When Did Your Embarrassing Menstrual Moment Happen?
I was 9 when my period suddenly came about in elementary gym class. My mom had a sneaking suspicion that it was going to happen to me sometime soon, so she sat me down several times and prepared me for the inevitable. I began growing breasts at 7 years old, so my mom just knew.
What she didn't know, was how the events of me finding out would play out.
What Happened?
We were playing volley ball in gym class when my gym teacher shouted "time out". She ran over to me and began checking the back of my pants, saying "we have to get you to the school nurse." Of course, at that time in my life, I was a fat dumpling and had no friends whatsoever...so instead of sympathizing with me, the cruel school aged laughter began, and they didn't even know if what was happening to me was life threatening.
I was rushed down to the school nurse who immediately called my mother, telling her that she thought I had some kind of internal bleeding, and that she had to call 9-1-1. My mom tried to insist that I had begun my period, but the school nurse was dead certain that I was too young, and that it was "something else". My mom drove to the school and opted to take me into the walk-in clinic instead, where they confirmed my moms suspicion; I had officially begun my period. Meanwhile, everyone else was freaked out, but I was calm as a cucumber.
When my mother told the school nurse of what the diagnosis was, she got really embarrassed, and began to give me free pads from the supply closet...just dumping them into my arms.
The next month was my visit with my dad, and I just so happened to start my period while at his house. I told him I needed pads, and his response was, "whatever for honey?". I proceeded to tell him that I had begun my period, and his response was, "f**king disgusting". He threw a hundred dollar bill at me and didn't even so much as come near me for the rest of the visit. After that, my dad and my relationship has always been on the rocks.
Advice
- School nurses should be better prepared, and fathers should not push their daughters away upon becoming women. Also, kids in school should learn at an early age that the sight of blood is not funny.
- Thank you
