It was a typical morning. I threw on a T-shirt and biker shorts, went to CrossFit, stopped at Walmart, and then made a trip to my ex-husband’s before heading home. I had agreed to water my ex’s plants while he was on vacation with our kids. Each day, when I arrived at his house, I did a little dance for his security camera, knowing the kids would get a kick out of my moves. On this day, I did my best moonwalk, awkwardly dancing right back into the camera. The kids are going to love this one, I thought.
Boy, was I right! I made the shocking discovery when I arrived home: My biker shorts had ripped open in the back, right down the middle, and (TMI alert) I wasn’t wearing any underwear.
At first, I laughed, but when I realized that my shorts might have ripped during my workout, all potential humor disappeared. When had this happened? Had the trainers at the gym caught a glimpse? Did the dozens of people at Walmart get more than they bargained for? Was my ex-husband about to tune in to the best (or worst) video he had ever seen?
My daughter, whom I appointed to investigate, reviewed the security camera and confirmed that I had indeed flashed the camera. I’ll never know if I also flashed everyone at the gym and Walmart, but I am guessing I did. And while I knew this was something I should laugh off, I still felt an intense amount of humiliation, shame and anxiety over it all. In those early moments, I just wanted to hear that I wasn’t alone and that I could overcome the complicated feeling of utter humiliation. So, I asked my girlfriends for stories, and as usual, they delivered. Here are some embarrassing moments that once felt too heavy to laugh about but now serve as a reminder that we are not alone:
“Too Small for Her Britches”
Nona, 62, Rhode Island: "When I was in my early 20s, I went to speak to a youth group at my church. I had lost a bit of weight but didn't realize how it had affected my clothes. As I walked to the front of the room to speak to the group, my skirt simply dropped to my ankles. I ignored the gasps and giggles and reached down and picked it up. I proceeded as if nothing had happened. But I (and I am guessing they) never forgot it.”
“Texting Gone Wrong”
Sue, 45, Connecticut: “I was at work texting my mom. My boss was texting me at the same time about an upcoming work trip. I quickly sent my mom a text about the said trip. I told her that I was dreading the trip because I felt so uncomfortable around my boss and didn’t want to spend an entire day alone with her. I hit send and immediately realized it wasn’t my mom on the receiving end of that text. It was my boss! My first instinct was to walk out of the office and never come back. My second idea was to steal my boss’ phone right out of her purse. Instead, I walked into her office and told her I had sent her a message that was intended for someone else. She opened her phone and read the text as I watched in horror. We had an uncomfortable talk, but she was kind and understanding. I keep my texts short and sweet these days.”
“An Unexpected Leak”
Maria, 49, Massachusetts: “I was at my exercise class and felt myself leak a little urine. I went to the bathroom to assess the damage, and it was much worse than I thought. I considered leaving altogether, but since there were only two of us in the class, there wasn’t an easy escape. I decided I could pass it off as sweat and finished the class. I was extremely self-conscious and felt so much shame. I didn’t go back to that class for weeks, but I did go to a urologist.”
“Who Invited Flo?”
Christine, 52, Connecticut: “I attended an indoor evening wedding and wore a new outfit: a black top with white pants and strappy pumps. After dinner, I got up to use the bathroom, and all women of childbearing years will know what I noticed next. The question in my mind was: who else noticed that night? I had gotten my period unexpectedly, and my white pants displayed the shame that came with it. I remember standing with my back to the wall, sweater tied around my waist, talking to a cousin and waiting for my husband to take me home, too early in the evening to otherwise leave. What I remember most is the pain of the shame I felt. Rather than register this event as an accident that could happen to any woman, I felt that it reflected my deficiency and unworthiness. I also thought I would never be able to face my aunts and uncles again. Ultimately, time did heal this wound, but it took a lot of it to do so.”
The moral of these stories? Sometimes, the only way out is through. And sometimes it’s really, really uncomfortable — and that’s okay. We don’t have to fix it. We just have to keep going and trust that one day, this will be just a memory. No matter what life throws at you today, Girlfriends, keep that beautiful head up.
Has anything embarrassing such as the above ever happened to you? Let us know in the comments below.
