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IN FOCUS: ARTICLE |
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Presenting Your Period!
by Elisa Klein, 12.17.04
Getting your first period opens the door to this secret world that has its own language. |
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Shana was only 11 years old when she first spotted the brown-tinged bloodstain on her underpants. "I was so confused!" says Shana, now 18. "I kept on trying to figure out how I cut myself down there! It never occurred to me that I was having my first period. I didn't even tell my mom for two days."
Whether you were the first person you knew to get your period, like Shana, or the last one in your high school class, many girls have memorable stories about their first visit from their "red friend." And whether it was exciting, embarrassing, or a bit of both, it's likely that your first period brought a world of new experiences with it.
Aunt Flo Is Coming to Visit!
"My mom always used to talk to her sisters about 'Aunt Flo,'" says Jenny, 19. "I never knew who this mystery relative was until I got my period. 'Aunt Flo has come to visit Jenny,' I heard her say on the phone to my grandmother. Finally I got it ... Aunt FLOW!"
There's a whole dictionary of slang to describe the menstrual process! "I got a big red package!" was what my camp counselor used to say. Getting your first period opens the door to this secret world that has its own language. All of the sudden, you have a special bond with other girls and women who've already gotten their periods. "My mom and I became much closer when I got my period," says Jenny. "She acknowledged the fact that I was growing up."
Communication with your dad may also improve ... especially if he's the only one home when you discover that you need maxi pads! "I live with my dad," says Allie, 18. "I was so mortified to ask him to get me pads, but he did a great job. In fact, he brought home five different kinds!" Talking with your dad about your first period is a great way to break the ice with other sensitive subjects. You'll be surprised how getting your period can change your interactions with your parents for the better!
Unfortunately, some girls and their parents don't feel comfortable talking about periods. In this case, an older sister, aunt, or friend's mom can be a big help.
Body Basics
"I was miserable when I first started to get my period," says Shana. "Every month, I had cramps, I felt cranky, and my face broke out ... yuck!"
For many of us, getting our periods make us feel more like aliens than like blossoming women! But accepting the changes that your body may go through during menstruation, such as mood swings and bloating, is part of the process of growing up. And, learning how to take better care of yourself is a great lesson to learn. For me, getting my period always means treating myself to a lazy day in bed and my favorite chocolate dessert!
Going with the Flow
Nearly every girl remembers her first solo trip to the drugstore to buy pads and tampons — that feeling like everyone in the store is looking at you. You may have imagined other customers staring at you and whispering to each other, "She has her period!"
But it's not such a big deal for long. After a while, you're not afraid to go to your local convenience store to get what you need. The same goes for figuring out which supplies to use. Pads or tampons, cardboard or plastic ... it all gets easier as you realize that your period is just a normal part of being a woman.
Getting your first period is a big adjustment. You experience changes emotionally and physically. But eventually, you start to accept the changes, and you may even welcome the arrival of your monthly visitor! |
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