Not on Cloud 9

Maura T.  •   Florida  •  22

I was 9 and I had absolutely no idea what a period was!! I woke up one day during one of the vacation times at school and saw it there in its full glory. I was so scared and I thought something was wrong since I didn’t know about it.

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I went immediately downstairs because my mom was working and I didn’t want to tell my grandma (I lived in a building at that time) and asked my 12 year old friend if she knew what was wrong. She explained and later my mom talked to me. For years I had many an embarrassing experience getting stains at school not knowing what pads to wear or when to change them.

Phone a Family Member

Jessica S.  •   Illinois  •  27

My parents are currently divorced, and at the time they were as well. I was always manipulating my mom to get out of going to my dad's house on the weekends since he lived so far away and I would always miss out on plans. One weekend I was actually at my dad's house, and I got my period for the first time. I was only 11 and wasn’t sure what to do.

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I called my mom to tell her what happened and to ask what I should ask my dad to buy, but instead she says, “I don’t fucking believe you, you're just trying to get out of being with your father this weekend.” So I then call my Grandma to ask what I should buy, and she goes “you need to buy the pads with the ‘wings.’ And I just hung up on her, broke down in tears and sucked it up to go ask my dad to take me to Walgreens. When I got back into the car my dad goes, “did ya get everything ya need?!” I was mortified...

A Letter to Mr. E

Claire B.  •   Texas  •  24

It happened in 5th grade. We had just had “the talk” the week before at school, and I thought there was no way that was just a coincidence. I had somehow jinxed myself and this was my punishment.

I first noticed when I went to the bathroom before lunch. I freaked out and tried to wipe it all away over and over, thinking it would stop, but it didn’t. I had no choice but to go on with my day just kind of waddling around and trying not to let anyone stand behind me.

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At the end of the day, my teacher was passing back papers and having each student walk up to him to get theirs. I was sure my pants were soaked through by this time. Thankfully, he was standing close enough that if I just stretched really far I could reach him without standing up...except when he called my name and I did my stretch technique he made a big scene about me needing to “follow the same rules as everybody else” and made me stand up and walk around everybody’s desks to get my paper.

12 years later I’m not embarrassed anymore, but Mr. E still sucks.