Pls Help! embarrassing

[Mermaid Catkid]

OK so last week in school I had a journal writing assignment about how you were a pioneer or what was your first experience doing something. So I wrote about being the first in my family to do mermaid stuff. Now keep in mind I am really such a tomboy I basically am a boy, and mermaid in is the only "girly" thing I do. I did not expect it to be read, but of course that one time ,the worst possible time,my teacher was like,"hey,we're reading all your journal entries today". So mine had to be read in history,and our grading partner read it for us. MY CLASSMATES DID NOT KNOW I WAS INTO MERMAIDS AT ALL. So this first sentence, they busted out laughing. I just put my face down (I didn't cry or anything)because I knew my face would me really red. It was just....UGH. I don't know just awful.
So now I can just think about it and my face gets all red (it doesn't help that I'm like,the whitest person in my class). And yeah my face was red until lunch because I asked one of the teachers and he said it was and then like asked if I had seen a cute boy or something but I told him no.
So now I just really cringe at the thought and I feel a lot of people who have known me forever lost their respect for me that day.
(Mermen I would really like your feedback since you will be able to relate more easily.)

[Ayla of Duluth]

Thats awful. I feel like many times writing assignments should be kept personal in order for the student to really unleash their true writing power. I mean, you can't really write 100% what you want to write when you know others are going to be reading it. The teacher definitely should have warned ahead of time that the entries would be read to the class. Sorry that happened to you, if I could give you one piece of advice it would be own it. No one can bring you down if you don't let them. Heck yeah, you're a mermaid. That's way awesome! Why should you care what others think? Live and let live, ya know? :)

[Mermaid Ellowyn]

Oh man, I just hate when you have to share something that you didn't plan on sharing! I can totally see your embarrassment here.

But you know what? I think the fact that you wrote about mermaiding is pretty awesome! And all genders and types of people can be into it - it's not only a "girly" thing. Your classmates probably laughed because they have never heard of anyone doing such a unique hobby like this. If they even remember that you are into mermaiding (which they may not even bring it up again!), they might have questions for you which you could answer and explain things about the hobby to them. I'm sure a lot of them would be fascinated.

Standing up for yourself is way cool :) Sometimes when you feel embarrassed about something that is not in your control, the best thing you can do it own it and be confident about it!

Edited to add some cool things you could talk about if anyone asks you about mermaiding later:
- It makes you stronger! You could talk about how we use the dolphin kick and how it builds muscles to swim in a monofin (just like free divers use).
- You get to design your own mer-tails, tops, accessories, belts, etc. Any design you can think of in any color, you can either do yourself or get done.
- There are merpeople all around the world! How cool is it that people from the USA to Australia to everywhere in between all share the same interest and fascination?
- You can learn a lot about the ocean and its creatures through mermaiding, which I think is super cool.
- How awesome it feels to be swimming in the water or how much you'd love to go to the beach! :) Lots of people love going to the beach, and in my opinion it's even better when you're a merperson! :)

Good luck! You got this!

[Mermaid Harmony]

This totally baffles me, I understand how some people don't get it, but on the whole everyone I talk to thinks that mermaiding is the coolest thing ever. Keep your head up girly, I can imagine your embarrassment but be proud of who you are, it's tough sometimes but you have a dream, and that's something a lot of people don't have. Just work in some random mer puns or something when people ask.

[Merman Dan]

Let them know that up the road in Greensboro the merfolk rule the pool! :)


Heck yeah, you're a mermaid. That's way awesome! Why should you care what others think? Live and let live, ya know? :)


And all genders and types of people can be into it - it's not only a "girly" thing. Your classmates probably laughed because they have never heard of anyone doing such a unique hobby like this.

This.

[Mermaid Catkid]

I should probably add that afterwards some of the girls were like oh OK that's cool I guess. Only one person knew prior to that though. And Dan if I said that their eyes will probably bug out of their head

[Merman Dan]

For me, my tail is a prosthetic that externalizes what others cannot see - my love of the sea. For others, I'm a fruit loop. No worries. I win!

You could also share some of the NC MerFest 2015 stories that appeared in MTV UK (http://www.mtv.co.uk/wtf/news/these-photos-of-a-mermaid-convention-will-make-you-question-the-nature-of-humanity), Headline News (http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2015/01/26/mermaid-festival-photography?hpt=hln10_5), and Boing Boing (http://boingboing.net/2015/01/23/mermaid-convention-photographs.html).

[Spindrift]

I know it's tough, but my best advice to you is to own the situation. So what if you're into mermaids? Don't laugh it off or play it down. Just brush off any negativity with confidence (I know, tough to do) and be like, "Whaddya want? Mermaids are awesome. Who doesn't want to be a mermaid?"

[SeaGlass Siren]

Wear your invisible tail tall and proud girl.

i agree with spinfdrift. "Mermaids rock. they wear seashells all day and eat people"

[Atlantisblue]

It probably came off as a surprise to them but ya as others say stand tall and be proud. Be confident in who you are and others will be too

[PearlieMae]

Own it!

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/robert-downey-jr.gif

[Mermaidmechanic]

Much of what everyone else said.

My advice to you: I am also a "tomboy". I'm a female Coast guard mechanic. I have to be tough and I need the respect of my subordinates. Does everyone I work with know I'm a mermaid? ABSOLUTELY. Do they laugh when they first find out? Sure they do! It's unusual and unique. I laugh with them and OWN THAT SHIT.

Examples of OWNING it at work:

"Yeah, i'm a mermaid buddy... but guess what? This mermaid just kicked your ass in sit-ups. Oh damn son, better step up your game."

"Boy, what the hell are you doing with that wrench? You need a mermaid to get in there and teach you how to torque a bolt or you gunna finish that job already???"

[MerAnthony]

I have only been doing this myself for a few years now an I know just how you feel. An as to what everybody has said is correct. We all have to be kinda weird in some way or another to be swimming in a tail. So what you swim in a tail an so do we all here. Just like Spindrift said brush it off an carry on. You like to do it an basicly that is all that matters. Just be yourself an have fun while doing it. An if your class mates can not take that you swim in a tail then they can go away an leave you alone to do your thing. Keep your head high an try not to let it bother you. There will always be haters an you will find people that thinks it is cool.

[Merman Jamie]

Honestly all im going to say is OWN IT.

There are always going to be haters but you know a hater is going to hate and those people you just ignore.

[Merman Dan]

There will always be haters an you will find people that thinks it is cool.

For example, just yesterday two of my kids talked about my life as a merman. My 16 year old daughter said "You may get some likes on your page. I shared your Merman Dan page with the class." while my 14 year old son said "I had to use the word 'absurdity' in a sentence so I talked about your tail." ;)

[SeaMansa]

Merman here. I agree with what most others said: OWN. IT! Don't be embarrassed about something that brings YOU joy. If it makes you happy, that is all that matters in the situation. The best thing you can do is simply be proud of being a mermaid. They can only bring you down if you let them. Own it and you may find that other people are secretly interested. I have heard of things like that happening here. One person reveals they love mermaids and before they know it they've got all their friends in tails.

[MermaidCelesteFL]

*does a little dance* Shake it off, Shake it off!

Seriously, though. Kids can be just as strange as adults. Everyone at some point admits that they have wanted a mermaid tail. Or wings. Actually having one of them means you get to live your childhood dream when you got older. How cool is that?! You didn't give up on your dreams like everyone else did. And I think that's what's unique about this mermaid community. We are a community of dreamers, believers, artists, and performers. We support each other like dolphins in a pod. And you, my friend, are one of us. :)

[Merman Dan]

Everyone at some point admits that they have wanted a mermaid tail. Or wings.

or both ;)

[JamesGunnels]

or both ;)

I'll take both :D

[Merman Dan]

I'll take both :D

To be fair, I have no photos of me in my tail AND wings... hrmmm