When Did You Get Your First Period?
I had just turned 11 years old, and I was horrified because although my mom had talked to me about it, I was sure it wouldn't be coming for a while yet. I had read "Are You There God It's Me Margaret," so I knew I wasn't going to die, but it was still scary at 11.
Where Were You When Your First Period Started?
This was the worst part of the whole experience. My family was literally getting into the car to drive from New Jersey to Florida for a vacation, and my mom made us all go to the bathroom before we left. That's when I discovered The Spot. Everyone else was in the car, my dad was honking the horn because I was taking too long, and I was running around trying to find a pad. I finally found one in my mom's bathroom, put it into place, and then realized I was about to be away from home FOR A WEEK. I grabbed as many pads as I could, stuffed them in the pockets of my shorts, and ran out to the car, trying not to cry. About two days into the trip, I wrote my mom a note saying "I need sanitary napkins please." She bought me some.
Lessons Learned
- If you're a mom of a daughter, talk to her ahead of time, and make sure she's not only prepared with knowledge, but with supplies. My youngest is ten now -- the same age my oldest daughter started her period -- and I make sure that my fourth grader carries a pad in her backpack, just in case. She also knows that if she has an emergency, she can talk to her teacher or the school nurse, and they'll understand.
