We all went through them. And if you didn’t, well then dang you, you aberration!
I started going through my awkward phase in 7th grade. Sixth grade I was still a cute little thing. Then, 7th grade happened. My period happened. Braces happened. Bad bangs happened. Weight gain happened.
I remember feeling pretty ugly. I remember a specific boy at church calling me fat and it stuck with me. I would take 4 donuts at a time into our youth room and eat them up and just feel fat and ugly and that no boy would ever want to kiss me or be my boyfriend.
My awkward phase stuck around from 7th grade-to the end of 9th grade and then I began to blossom. Those “awkward years” feelings stuck with me though. The boy’s comments in church in 8th grade stuck with me and I always wondered if other people thought I was fat. I started hearing girls talk about only drinking diet coke all day and trying to lose weight…and they were slimmer than me. I never understood it. Thankfully, I never listened or took heart in any of those bad activities and I never tried to lose weight. I accepted me and for the most part was happy.
I wish that acceptance would have carried me through my 20′s because I needed that. Alas, I didn’t have it.
When I see girls that are obviously going through those awkward years, I just want to hug them. They have so many messages coming at them from a million different directions about losing weight, having perfect skin, no tummy fat, bigger boobs, long beautiful hair. No wonder young girls are dieting younger and younger. No wonder girls in high school are getting botox.
It’s just sad. I went through those awkward years when we were getting messages from all directions, but it doesn’t seem nearly as bad as it is now. The internet wasn’t quite in full force yet, social media wasn’t as crazy as it is today, and kids acted like kids. I see middle schoolers now and wonder about them. They look so much older than I did at that age. They have make up on and good hair and they are trying to act like grown ups. I just want to shake them and tell them that it’s ok to be a kid, to be a young woman, to still have that innocence.
So, next time you do happen to see that young girl...let her know she’s pretty. Let her know she’s worth something. I know I could have used that when I was that age.
{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
This post practically brought me to tears lisa.. its so sad.. I remember my awkward years.. I had way to short hair, and felt clumsy and gangly.. I never had boobs like the other girls did.. My awkwardness lasted probably from 5/6th grade till the beginning of freshman year.. I have some pretty sweet pics too! HAHAHA! Loved all of yours.. you were such a cute kid!
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa! Is there no end to your wonderful, heartfelt, truthful posts this week?!!!??!
I think every post-pubescent girl reading this can relate. We’ve all lived (more like survived) through those awkward years. Gosh, I could probably give some of these pics a run for their money as far as my braces, bad bangs, clothing, etc. EEP!
It’s amazing how reading this post made me go back to ” that place” and for a few brief moments I felt sad and self-conscious all over again. That is until I realized who I am TODAY:)
You are so right- we need to share the positivity and love to girls we encounter that are currently going through that awkward stage, trying to “find” themselves. A compliment, hug or even a smile can change someone’s day and maybe for a brief moment make them feel beautiful inside.
Botox in high school? I think I am going to be sick.
Bold move posting these pics, I have hopefully destroyed my awkward middle school years, lol. NOBODY would want to see that.
And way to ROCK the B Spears hair and classic hand-to-face pose:)
yeah, I saw it on Good Morning America this morning. Something like 12,000 injections to girls in highschool in 2009.
Oh man I can relate, but I think mine were way longer!!! I wish someone would have introduced me to a straight iron or at least a brush.
…by the way, I just thought I’d throw it out there that while most girls during these “awkward years” feel insecure because they have no boobs, I was part of the “other” club whose boobs were too big. I got teased just as much, but for the opposite reason. Kids can be so cruel, like the boy (from church of all places, geez!) calling you fat. It hurts.
Lisa, I know exactly what you mean. Thankfully, I strayed away from that behavior in middle school. I was picked on, ridiculed, and laughed at, but that didn’t stop me from acting my age, unlike the other girls who were covering their faces in makeup and wearing name brand clothing.
It’s sad that in this day and age more and more young girls are being pressured to act like mature women. There’s a time to be a kid and a time to be an adult. I hope that my children someday will be able to live their childhood years like a child – to enjoy the greatness that is childhood.
Lisa you are brave for being so honest and posting those pictures along with the story. It is so try that kids can be cruel at times when they are most impressionable to one another. I’m sorry that you had to struggle because of that for years and I do totally understand and have been there. It just seems like expectations get worse and worse too, so your advice to tell someone they are beautiful is awesome.
BRITNEY!!!
Cute photo-log!
The awkward years are just one of the reasons why I love working with teenage girls. They all need to hear (and believe) they are beautiful and valuable just as they are!
LOVE the Britney hair!!!
But I must say…awkwardness usually turns out to be a BEAUTIFUL future…and in this case, it did.
I think you tapped into my own flashback. I was very similar except my true awkwardness may have come in 4th grade and again at the end of senior year and then again in college. Oye.
Very thoughtful and sweet!
Very lovely, thoughtful post. I’m facebook friends with a few of my younger girl cousins and every time I see them post negative statuses “I’m so fat I’m starting a diet tomorrow” and all their little friends chime in agreeing they too should stop eating, my heart breaks. I’ve shared many blogs and Operation Beautiful, etc with them… hopefully the message gets through somehow.
PS- Loved my bangs and braces stage too
Oh, I remember my awkward years, too! I was so self-conscious and miserable! And thank goodness the internet wasn’t so popular back then! I can’t IMAGINE dealing with all of that now as a young girl! I wish there was some way to protect future generations of children from those bad body image messages like that! It’s taken me YEARS to get past my body image struggles, and I hope my future children don’t have to suffer the way I did!
And I hate it when people say to those poor, awkward youth “these are the best years of your life– enjoy it!” Are you kidding me?! You couldn’t pay me to go back to junior high or high school! My life is WAY better now, thank you!
haha I agree! Id say college and now are the best years of my life! definitely not crazy highschool or confused middle school!
Oh man, my awkward years were from 6-8th grade. I had glasses and braces and awful bangs and a sweating problem that my polyester uniform shirts did not help! It was awful.
OMG..Yet again…I can SOOOOO relate to your story!
I swear…almost the same! 
I had a boy call me fat one day at school..and it really hit me hard..and from that point forward I believed it! I worked at a bagel shop and would stuff my face feeling hopeless with up to 4 bagels in a few hours! God has had to do a lot of re-newing of my mind in order to change the way I think and see myself! I”m still a work in progess..and have let those words go..(because I now know they were a lie meant to destroy me) ….but every now and then I have to remind myself of my true worth and beauty! 
But…Thank God those ‘awkward years’ are over! I wouldn’t want to go back for anything..especially the braces! AHHH~ 
Oh, the awkwardness of early teens. Yeah, those years were rough, with how I felt (glasses and braces), and dealing with social issues between friends. What stands out for me from that time period is changing groups of friends all the time, because people were so cliquey.
I LOVE this post and love your pictures. I think my awkward phase was from 6th-8th grade. In 9th grade switched from public school to private school so i kind of feel like that was a new beginning.
My 6-8 grade photos are gems, i should dig them out from my parents house (although hopefully they’ve hidden them far far away
)
Great message Lisa. I went through the exact same thing (bad hair, braces, weight gain) when I was about 11-13.
You were cute!
You were lucky to get your awkward stage early- I think I didn’t hit mine until mid-highschool… :p Ugh!
And I giggled when I saw the Tommy Girl shirt. It was an absolute requirement to have one of those growing up!
I totally relate to this, mine were from 5th to 7th grade and I still hear comments from old friends about it – especially my 5th grade school picture. It took me a long time to gain confidence after that, and sometimes I still feel like that little girl.
Another great post girl!
I was so awkward from about 6th grade until 11th grade. Oh those were the days.
Such a great post!
Girl you were and are adorable! I know that girl though – just all awkward and sticking out like crazy. She was me
. Sometimes I miss her but mainly I want to tell her everything will be ok. Because it is.
I really love your Britney hair. Hit me baby, one more time!
I really loved this post! I didnt have awkward years, although I did have braces from 9th till 12th grade (late in life, I know!) I was very much anorexic by fourteen and it didn’t really end until I was 21! My mom died when I just turned 13, and a few month after, I got my period. I told my dad and he was so excited, he decided to advertise it to everyone we knew. But I did gain a little weight those years and hence anorexia at 14, I just didn’t want to grow up (I guess I still dont in some ways). Anyhow, I loved this post.
you always have been adorable…but i do know that i could have used that encouragement in my awkward years!
you are brave to post photos from the awkward years. I don’t know if I could do it! We all go through times that we feel uncomfortable with our bodies. I remember when I first needed a bra and felt soooo weird in my own skin!
What a great post – you never know how much damage negative feedback can do. It contributed so much to my eating disorder its unbelievable. Now I do my best to tell my nieces (I have 3 who are in their teens) how pretty and smart they are. I actually try to focus on their talents more than their looks because I think that builds so much confidence. I wish looks were a moot point, but they aren’t and I know how good it feels to be complimented. This makes me want to call my nieces right now. Hahaha I’m such a sap.
You come up with the coolest things to post. I remember all of that. I always thought you were beautiful:)
You have always been a doll, everybody has their crazy hormone years. For me it was 4th – 6th grade. We Ptaks have a short blooming period, lol. Your were the cutest girl in town!
Are the cutest girl in town still
My problem was my mom would tell me i’m pretty so now as i’ve gotten older I realize she lied to me all those years. I think that’s why I have issues now. Am I still a fat ugly red head with big glasses? In my mind I think so.
Great post!
Those awkward years are the worst. A lot of people think we’re still carefree at that age- but that’s when we start reading beauty magazines and realize we may not be as stick then as the models. I remember thinking the same thoughts..even starting in elementary school when girls around me were thinner than I was. And those are years we can’t gain back. Years we wasted wishing to be thin than just enjoying it..and in many ways, it’s still going on. I think no matter what deep down we have a little voice saying “you’d look killer 5 lbs thinner”. It’s hard living in the moment but when we do..it feels incredible.
I can totally relate (once again!
). My awkward years started in 7th grade too. Ugh… got my period, braces, bad bangs, weight gain, yep… same here!! I always thought I was so ugly too and would eat out of comfort when I got home from school. I got made fun of a bit and it sure did take a toll on me. Gosh, I really should do an awkward years post on my blog too. I have a lot to say about it!! Thanks for sharing. Maybe somewhere some girl in middle school will stumble upon this post and feel comfort knowing you were once there too.
You’re such a cute girl in your teens! Bangs, hairs, braces and everything! You’re so brave to have just listened to your own heart and body and not drink diet coke to stay slim. Those girls probably now have wrinkly skin and expressionless faces (botox)
You made a right decision in staying healthy and just trusting your body that you won’t stay in those awkward years for too long.
I loved this post! Awesome pictures!! My awkward years were 4th-6th grade.. and oooh, was it bad!
Very good post, my friend. But your awkward years make mine look like I was in Trollville. LOL.
haha hush Angela
Lisa- This is a great post. I remember those awkward years in fact therapy just a few years ago is what helped me through those terrible days. You are a beautiful person. Thank you for posting such a personal story.
Consider me a new follower!
these do not look like you!
such a beautiful post! I love your honesty Lisa. In every post, you always are REAL, 100% you and I admire that so much. You are beautiful and always have been beautiful. I went through teasing “fat girl” stage and it was hell for me as well. I can’t believe people would ever comment on someone about how the way they look esp at such a vulnerable age. Just so sad
your beautiful and happy weekend
Awww, I remember my awkward years! So rough! But for the record, you were cute!
I’m so glad that you didn’t give into the dieting temptation and that you just enjoyed being young. This post definitely inspired me to encourage the young girls I know who might be going through the rough stage right now.
hey girly!
i think everyone i know including myself went through an awkward stage at one point in their childhood so def do not think you’re the only one..grades 6-8 especially are not fun! lol.. love this post though and you’re so pretty inside and out so you shouldn’t have any worries now!
haha. Thats was EXACTLY me as well. Braces, weight gain, boobs, period, all from 7-9th. Then I came out of my shell, thank goodness!!
SHE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE YOU! but it goes to show exactly how we change and develop! u looked like such a sweetheart tho and these pics are priceless! i must say that uve grown up into a gorgeous lady <3 <3
xoxo
Lisa you are awesome for putting up these pictures, and despite what you say about them being your “awkward” or “ugly” years I still think you were as cute as a button. Oh and NOT FAT!!! I went through a bit of a chunky/chubby phase and boy did I have the whole braces/bad hair/bad bangs thing going on. I have/had naturally curly hair and at one point I got it cut super short and I seriously looked like a mushroom head. You have really come into your own though…you are absolutely beautiful on both the inside and out.
You are so beautiful! Even during your awkward years! Isn’t it amazing what perspective just 10 years can make?! I think back to 10 years ago, and I am a completely different person – mentally and physically. It’s wild.
I actually didn’t hit my awkward phase until I went to college! I was skinny confident girl growing up, but when I hit college I gained weight, felt AWFUL, ugly, and just awkward. I wish I would have read this post then!
LOVE this post! I hate that young girls or even young boys, get criticized for pretty much just “growing.” No child should ever feel like that, and I definitely think we/parents/teachers should try to make them feel special and beautiful at a young age!
I certainly remember those years. I had a guy in middle school make fun of how my legs jiggled that made me feel bad about my legs for a long time. I saw a TV show where a mother was getting her daughter a nose job because she didn’t feel pretty. So sad that the daughter felt so bad about herself that she wanted to go under the knife and even sadder that her mother would approve of that.
Lisa, this post almost made me cry, because I was that girl, too. Braces, frizzy hair, glasses, weight gain….I remember feeling so ugly and not good enough. Thank you for this reminder that it is SO important to let girls of that age know they are beautiful!
Oh my gosh I love this post! I was soooo awkward form 5th -7th/8th grade! I had BOWL CUT! Seriously, beat THAT!!!
This was an excellent post! I remember a boy in junior high just walking up to me in the hall one day and telling me I was ugly and walking away. I was devastated. I have never forgotten it and I’ve despised that boy ever since! We need to learn to love one another and our differences…we all have something great to offer!
Great, great post! Also, if you are interested in checking out the Shakeology, I would love to send you a sample!
I still believe that middle school is just a bad concept. I didn’t really hit an “awkward phase,” but I just felt uncomfortable and judged by other girls and boys (man, they were the worst!).
But, I am probably stronger for having made it through!
Oh god this almost made me cry! But I really liked it. I had a longgggg awkward stage (like 4th-10th grade lol). But you do learn/grow from it
My awkward years was when I was 14-16….and that was the start of my eating disorder. I just felt…hideous. And I was going through emotional stages, and also, engaging in female competition. Well, you know how competitive and bitchy girls at that age can be…It makes me sad, too, to see so many girls of that age going through similar low self confidence as I did at the time.
Personally though, I don’t even think you looked awkward. You looked sweet, lovable, and bright.
I work with overweight kids and sometimes I have teens come through my office. I just feel so bad for them because I just think back to how difficult it can be growing up. Other kids can just be so mean. I always try to be positive and hope I help them the best I can.
Thanks for sharing.
I love this post! I want to hug those girls too.
I totally remember my awkward years. It started in grade 6. I got a really bad haircut and that kind of kick started everything. I thought I looked like a boy and I could hardly stand to look in the mirror. Its so sad to think that everyone has to go through that.
I like to pretend that everyone went through the awkward years to make myself feel better
At one point, I had only 2 brackets of braces… on my front two teeth. Who does that to a 7th grader that already has frizzy hair and a goofy sense of humor?!
Great post
Lisa, I am LOVING every single one of your posts lately! I totally agree with you about wanting to shake each and every one of those young girls trying to act older than they are, and tell them that it’s ok to just be a kid. Now, having graduated from university, sometimes I feel like I grew up too fast. I LOVED being a kid, and I’d totally love to re-experience it. I think you look lovely in your photos and your attitude towards these sorts of issues now is so inspiring. I think a lot of teenage girls would benefit from hearing what you have to say.
aw, I love your pics! I felt completely hidious in 7th and 8th grade, I would never want to relive those years! Not until I was around 16 or 17 did I start to feel OK (and I finally got rid of my acne, braces, and awful bangs!) Those years are quite awkward and I have so many things I wish I could go back and tell myself at that age…but I guess it’s all about learning and growing and we have to go through those times
Wow! I think this is my favorite post ever! I definitely went through that awkward stage right in my ending of 6th grade! I’m definitely gonna do a picture thing on it sometime! But unfortunately i did go with the comments and took them to heart too much-hence, why i have had an eating disorder.
Awww this is such a great post! Thanks for sharing the link with me
Seriously, you are SO good at conveying important messages. Your posts always inspire me to make a change or do something a little differently. And I completely agree with everything you stated above.
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