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

BeenieCat

ShockingPink wrote: »

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...

I did this too, and my mother was the same!! :mad:

lleck

we have a special box in the bathroom cupboard which is always full of sanitary products and as they are used I replace them so there is no reason either of my daughters would have to ask me for them. It is communal but there is no embarrasment !

ShockingPink

When I was 18, I went on an exchange trip to France - the family consisted of mother and daughter (my age) plus Dad and 2 younger brothers. I remember being shocked when I saw an open box of tampax just sitting on the bathroom shelf:rolleyes:

brighthair

I think another thing that is good, is a little make up bag to keep pads/tampons in - so she can put them in her school bag without them being seen/falling out. I have a little silver Clinque bag (came free with something!!) and I keep liners/painkillers/tampons in there

Margaret52129

I have an older sister who told me what to do when it happened and gave me the dreaded belt and bricks, which was ready for me. I was so naive though, I didn't know you had to leave them on overnight:o. Mum was of the generation where you didn't say anything and mentioning the sex word was absolutely taboo. Good job I had an older sister - she found out at school where she asked a teacher as she thought she was dying!!!

I told my DD's in plenty of time and when DD1 started, I was at work and she was at a friends. She just told friends mum (who panicked) but my DD calmly said that I'd told her everything and knew what to do, and proceeded to sort herself out. OH and friends mum rang me to say how proud they were of her.

Buffy_the_Vampire_Bat

No offence to any of you lovely ladies here who have talked about having special shopping trips or giving presents or whatever to "celebrate" the event, but if anyone had tried to do that for me, I think I would have run a mile in embarassment

I think I was 13 when mine started, and Mum had quietly bought some supplies before hand "just in case". After that she simply topped up supplies as and when, and neither of us made a big deal out of it at all.

I'm still the same today - I've never been a curling up with a hot water bottle type girl, some really good painkillers and a box of tampons, that's me sorted - I much prefer to just get on with it and not think about it

Mado

brighthair wrote: »

I think another thing that is good, is a little make up bag to keep pads/tampons in - so she can put them in her school bag without them being seen/falling out. I have a little silver Clinque bag (came free with something!!) and I keep liners/painkillers/tampons in there

I went out to Boots at lunchtime and bough forward supply of a variety of sanitary products (so she can try what she likes best). I was hoping to find the posh ones I have seen once (overpriced but "smarter" looking) so she could take these to school. Will try again in a larger store or get her a little discreet bag.
(she was mortified this morning when I asked if she had what she needed for school). She is just 12 and I know that one of her friend started last year, but that is about it.
I have also bought her a large pack of her favourite chocolate. I don't think she wants the occasion "celebrated" in any way. Especially not since she has 2 younger brothers.

I told OH, but under strict instructions not to mention it to her (unless she does of course). I wouldn't dream of telling anyone else. Apart from the world and his dog on here.:rolleyes:
I know MIL did announce the news when my niece started, but I didn't particularly felt the need to know and won't mention it unless she asks (she has in the past).

angie_baby

maggied wrote: »

Aw bless her! I was so pleased when mine finally arrived (much avid studying of "Are you there God it's me, Margaret"!!) - I already had some pads in the house (Dr White's housebricks I believe...) so just got a very quick - "right, you're going to go through some changes now...use these" type speech - not the emotional moment I'd hoped for!!

Some of the posts above have cracked me up! It's such a big deal at the time isn't it?

OP - how old is she? If she's one of the first of her peers you could always explain the practicalities and maybe just get her a little box of chocolates or something. If she's one of the last (like me!) she'll get plenty of advice from her friends.

I remember asking her not to tell my dad! As if she wouldn't have and as if he'd care - he'd seen her give birth 3 times!!

I guess be ready with the pads and the ibuprofen.

I wish someone had told me:

1. People can't hear the pads when you're walking - I was convinced I sounded like a collection of plastic bags walking along
2. Saltwater gets accidents out of your knicks!

redd evil - tell me you're joking about the belts

Sorry, not much to add, but that book was a great read when i was younger! Good book for early teens!

suzyp1982

I was given the talk, then when i came on my mum told me where her pack of sanitary towels were and to just "help myself" well i was so embarressed and didnt want mum to know every month when i was on ash she made a fuss "are you alright" every ten seconds, which would make my brother ask why do you keep asking etc etc. I didnt use her towels, but instead folded up tissue!!! eventually i got fed up of washing my own pants so i sneakly took towels throughout the month in preparation!

The best thing my mum could have done was bought a bag full of different towels so i could have tried them out then make sure i have my own pack every month! nothing worst than sharing!

choille

ShockingPink wrote: »

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...

Basically same here.

I hope that no one has to go through that, as it was awful. I was also supposed to put the used one in a paper bag & put them on the fire. But Brother's & Father was usully sat around it & I just couldn't do it - too embarrassed, so I used to take them to school & put them in a bin in the loos - it was all so awful.
I felt dirty - I was only 9. The belt my Mother gave me was stretched way beyound my shape & the towels felt like abrick btw my legs. so also used rolled up loo roll, but often has 'shows' on the back of my skirt. I can't bear to think about it.