Remember middle school? Remember those wonderfully awkward times, where we hadn’t yet grown into our bodies or personalities? Remember all the Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch gracing the hallways? Although I personally would like to believe that I’ve turned out to be a much better adult than I was a middle-schooler, there are a few things I miss.
At the ripe age of thirteen, our lives were, for the most part, carefree. Unlike now, we didn’t have to worry about midterms, job applications, graduate school or who our “bae” was snap-chatting. With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought I’d take a minute to remember one aspect of middle school: the middle school boyfriend. Remember him? I know you do. While your current man might exceed your middle school boyfriend in every way what-so-ever, I suspect there are a few things you miss about him.
Communication: Back in middle school, relationship communication was sufficed through AIM. Most conversations consisted of some witty "hey wu" and "nm hub" and "k". There was no need to hash anything out, talk about the future or mentally stimulate your boyfriend. He was the middle school man, and your xoDanceCutiexo5 screen name was enough in the communication department.
PDA: Think of all the times you had too many whiskey cokes during your house bar crawl and somehow you and your date ended up getting frisky on the dance floor. Well if you can't think of the time, I’m sure someone had it posted on their snap story at one point or another. For your middle school boyfriend, PDA was never an issue. If he had the audacity to give you a hug or even hold your hand, your friends would “oooh” and giggle loud enough that he’d be sure not to do it again. At least not until the next week.
Hanging Out: There was usually a definite start and end time for middle school hangouts. Instead of feeling obligated to hang out with your boyfriend at all waking hours of the day, you had scheduled things. Maybe a quick movies and ice cream or a group hangout with a couple friends, it was perfect.
Passing Notes: Middle school notes may be the single aspect I miss most. Although you may get the occasional cute text from your slam piece or boyfriend now, nothing beats your middle school boyfriend's "hey what's up" scrubbed on a piece of notebook paper. From lunch room notes, to social studies notes you probably had a whole collection of conversations between you and your man. How romantic.
Ending It: Although the thought of parting ways with your middle school boyfriend may have seemed like the end of the world, you quickly learned it was not. Maybe a few tears were shed as you listened to Soulja Boy's Kiss Me Thru the Phone for the umpteenth time, but you moved on. His casual "I want to break up with you" AIM sung for a bit, but you got past it, finding some other middle school man to instant message.
Remember the easier, simpler times? Remember when you could break up over AIM and legitimately never have to speak to your significant other again? Remember when your coveted Valentine's Day gift consisted of a cookies & cream Hershey bar? Although we may not want to reunite with our middle school boyfriend this Valentine's Day, we can look back and thank him for the good times. You're the real MVP, middle school man. Thanks for everything.
