Girls, periods, school swimming lessons.....

aliasojo

Well someone must have heard me because daughter came home today to say she was reading to the younger kids instead of having to watch the swimmers.

I should also add the female assistant teacher was fine with her and she didn't feel awkward thankfully.

janninew

aliasojo wrote: »

Well someone must have heard me because daughter came home today to say she was reading to the younger kids instead of having to watch the swimmers.

I should also add the female assistant teacher was fine with her and she didn't feel awkward thankfully.

Glad you got it sorted out!

My worst memory of swimmng at school was when I first started my period, my Mum wrote me a note, but the teacher made all the kids who weren't swimming line up and tell the rest of the class why they weren't swimming that day! :eek:

I had to tell the whole class, including the boys that I had my period (I was 11 years old) I will never forget that memory and the fact that it was a female teacher made it even worse. I went home in tears and I remember my Mum going in to see the Headmistress!

aliasojo

janninew wrote: »

My worst memory of swimmng at school was when I first started my period, my Mum wrote me a note, but the teacher made all the kids who weren't swimming line up and tell the rest of the class why they weren't swimming that day! :eek:

I had to tell the whole class, including the boys that I had my period (I was 11 years old) I will never forget that memory and the fact that it was a female teacher made it even worse. I went home in tears and I remember my Mum going in to see the Headmistress!

That is so shocking! :eek:

What on earth was that teacher thinking about?! What a foolish person. I would have been a whirlwind of anger on legs going in to see the teacher, if my daughter had to do that today.

Apricot

aliasojo wrote: »

Well someone must have heard me because daughter came home today to say she was reading to the younger kids instead of having to watch the swimmers.

I should also add the female assistant teacher was fine with her and she didn't feel awkward thankfully.

Im glad they let her do this as it must be so boring to just sit and watch especially if she was the only one not participating.

Vaila

most of the girls in my gym class would only too happily tell our pe teacher that they were "on" as an excuse to get out of any form of physical activity ! but too be honest id think that most schools are understanding of such issues now

ailuro2

Equip your DD with some answers in case of nosy classmates, anything that they can't see is fine, so an infection in her abdomen, ear, inner wrist bone, anything that she can write off as I don't feel ill but it stops me swimming.

I'm glas you got it sorted out with the school.:) I remember being the first to start in my peer group and not telling them for 6 months. Now I'm trying to be open with my DD and have already taken her to pick out her "towel tins" for when she needs them etc.

dontone

janninew wrote: »

I had to tell the whole class, including the boys that I had my period (I was 11 years old) I will never forget that memory and the fact that it was a female teacher made it even worse. I went home in tears and I remember my Mum going in to see the Headmistress!

I had a similar type of experience at the same age. My dad wrote a note to the female teacher explaining why I couldn't go swimming, and the stupid so and so left it on her desk opened, in full view, so when all the other kids went up to get their work checked, they could read it. I had to put up with all sorts of awkward questions and comments, which ended up with all the girls peering over the door and walls of the toilet when I was, well you know. :eek:
It's difficult enough at that age being a bit self concious about your body, but that was so embarrassing. Although it did help a couple of other girls open up to each other because they were going through the same changes.
I still think to this day that teacher did it on purpose, 'cos she never liked me. Even more so when both my parents rang her to give her a right rollocking for embarrasing me, and my Dad normally shied away from "ladies things" leaving it to Mum.

Glad everything worked out ok OP.

babyshoes

I had a swimming gala a day into my first period! I wasn't as young as the OP's daughter admittedly, but I simply got my mother to buy some mini tampons and changed them after each race. I was fine just getting on with it, if a little anxious at the time. Had no problems using tampons after that experience! In an all-girls school there was no excuse for not taking part in PE lessons, even swimming. If you had cramps, you were sent to Matron for a painkiller, otherwise you were expected to participate. We all coped!

I agree that it must be more difficult for those in primary school, but there is still no real reason that tampons can't be used unless they cause discomfort or pain - they certainly won't break the hymen, if that is a concern.

I use a mooncup now, and really wish I had discovered it as a teenager - it has taken all the trauma out of periods since I got it!

Spendless

Does anyone remember the period register at Secondary school after PE and games? :eek: and the grilling you got if you weren't regularly 'on' every 4th week?:huh:

aiasojo- glad you got it sorted, have you had a look down the feminine hygiene aisles, to see if they do a slender tampon, which may be easier for 1st time users?

VK-2008

has she got a gudiance teacher you could phone and explain that would save your daughter being embarrassed. remember there could be other girls in her class in similar situation. also give your daughter the option she may wish to try tampons xx