The Awkward Phase

We've all been there. (Or, at least, most of us have. And chances are if you chose a "sensitive career" like writing, painting or counseling, you spent far more time there than the rest of the population.)

Here is a photo of my own terrible awkward phase. I'm sure you'll notice most of the hallmarks: 1. terrible short hair cut, 2. over-sized ears, 3. braces and 4. a flat chest.

At the time, I believed my friends when they said that I didn't really look like a boy, despite some passing comments I heard at the mall once. But a few months ago, I was looking at an old year book, when I saw a photo of myself during this time.

"Wow, I guess I really did look like a boy," I said out loud.

"What photo are you even looking at Laurel?" a friend asked. I pointed. "Oh, I thought that was Stephen."

I'm sure you can see why I didn't date much in the early years of high school. And also why I always took it as a compliment if people "didn't recognize me" from school.

Luckily, those years are behind me (except on some days when I break out or can't get my hair to behave and my inner insecure 14-year-old re-emerges), and I can laugh knowing that it was all part of growing up. But what I often wonder about is how parents get through those awkward years.
I mean, objectively speaking, you've got to know what's going on. In these years, I was not "cute."

I even still remember the episode of Full House when Danny tries to counsel D.J. about being less developed than the other girls and refers to The Ugly Duckling. Of course, no girl who already feels bad about herself wants to hear about anything "ugly."

Much like diaper genies and having to help with math homework,this is yet another thing that baffles me about parenthood. (Word problems? Are you serious?) I guess it ends up that a parent's love is bigger than all of that.

And to my own mom and dad, thanks for all the compliments between 13-15 -- even when I looked like this. I appreciate it.