-eng- My Mom And My Friend-s Mom-s Sex Life -

As I grew older, I began to notice that my mom's relationships and romantic storylines weren't just limited to my dad. She had a wide circle of friends, many of whom had their own romantic tales to share. There was Aunt Mary, who eloped with her high school sweetheart; Cousin Rachel, who found love in a crowded coffee shop; and Grandma, who met her soulmate during World War II. These stories fascinated me, and I began to realize that romance and relationships come in many forms.

In the saga of the chapter on "meeting the parents" was always the climax. My mother had an uncanny ability to predict the ending of my relationships long before I reached the credits. -ENG- My Mom and My Friend-s Mom-s Sex Life

One specific "storyline" I inherited was the idea that love is hard work. My mother came from a generation that did not give up easily. Her storyline was "stick it out." Consequently, my early romantic storylines were marathons of misery. I stayed in relationships past their expiration dates because I felt that leaving was a failure of character. I was acting out a storyline she had handed me—a badge of honor for suffering. As I grew older, I began to notice