When Did You Get Your First Period?
I'm 73 now, and I started my period when I was 11. A year earlier than I had expected, based on the book information at that time.
Where Were You When Your First Period Started?
I was away at summer camp. When I first noticed the blood, I wondered if I had somehow hurt myself. But there was no pain, and also no cramps. But not sure what I expected as my mother had said everyone was different. The girl across the street had cramps so bad she was taken to the hospital. I soon figured that since the bleeding didn't stop, I must have started my period. Lucky me - no cramps. Lucky too because my counselor had this huge box of supper Kotex pads. I figured she wouldn't miss one or two, and I certainly didn't want to tell ANYONE. So, my activities continued. I still went swimming, horseback riding and hiking. None of these activities had any effect on the period, which lasted about 4 days. I went home, still in my period, and was glad to be able to tell my mother. She told a visiting friend (arrg) who said. "She's now a little lady..." What the heck did that mean? I guess I wasn’t to be a tomboy any more.
Lessons Learned
- The books at that time which advised limited activity while in your period were wrong. The girl across the street always had cramps, and was always in bed, but only had a 3 hr labor. I never had cramps, was never in bed, but had a 36 hr labor, and I was playing hocky and basketball through my 5th month. Lesson: You get what you get.
