I got my period for the first time in the seventh grade along with most of my friends. But here's the kicker. It was while spending the weekend at my dad's apartment. If there was ever a moment that made me wish my parents never got divorced, this was it. I'm sure my dad felt the same.
Mazzy has asked what tampons are before and I have no idea what to say. I can't remember who explained it to me or how, but I know the time I bled through my pants in social studies class remains one of the most embarassing of my life.
Nope. That's not true. The time I mistakenly took a tampon out of my backpack instead of a pen in Earth science was even worse.
There are mixed reviews underneath this video (Oh my god! Young girls have vaginas?!) but I think it's awesome. It's for a site called Hello Flo that delivers period starter kits to girls meeting Aunt Flo for the first time.
Anything that makes it easier for parents (moms and dads) to talk to their daughters' about their menstrual cycles and lessens the stigma of carrying around a tampon (does everybody do the "up the sleeve" trick?) in case GOD FORBID someone should see you, sounds like a good thing to me.
Also, this little actress is GOING PLACES.
Thank you to Bad Parenting Moments for showing me this video.
Spill it. What was your most embarrassing period moment?
My worst period moment came just last month while driving 70 mph in a downpour in Connecticut. Good times..even at 44 years old. OY.
http://sellabitmum.com/2013/07/01/why-im-not-a-travel-blogger-girlsaretrippin/
I can relate to you…while my parents aren’t divorced, I got my period while home alone with my dad while my mom was on a work business trip. To add insult to injury, it was while I was getting dressed to go to swim practice, which I couldn’t miss…so I had to use a frigging tampon.
A couple of months later, I *surprise* got my period in social studies. Even though my mom told me to track when I was going to get it and wear a pad “just in case” do you think a 12 year old can do that?! Well…I couldn’t. I stood up to blood running down my leg and staining the back of my shorts. MORTIFYING. I cringe to this day.
I don’t really have an embarrassing moments because I always had the attitude that “it happens to every woman at one point or another, so get over it”. I still remember when I started though because it was April Fool’s Day.
My poor little sister started while at our grandma’s house and she had nothing nor any idea what the heck to get since she hadn’t had to deal with it for decades.
Cheerleading. During a game. Bled through the uniform underpants-whatever they were called-that covered my own. There were no cartwheels or anything after that that involved my skirt flipping up. I ran to the bathroom, changed my tampon and rubbed and tried to soak up as much as possible and went back out, horrified and subdued for the rest of the game. Thank god our skirts were not as short as nowadays but short enough that I felt very paranoid. I was sure everyone knew.
I hid those damn tampons everywhere. God forbid anyone knew I had a period!
So many times I overflowed. School, work, in a car, in bed constantly. I was a bleeder. Can’t tell you how happy I am not to bleed anymore! LOL!
My daughter got hers the first day of 7th grade. She came out of the bathroom, shoved her underwear in my face and demanded, “Is THIS what I think it is??” I laughed, couldn’t help it, she was so indignant. Yes, dear. What a way to start junior high!
My granddaughter turns 10 in August. Got her first one with me this summer. I could see all the signs in her for the last year or so, boobs, hair, sweat, it would be happening soon. She had been well prepared by her mom and me over the last year with books and talks, so she was all nonchalant-like, “Hey Gramma, I think I got my period.” (I also told her that should she ever have an issue with it anywhere else, to talk to any woman, we all do this, and we can all help.) She was so relaxed. Very glad for that. Her mom, on the other hand, was appalled. That is so young for your baby to head into womanhood.
I love this video! And I have to show it to my granddaughter. Hehehe. She definitely has the camp counselor edge for her friends!
14 years old. 4th of July cookout. White shorts. I tried to pass it off as a most unfortunate ketchup spill. I doubt anyone believed me.
What is it about social studies???? My periods were all kinds of F’ed up so I never knew when it would happen. So, 8th grade, social studies, white jeans. It was DURING.THE.FINAL. So we wer not allowed to leave the classroom until we finished the test. Yeah, no clue what grade I got, but I know I didn’t care!
I got it before a catechism class. I sat through it thinking I was such a woman. I was lucky and had very regular, medium flows until college. That’s when I would bleed through my underwear, but thankfully always wore jeans and managed to avoid stains.
My worst experience actually came in my adult life. As a teacher. I was wearing a khaki skirt. I ended up turning the skirt to my side so I could hide it with my wrist.
My bleeding through the pants moment was during pre-calculus. And last Halloween at work. Luckily my pants at work were black. And Nirvana and flannel shirts were in during my high school days, those shirts made good cover ups. Although I very much wanted a little girl to add to my three boys, the whole period thing I don’t mind missing. All I have to do is teach my boys to be sensitive to periods and their discomforts.
SOCIAL STUDIES!! hahaha that’s too funny. I was in class, and the pad had moved (well i was sitting slouched) and it came out of the top. so before class ended, i told my teacher what happened, apologized for the clean up job and ran home.
That little girl saying vagina has got to be the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while. I love “the sword and shield.”
I was so embarrassed about my period that I didn’t tell my mom for two days. Why two days? Because by then, all of my underwear was covered in blood hiding under my bed. At least I got a shopping trip out of it!
Peach pants on a seventh grade typing class chair…
I was wearing white leggings the first time I got my period, in sixth grade. Thank GOD I was home at the time.
I am kind of surprised girls this young would use tampons though. I didn’t make the switch til college. Good for them if they can manage it!
Ahh, good times. I have NEVER had regular periods. In high school they were pretty heavy too. But I never knew when they were coming, and regularly had to call my mom to bring me a change of clothes… Learned to wear baggy sweatshirts (they were in!) so I could wrap around my waist.
Lucky. I was 9 🙁 13 would have been a blessing. Try explaining to a fourth grade teacher that you have to go change your pad 🙁 And not to sound really dumb but aren’t you supposed to wait until 16 or so to wear tampons? I was taught that I should only use pads until my “special place” was a little bigger, and because twelve year olds may not change it often enough to prevent infection and stuff. Is that not really a thing?
Ugh. I was/am a bleeder too. I’m 3 months into cycles again after my last baby … I wish my kid would have nursed FOREVER so I’d never have another period. OK, that’s a lie. I’m just angling for a hysterectomy now 🙂 3 months back in cycling is apparently not enough of a “pattern” to establish the need for further testing as to why my periods trap me at home in Depends. No joke. GROSS!
My daughter is only 4, but I have a feeling she will be an early bloomer, too. Not looking forward to it. This part of womanhood sucks giant sweaty balls.
I got my period while having sex in college once. So that was cool.
guess i’m lucky. just never had an incident. fingers crossed.
Mine happened in Gr 8 english exam, 1st time… but I managed to convince the male teacher/proctor that women unmentionables had happened and I got to leave early…. thank goodness it was a cooler day and wore a long sweatshirt to cover the pants!
That video is awesome. If only such a thing existed in my youth. I got a book from my mom and a couple months later my first period at age 11. I was at my best friends house, sleeping on their white carpet. Yep.
I called my mom to pick me up but she sent my dad. He had to go to the store to get my pads. I will hold resentment for years to come 🙂
The summer between 9th and 10th grade we were out of the state for a band trip; polyester uniforms and 80 degree heat, good times! I got my period just before going to an evening group activity and had no supplies. I had to ask my band teacher, who was a 60+ year old man if I could ‘run to the gas station’ with a friend quick before we left. He kept asking why and I kept telling him I just had to go quick. Finally I told him I had my period and had to get tampons. He quickly dismissed us to the gas station without another word! Actually, this may have been more embarassing for him than me!
What a brave girl for doing that video! That was great. I was in the 5th grade had no clue what was going on thought I was dieing and the best part is my friend started just about a month before me she too thought she was dieing, I was worried about her told my mom she was dieing and even called that evening to check up on her in which time my mom and friend found it NOT to be the perfect oppurtunity to give me a heads up that this happens to every women. So yeah I was totally in the dark and I freaked out but luckly I was at home!
My friend does have the most embrassing moment though she bled through at school called her mom and her dad shows up to pick her up with news papers lining the seat in the car for her to sit on…just kill me now moment!
Re: Mazzy & the tampons – My daughter saw me with a maxi pad (it was nighttime) and said “mommy’s wearing a diaper!” This is so not going to help with potty training if mom is still in diaper…
(1) High school study hall. Wearing a pad. Was napping with my head on the desk. Caused it to leak up my back staining the chair and my jeans. Had to call my Dad at work to bring me new pants. There was a pay phone in the lobby by the front door. I had to stand with my back to the wall until he arrived. Awkward.
(2) Worst. High school graduation. White gown. Damn pad again. Bled through the dress and the gown. Won several academic awards so had to go to podium about 4 times. OMG!
(3) Funniest. And it didn’t involve me directly. I was visiting my cousin and we wanted to go swimming. We were about 15. I said, just wear a tampon. She didn’t know how. Her mother was a bit older and had no clue. My mother tried to coach her through the door on how to use it. She never did figure it out. We didn’t go swimming that day. We still laugh about it.
Mine came for the first time the first and last night my mom ever went out with her friends and left my baby sister and I home with my dad. Along with my first period, my sister had the worst diaper rash of her life. When I told my dad that I think I got my period, he responded with “why would you tell me something like that?” He supposedly met my mom on the front porch, handed her my sister and said she was to never leave him alone with us girls again.
I know this probably makes my dad sound horrible – but he’s not. He’s a wonderful man who was horribly unprepared to handle a menstruating pre-teen and diaper rashing baby.
The times I’m on my period, using a public restroom with my toddler who just happens to shout, “Mommy, why is your underwear bleeding?!?” for the entire world to hear…its especially delightful when the stalls add echo to the announcement.
Video is genius and empowering for little girls. LOVE IT. Love her ease with the words. I still feel awkward saying “vagina” instead of hoonanny or vajayjay.
13 – pffft – I was 9! Just 12 days short of my 10th birthday. Mother Nature was not my best friend. Worst moment(s):
1. White pants. Leaking pad. School Dance. In front of entire school and parents.
2. Fell down in school and ripped my pants, for some reason, I was sent home. All I remember is the caretaker handing me the mended pants only to find out that I had bled right through them. Oh the horror. She sewed pants with bloody crotch! EWWWWW!
My step mom was in another state caring for my grandfather, I had been home sick with pneumonia for 3 days (had a 1 day hospital stay the first day with a super high fever) so my dad was already in nurture mode. At first I though it was poo, I wasn’t sure. Finally i put it together and had to tell my dad who immediately told me “Call your mother” then he had to take me to the store to buy pads, we lived in a small town so going up to that cash register with my dad was the worst walk of shame ever on earth. I was regular right away and carried pads and tampons in my backpack always just in case. I never wanted to have to call my dad ever again.
I was 11 when I first got mine. My mom threw me a party complete with hot cocoa, pizza, and all the chocolate ice cream you could eat. She invited my godmother and had both my older sisters there. She had already given me the talk several times and I had two teenage sisters so I wasn’t exactly clueless. They traded period stories and kept asking if I had any questions, but all I did was sit in the floor and cry while eating pizza. I was a little emotional about it, lol. I remember my only question being “How am I supposed to take a shower?” My mom is from the generation where nobody talked about it and all the girls thought they were dying, so she really wanted her daughters to be informed, empowered, and celebrated. So when my last friend to get her period in 11th grade had parents who were very non chalant about her starting, I bought her ice cream for lunch for he whole first week and was her “camp gyno” lol.
But the most embarrassing period moment? House sitting for my future in laws while they were in Florida and forgetting my diva cup that was drying in their bathroom. That was fun. Also, menstrual cups= best thing to happen to periods since heating pads and junk food.
My 3 year old niece calls tampons “band-aids”, and vaginas “Owies”, so when her mom is on her period it’s not uncommon to hear “Oh Mommy, is your owie hurting you? I’m sorry.” with a shoulder pat or a hug.
My four year old saw me putting a tampon in and said “What are you putting in your butt?!?!?!?” I dont feel like it’s time to explain the difference in girl vs boy parts yet, so for now he thinks i pee out of my butt (because I dont have a pee pee) and that i put stuff up there too.
I started my period between my uncle’s wedding and reception when I was 11. My mom, in an attempt to make me feel like this was a good thing instead of the pain in the butt it can be, put on a celebratory attitude. However, she a few too many glasses of wine at the reception and started telling anyone who would listen that “Hi, I’m the groom’s sister and my daughter is a woman today!” I still marvel that I’m not in therapy.
OK first of all. I LOVE that little actress, she is awesome and I’m pretty sure she will go far. The idea of the boxes is pretty cool too!. Second, let me tell you how Jealous I am that so many girls got their period while in 7th grade, I was in fifth! and for me it was the opposite of that little girl, I didn’t turn more popular, girls looked at me weird cause I started developing little tiny boobs and growing hair in strange places, it was not fun! I’m glad I have a boy that hasn’t go through that. =D
Oh yeah! I forgot to mention that I was already pissed enough that I got my first period a week before my 11th birthday. My mom bought me a freaking cake in celebration that I was a “WOMAN” now! I really just wanted to disappear from Earth
I’m a bleeder so I’ve had lots of embarrassing moments… however, the worst, bar none, was just last year. I work with my father in law, I was on my way to the bathroom when he stopped me to ask a question. I stood there talking with him until I felt something on my foot… I had bled through (pad and tampon!) and dripped down my leg and straight on my foot (I was wearing a skirt). Then I had to figure out how to get away from him. I have no idea whether he noticed, but I was mortified.
ha ha! I’ll stick it in my sock since I wear knee highs and walk to the bathroom. Or I’ll put it in my jacket pocket since it’s roomy enough.
Oh and my daughter just uses the tampons to stick in the holes of the toilet paper. She does this to entertain herself while I use the bathroom since I have no privacy anymore…
I had my period once for 23 straight days while at summer camp. I was 14 that summer and didn’t know how to use tampons yet. In the middle of it, I ran out of supplies and had to go to the camp nurse. Unfortunately, the only thing she had were those giant pads that could double as travel pillow. I was mortified and very upset with my body for not knowing when enough was enough.
I’ve got a very good story about this. A friend of mine has a daughter, and when she was 3 or 4, she came to see him in his office with a tampon in her hand.
‘What’s this?’ asks she.
As a competent dad, he had visions of talking menstruation with her and so he swiftly redirected her and told her to go ask her mother.
It happened that the mother came in the room holding a tray full of coffee drinking acoutrements, including scalding coffee, and barely had she entered the room, her daughter pounced and asked her, holding the tampon up high, ‘What’s this?’.
Not missing a beat, she answered ‘That is a tampon’.
‘What’s it for?’
‘That is what ladies and grown up girls use when they need to’.
‘And where do they put it?’
Now she skipped a beat. Because just explaining to her what it is for and ‘where to put it ‘ implied that she would soon consider herself grown up enough and try to use it. Which gave her the chills for an instant. So, in a moment of extraordinary inspiration, she told her over her shoulder, while placing the tray on the table ‘They put it in their purse’.
Two days later, the daughter thought she grew up enough in order to start using a tampon as well. So she carried for weeks a tampon in her ‘purse’ to the kindergarten.
I think this is a wonderful example of great motherhood. 🙂
In my defense as jill’s mom, i forgot what it was like to young. my mom didn’t talk to us about it, we learned from school. after a little too much wine (ok, alot of wine) i got carried away. i am very sorry about that!! we are laughing now about it!!
7th grade, home ec Class. I had a little purse in my back pack with tampons panty liners and an extra pair of undies for JUST in case. WELL one of the boys in my class thought it was fun to go thru girls bags. When I realized what was happening there were tampons ALL OVER one of the big tables and my extra undies were HANGING on a high cupboard door. Another one of the boys saw what was going on, grabbed my “stuff” and shoved it back in my bag while yelling at the other boy “your so immature, don’t you have a sister!” I don’t know if the boy did have a sister and I didn’t stick around to find out, I just grabbed my bag and left the class. I have never been more humiliated & happy (about the boy who stood up for me) at the same moment since. But back then I was mostly humiliated.
“It’s like Santa for your vagina” has got to be the best line in the history of writing. The script writer for this ought to win an Emmy. Or a Nobel Prize.
That little boy should should have got a medal, seriously.
I got my first period on the second day of a week long hiking and camping trip with my 3 older brothers and my step-dad… Mortified does not even begin to explain it.
My first time, I was eleven and staying at my Dad’s house AND it was Christmas Day! Ugh, thanks Santa. By the time I got back to my Mother’s, two weeks later, my Mother had told ALL her friends and they kept saying things like “I heard Aunt Flo came to visit” or “So you got the Dreaded Reds”, I’d never heard periods called anything but periods so I never knew what the hell they were talking about and just stared blankly.
The next one (which didn’t come until three months later) was the worst. I bled heavily for three weeks straight and had to see all kinds of doctors. As an eleven year old, I was NOT comfortable talking to doctors about periods. THEN when I finally got back to school (after missing six weeks) I discovered ALL the teachers knew about it! I was mortified.
Switching? I went straight into tampons. My first was sometime in the 7th grade. I had to use a pad a few times early on when I ran out of tampons, and I resolved never to run out again. Pads were such a hassle, I’m a fairly active person so I ended up with stuff everywhere, and a mess to clean up. From the locker room talk I remember many of us were using tampons in middle school, and most of us were using them by high school.
I don’t remember the exact circumstances of my first was so apparently there was no traumatic memory. My Mom had suffered from heavy (so heavy she was often anemic) and irregular periods her whole life, so she showed me how to use a tampon before I even started. So when I did I was ready to go.
I’ve been waiting for my period to start post baby, I watched this video and it happened.
No lie.
These stories are cracking me up. They reminded me of two other instances. (1) I was at McDonalds with my 3 yo. I had just opened ketchup packets for her for the fries. We went to the bathroom. Loudly, “Mama! Why do you have ketchup in your pants!?” Muffled laughter was heard from those waiting. (2) Recently my 5 yo daughter asked me what the tampon was for (usually I am able to have privacy in the potty so she’s never noticed before). I explained briefly women bleed once a month and use tampons to take care of it. She started to cry. What’s wrong, I asked. “I don’t want you to die!” (She thought I was going to bleed to death.)
I always sat with my leg tucked under me, so when I bled through my pants, I not only had a mess that could be hidden by a sweatshirt tied around the waist, but also a nice random SPLOTCH on my ankle. This only happened once, luckily, in chorus. I still remember it.
My mom never gave me a heads up that periods were a thing, and when it happened, I thought I had crapped my pants or something. Crying, I went up to my mom, confused and apologetic, and she told me I had become a woman and gave me a book that weirded me out too much to read. I threw it out, and got yelled at four years later, when she needed it for my little sister. :-/
My four year old son has said the SAME THING. Caught me with a tampon lol