In the midst of a typical day, my phone buzzes with a call from my child’s school. I take a deep breath, knowing that such midday calls rarely bring good news. It’s often a sign that my child is either unwell or involved in some minor mishap, like a lunchbox incident. As I answer the call, I brace myself for the inevitable stress.
“Everything is alright,” says my child’s teacher, “but he’s been complaining of a stomachache. He says he needs to go home.”
I can’t help but feel a sense of disappointment; I had planned an uninterrupted workday. The teacher picks up on my frustration and says, “I understand how you feel.”
I don’t want her to think I’m upset about my child’s discomfort. It’s just that I can already foresee him bouncing back in no time. Realizing that there is nothing we can do, I reply, “No problem. I’ll be there soon.”
“Goodbye,” she says.
“Goodbye,” I echo. Then, as I hang up, I inadvertently blurt out, “Love you.”
Suddenly, there’s silence on the other end. My heart races as I anticipate becoming the center of amusement during lunchtime at the teacher’s lounge. I imagine my child’s graduation day, where I will be forever remembered as the parent who declared their love to a teacher.
I open my mouth to clarify, “I didn’t mean that. I was distracted; I say ‘I love you’ to my husband often and…” but the words don’t come out.
This isn’t the first time I’ve unintentionally expressed affection to someone I barely know. Over the years, I’ve mistakenly told four different parents at my child’s preschool that I loved them—one of whom was a man. There’s also a delivery driver who may think I have feelings for him after I hugged him enthusiastically upon his arrival. That moment was particularly awkward because he’s not even on my usual delivery route.
I’ve even accidentally told the dry cleaner, who sometimes brings our clothes home, that I love him. And I’ve switched hair salons multiple times to avoid the embarrassment of facing those whom I’ve mistakenly professed my affection. Each instance leaves me feeling like an embarrassed perpetrator, as if there’s nothing worse than becoming the object of my misplaced affection.
The phrase “I love you” has never rolled off my tongue easily. I’ve only expressed love to a select few, my husband and children included. Before meeting my husband, I told just one boyfriend I loved him, to which he replied with a disinterested “Cool,” before going back to admiring himself. That experience led me to a self-imposed vow of silence on matters of affection, as the rejection stung too deeply.
Then came my husband, who returned my “I love you’s” genuinely. It turned out that I craved someone to reciprocate my affection. Despite a rocky start, our expressions of love have never been mistaken. After a lifetime of awkward encounters, I discovered that showing love is where I truly excel.
For years, I felt like a failure in various aspects of life, but when it comes to loving my family, I feel confident. I may not be the perfect mom or wife, but I love my family fiercely and express that often. Sometimes, though, this leads to awkward moments with those I don’t share such a bond with.
So, even if I’ve had to ask the delivery driver for a new route or find a different hairstylist, I hold my head high. Being overly affectionate isn’t the worst thing. Just ask my delivery driver.
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In summary, expressing affection can sometimes lead to awkward situations, especially when it’s directed at strangers. However, love is a powerful and positive emotion that can promote connection, even if it occasionally results in a cringe-worthy moment.
Keyphrase: accidental love declarations
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