of short and it's going to get colder once Fall is here and everything."
"Oh of course! I think I saw them over there," I motioned towards an aisle that displayed the kind of underwear he was describing. I chuckled a bit at my correct guess - he probably just didn't want people to see his skinny legs.
Once we picked some out, we headed back to the fitting rooms. Once again, he seemed to be taking a bit longer than normal.
"Everything ok in there?" I asked after a good few minutes passed.
"Y-yeah, just making sure everything fits right!" He sounded unsure, and I was worried he was having second thoughts about getting into shape.
"Do you want me to have a look-"
"NO, I mean, no mom it's ok." He cut me off firmly. I started wondering if having a father who knew about menswear would help at a time like this.
I was getting a bit impatient though. "Honey, I know a lot about athletic clothes, if there's something wrong maybe I could help!"
"Yeah, but like, wouldn't you only know about women's clothes?" That stung just a little bit, as I'd always made sure to keep up with boys' fashion and styles and whatnot, and helped him buy all of his clothes (as plain as he liked to keep his wardrobe).
"Oh c'mon, we just wear shorts and leggings too! Let me in and I can tell you if they look ok."
"I dunno mom..." I could tell he was struggling a bit, and I sincerely thought I could give him some confidence if I told him how nice they fit (as I couldn't imagine his legs were THAT unsightly).
"Is it unlocked? It'll just take two seconds if you let me come in."
"Fiiiiine." I heard him click the lock to unlock it.
Upon entering the dressing room, at first I thought it all looked fine. The shorts were the same waistline as all his other pants so they fit fine, and he had on some white leggings that looked like what many other guys wear to the gym.