*Ladies only*What nice things did your Mum do when you started your periods?

ShockingPink

red_devil wrote: »

no! You had a belt and hooked it on perhaps pads werent so popular then?

When my friend's mum phoned to tell her I'd started my periods (because I couldn't do it), my mum gave me a looped pad and an old black-and-white gingham belt to tie it on with (she wasn't very well prepared!). I was so embarrassed about the whole thing that I rarely asked for towels and so was always running out - Iused to use folded up toilet paper, and hid all my bloody knickers in a drawer in my bedroom. When my mum found them she told me off for being "lazy and dirty", but didn't stop to think about why I wouldn't talk to her about it...

Silverbird

I felt I was a late starter at 14 and remember actually punching the air in delight when I finally started! :rotfl:

I was on holiday at the time (typical, eh?) and told my Mom as soon as I came out the loo and she loudly announced to my Dad that she would need to visit the chemist with me later that day. :rolleyes:

She got me some huge, cheap pads and told me how to use them and to read the instructions on them for when to change them etc.

Further embarrassment ensued later when she walked into my bedroom with my younger sister in there and asked for my pants so she could wash them ... I remember trying to wrap up all used pads in loads and loads of loo roll and trying to disguise them in the caravan's bin and do it as discretely as possible.

I had been so embarrassed about it all that I stored all the used wrappers (just the wrappers!) in a cupboard in my bedroom in the caravan and on the last day we were packing and my mom opened the cupboard and loads of wrappers fell out, again with my sister in the room watching.

It was never really mentioned again and I just got on with it. I didn't have a talk from her about what to expect etc, but at that age I don't think I really needed it.

I guess she could have handled it a little better, but I was the eldest and she'd not had it happen before and as we were on holiday it made things a bit more rushed and didn't really allow for 'quiet time' to talk about it etc.

To be honest though, as pleased as I was personally to have started, I couldn't have done with her making a big fuss and 'celebrating' it like I've known some parents to do, but then that's just me.

red_devil

i remember telling a girl at school and she didnt believe me she said i made it up because someone else lets called her elsie smith had started that week.

bestpud

My mum didn't do anything except supply pads and I'm rather glad she didn't!

She did feel the need to announce it to a group of female relatives and our (female) dentist (of all people!) though, and I was mortified!

I didn't do anything special when my eldest dd started hers either. I had talked it over with her and asked if she was ok but nothing more than that.

I feel the need to ask her if she'd have liked me to make a fuss now! I'm guessing the answer will be 'no way'!

I agree she may prefer her own supply of pads. DD and I have a communal supply but she has always taken a packet out and kept it in her room rather than dipping into the drawer when she needs one iyswim?

ShockingPink

red_devil wrote: »

i remember telling a girl at school and she didnt believe me she said i made it up because someone else lets called her elsie smith had started that week.

I pretended I had started, because I was one of the youngest in the class. Then when I really did (I found out when we were getting changed for PE) I burst into tears, so my secret was out:rotfl: Amazingly, no-one made fun of me, even though I announced it in the most public way possible!

shellsuit

I think when my daughters starts, she will do cartwheels all over the place and not care who is there!

She is really funny ~ me, OH and my Dad were all in the back garden not long ago and I heard the bathroom window open. I looked up and there is DD, saying (and not quietly!)...

"Mum can you come up here please, I think I might have started my you know what's!!":rotfl::rotfl:

bestpud

Some people are showing their age on here! :rotfl:

We had 'bricks' when I was younger but didn't have to contend with a belt, thank goodness!

I'm sure we all walked like John Wayne though - there was nothing discreet about them! :rotfl:

lab-lover

My mum didn't do anything special just as some others has said - towels and paracetamol. And lots of hugs probably.

My DD is going to start soon Iam sure :eek: She's 12 and all clued up and most of her friends have started so she feeling 'left out' :eek: Iam dreading the day tho and think I'll be more upset than her

valos_mummy

My mum cornered me when I was having a shower (so no escape!!) to give me the period talk. I think it saved us both a bit of embarrassment to have the shower curtain between us! It was all quite matter of fact and I accepted it without question. A couple of months later I started, and she gave me what she used; which were knickerbricks!! A couple of years down the line I got her into the ultra thin with wings way of thinking

Never had the birds and bees talk though. I just remember her asking if I knew where babies came from, I said errr yeah, and she replied that was fine but if I needed any advice she was there. That was that, but it worked for us!

flippin36

Nothing at all. It was very, very taboo in our house. If it had to ask for anything it was done in whispered voices. Its just the way it was in those days. But like others have said when it did happen I was over the moon. I couldn't wait to tell my friends. I was so chuffed that I had beaten my best friend to it - I felt very grown up regardless of my mums inability to talk to me about it.

I think its different now. We are far more liberal at discussing things with our kids, I don't think there is the same embarrassment around discussing these things with our kids.

I like the idea of buying a gift to "celebrate" though. Perhaps some earings or a bracelet.