Awkward is the "New Cool"

Heyyyy! I'm Awkward!


I didn’t just stumble into this world; I arrived loud, uncoordinated, and significantly ahead of schedule. In elementary school, I was affectionately (or perhaps just accurately) known as the "four-eyed, pigeon-toed beaver." Between the Mr. Magoo glasses, the overbite, and the toes that pointed at each other like they were sharing a secret, social grace was never really on the menu.

Athletics? My kryptonite. Social skills? A work in progress.

I have ADHD, and for a long time, I thought "awkward" was a terminal diagnosis. But lately, I’ve realized something: Awkward is the new cool. It’s authentic, it’s raw, and honestly, it’s a lot more fun than pretending to have your life together.







The Great Office Secret

Several years ago, I was starting a brand-new job as an office manager. One of the employees walked in, looked at me, and said point-blank, "Hi, I’m T* and I’m awkward."

I didn’t miss a beat. I leaned over my desk, lowered my voice to a serious whisper, and said, "Guess what, T?"

"What?" she asked, looking worried.

"Everyone is awkward. Some people just work harder at hiding it than others."

We both lost it. That was the start to a beautiful working relationship. It turns out that when you stop trying to be the "polished professional" and start being the "relatable human," there is some respect in that.

The ADHD Paradox: Professional vs. Personal

If you saw me at work, you’d see someone who excels at diving into a project and seeing it through to the end, there is a certain dopamine hit in finally hitting "complete" on a big task. I have over 20 years of experience as an assistant, and I pride myself on that.

But there is a specific kind of internal "blue screen of death" that happens with the administrative basics. I can finish a high-level assignment with precision, but ask me if I remembered to clock in this morning? My brain starts to *buffer*. I technically "started" at 8:00 AM, but I didn’t exist in the digital system until 10:45 AM.

This executive dysfunction follows me home, too. In the "ADHD Motherhood" world, I am currently yelling at my kids to "GET YOUR SOCKS AND SHOES ON RIGHT NOW!" while simultaneously spinning in circles because I have no idea where I put my keys. (Spoiler: I am holding them.)

The Clumsy Symphony

My life has a soundtrack, mostly because I can’t help but break into song. If my husband starts a sentence with "Don't stop..." he doesn't even get to finish before I'm belt-singing, "BELIEVING! HOLD ON TO THAT FEEEEEELING!" while he gives me the world’s most seasoned eye-roll.

I’m the person who:

  • Bumps into displays with the shopping cart or just accidentally walks into people because I’m distracted by a thought.

  • Tells the same story with the enthusiasm of a world premiere, completely forgetting that I already told you that exact story five times ago.

  • Digs through a purse at the doctor's office, a purse I just reorganized last week - muttering sarcastically, "I’m the most organized person you’ve ever met," while my insurance card plays hide-and-seek.

  • Talks to myself in the grocery store aisle wondering if the extra expense is worth it, then laughing at the person staring and saying, "Bonus points for not replying to myself?"

The Superpower Behind the Stumble

Here’s the beautiful thing about being "awkward" and having an ADHD brain: it almost always comes with a massive side of empathy and a fierce sense of justice.

I’ve always been the person who feels the weight of unfairness in my bones. As a teenager, I remember shaking with anxiety while calling out a teacher for her blatant favoritism. I was a nervous wreck and she ignored me for the rest of the year, but speaking up changed the environment for my classmates.

That same drive has carried me through the last three years of fighting for my daughter. After seeing four different neurologists who insisted her tremors, tics, and cognitive issues were purely psychological, our Nurse Practitioner finally said the words that changed everything: “I think it’s more than something psychological.”

I just broke down. We’ve finally been accepted by a PANS/PANDAS specialist. There is only one certified specialist in our area. We applied. We waited. One month later we received the phone call-she was accepted. The wait is long, but we finally feel heard. I’ve realized that being "awkward" isn't a flaw, it's the reason I have the integrity to keep fighting when everyone else tells me to stop.

Embracing the "Backwards" Life

Sometimes my words come out backwards (no, we are not making a mole hill out of a mountain). Sometimes I bumble through job interviews I'm 100% qualified for with off-topic replies like, "Hi! My name is Shana and I have 20 years old experience..."

But navigating motherhood and a career with ADHD has taught me that self-deprecation is a survival skill. We don't have to be perfect. We just have to be present- even if we’re present, slightly clumsy, and singing Journey at the top of our lungs.

So, if you’re currently looking for your keys while your 20 unfinished craft projects stare at you from the other room, just remember: You aren't a mess. You're just the "New Cool." Stay awkward, friends.






Do you have a "four-eyed pigeon-toed" story from your childhood? Or maybe a recent "I forgot I already told you this" moment? Share it in the comments!