Did you know there is a National Awkward Moments Day?
There is no documented creator or start date for this day of recognition, but it’s intended to bring people together for something we all can relate to, awkward or embarrassing moments. Some people have a party to celebrate the awkwardness of life, others share stories and there are even tips on how to get through awkward moments.
Yes, it’s a whole thing.
Every March 18, awkward moments are celebrated and even commemorated. I find it funny because, lately, it seems all I have are awkward moments.
Adulting is awkward.
Parenting is awkward.
Aging is awkward, often funny and certainly a full-on adventure.
Marriage is getting funnier and weirder because we are well past the honeymoon stage and realizing that life includes some strange predicaments that require wiggling out of.
Who knew that I could get my nose ring caught in my husband’s beard within 15 minutes of my son getting his head stuck in a fully buttoned polo or that my fly-chasing dog would trip one of my girls, who would land on the other daughter, resulting in a heap of laughter?
Aren’t we getting too old for these mishaps? Shouldn’t these be limited beyond a “certain age” (insert age of choice)?
My predicaments as a mother of toddlers were epic; No matter how many times I tell certain stories of 3-year-old adventures I still find myself laughing and perplexed. I thought that kids out of diapers and in double digits would be less dependent and prone to mishaps, but daily life has proved me wrong.
Kids are trying to figure out their own lane while observing and respecting the lanes of others. Sometimes, awkward days are just hard and so is growing up.
We, as parents, observe them joining the rat race while trying to convince them that life really doesn’t have to be a race.
We try to tell them the right things that we believe are as clear as mud in the moment, but sometimes our poor kids simply need a break from our constant ranting and cheering, as much as they still need it.
Raising children is like that – a string of awkward contradictions, but it’s also a blast. I can’t imagine life without the strangeness of it all.
Spring is definitely when you begin to question everything and rethink what you just committed to two months ago. It’s all a gloopy mess that turns out to be the best flavor, kind of like ice cream melted on a summer day. It sucks a little bit but hits the spot!
Walking through the grocery store one afternoon grabbing last-minute items for dinner, I spotted the cutest family in front of me. The mother perused the dairy section as the father engaged their little one in a cart. The child’s tiny fingers grazed items in the basket while his pacifier toggled back and forth in his mouth. Oh, to remember those days.
With a millisecond of my admiration, I saw the little boy’s hands high above his head showing off an empty egg carton. The dad was shocked and gasped with his mouth fully agape. He chuckled breathlessly while I openly laughed. Miraculously, all the eggs were nestled safely between an array of groceries in the basket as the little boy happily waved the egg carton with a sneaky smile creeping from behind his pacifier, pleased by his achievement.
The couple and I caught each other's gaze, exchanging looks and words that said, “I get it. This is awkward and awesome. Carry on!”
Mom and dad took candid photos of the mishap and laughed through the aisle as I walked away. That moment felt like the best version of “cheers” during a fun dinner with friends.
So, cheers to the awkward life we are living!
Now, if you fall over in the middle of an airport or fall into the freezer at the grocery store, laugh it off and join the rest of us. We are embracing it all and celebrating this crazy, messy, sweet, awkward mess of a life.
If you’re wondering, the answer is yes. All the examples in this article are real with the identities of some people left out so they feel less awkward. We’ll leave the choice to truly share up to them at their own future awkward moments celebration … if not too awkward, of course.
Diamone Ukegbu is a local Little Haiti artist, creative, mom and wife.