Blue sparkles

Oh, the awkward years.  I always say that mine lasted from about fifth grade to sophomore year of high school, but the truth is they're still very much going on, no doubt about that.  However, being in a fifth grade classroom for this month of January, I've had the extreme pleasure of watching younger awkwardness from a different perspective.

I remember eighth grade fondly, my hair always pulled back into a tight ponytail with two thin strands loose in front and tucked behind my ears.  I thought I was the shiz.  That's the beauty of awkwardness; these girls don't even realize they're awkward yet.  Their comb-over side ponytails are totally fetch now, but in six years, they'll be kicking themselves for it.  Fifth graders aren't quite at the sparkle eyeshadow stage yet, but it'll come. Oh yes it will come.  It doesn't get easier from there.  Middle school teachers have their entertainment lives made.  All they have to do is sit back and watch as little pre-teeny boppers make fools out of themselves: girls with their little Ugg boots and sparkle cell phones and boys who don't want to shower, all just trying to find their place.

All this I can say because I was the most akward of them all.  What with my super cute 10 Things I Hate About You style hair, blue sparkles, overconfident attitude, and, of course, late occurring braces experience, I was the cream of the crop for entertaining adults everywhere.  I'm just enjoying watching myself grow up through these kids.  I'm sure I'll laugh at kids in my awkward stage of the game when I'm older too.