"Mom," I said walking into the kitchen.

"Hey, Honey," she smiled over at me.

"What's for dinner?"

"I was thinking about take-out."

"Sounds great!"

"How was school?"

"Same old." I pulled out the permission slip from my pocket. I didn't tend to ask to go out to a lot of places. Mostly just school and Chloe's house. I wasn't the party type and I didn't know if I wanted to go on the camping trip, but it's my senior year and I should try and get the most out of it. "Um... I have this permission slip. It's for a camping trip this weekend. It's free and it starts on Friday and we get back on Sunday. I know it's short notice, but I thought I should live out my senior year since I didn't before and...," my mom cut me off.

"Sure! Where do I sign?"

"Wait, really?"

"Yes. I've been waiting for four years for you to ask me to go out and hang out with friends."

The truth was, whenever my friends asked me if I wanted to go to a party or something I just told them my mom said no without even asking her. That kind of stuff just made me uncomfortable. I didn't like being in a room full of intoxicated, drug-ridden teens. I felt out of control and I didn't like that.

I handed my mom a pen and she quickly read the paper and signed over it. "Well, I hope you have fun."

"Thanks," I said, tucking the paper into my back pocket. "Are you going to be okay by yourself?"

"Lydia, I'm a grown woman. I'll be fine. Stop looking for excuses to stay."

"Okay, fine."

"When I was your age I would've killed for an opportunity like this. Don't you want to make some new friends, kiss a boy or two?"

"Bold of you to assume I like boys."

"Oh, um..."

"Mom I'm kidding," I laughed.

She let out a breath. "Anyway, kiss a few boys, but that's it. No further."

"When did you lose your virginity?"

"Excuse me," she looked at me shocked.

"Never mind. Sorry, I asked," I stood up to leave.

"No no no," she said sitting down. "Sit back down. I never got to have "the talk" with you because you just always knew everything. Why are you curious?"

"I was just wondering," I sat back down in my chair.

"Well I lost it in high school, but I regret it. The guy was a douchebag."

"So then why can't I lose mine now."

"No parent wants their child to lose their virginity. It doesn't mean you have to listen to me."

"Got it."

"If you do decide to engage in sexual activity, use protection. I will slip a pack of condoms and birth control pills in your bathroom."

"I don't think that I'll need them, but thank you," I laughed.

"You never know. Take some just in case, for my peace of mind at least."

"Fine, mom. Nice chat."

"Of course. I would rather be open-minded than have you feeling like you can't talk to me. You know you can tell me anything right?"

One thing I loved about my mom is that she listened to me. She always lets me explain myself. And when it came down to me getting "in trouble" for something, she always heard both sides of the story, but always stuck up for me. Not to brag but, I was a great kid and we both knew it. My mom never had to worry about me getting into trouble, lying, or keeping secrets because my life was boring.

But I knew that what she just said was a dangerous statement. "Yeah, I know," I nodded my head.

"Okay then let's get dinner."