Not-So-Clean Jeans

Katie B  •  Texas  •  14

I was twelve when I got my first period nearly 13. Luckily, my Mom taught me about it beforehand. I also had this book about puberty I have been reading since I was 9.

Luckily, I had my first period at home. So, I remember I went to the toilet, I saw the brown stain first but I didn't think much of it and thought I forgot to wipe. I then wiped and thought "Fuck, I'm on my period". While I knew what a period was, I didn't tell my Mom nearly the whole day and went around with no pad. The blood went through the first part of my pants so you could see it on the inside but not on the outside.

I wrote in my journal and then I decided that I was going to tell my Mom. I was scared and stood right in front of my Mom's room. "Okay, Katie just tell her." I kept creeping towards the door but then slowly backing away.

Just when I thought I was ready to go in the door. I heard my brother talk with my Mom about this video game. Fuck, well I don't want my brother to know, so I waited for him to leave. Finally I went in the room, and I held up my pants.

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Even though I memorized what I wanted to say, I stood there for a few solid seconds with my pants in my hands. My Mom stared at me like WTF, while I stuttered out "Mom, I think I'm on my period." and then bursted out crying. I don't know why I did this. And then even worse, my brother appeared. My Mom quickly got him away and told him to play his video games. My Mom told me it was a natural part of life and that my best friend recently started too. She didn't give me any of that "you are a woman now" shit.

My Mom lead me to a drawer where reusable pads were stored. Thank goodness my Mom bought me pads years back so I'd be prepared. These were bought particularly for me. My Mom showed me how to put the pads on and how to make sure your clothes aren't stained.

My brother acted like he heard nothing and invited me to play video games with him. I'm pretty sure he heard us though because my Mom wasn't being exactly quiet.

P.S: I had my second period only about two weeks after my first and I also had that one at home too.

Clean Up in Aisle 6

Amy B  •  Worthing, UK  •  21

I was going grocery shopping with my mum. I was 14 at the time and I knew about periods as mum had given me the talk. I was wearing white leggings and my vest top as it was summer and it was the weekend.

As I was in the middle of shopping, I felt this wet sort of feeling drip down my leg. I ran off to the toilets inside Tesco and my whole bottom area of leggings and down my leg had blood on them and my underwear was completely covered. Mum phoned me as she couldn't find me at all. I was too embarrassed to say to her in the first place that I was running to the toilet so I just went. I told her I was in the bathroom and I'd just started my period and it was everywhere. I told her I needed new trousers wet wipes, pads (preferably heavy ones), nappy sacks and new underwear.

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She ran around to get them and within 10 minutes, she handed them to me and I sorted myself out. I came out of the toilet and we were going to WHSmith's for a drink and the same thing happened again. I leaked everywhere so I told mum this time I was going to the toilet and she said she'd be with me in a minute.

I took the bag of my stuff and went to the toilet and had to change my pad and underwear as I'd leaked. Mum met me outside the bathrooms and she drove me home asap so I could have a bath. Even then in the bath, I had to keep changing the water as I was bleeding into it. My first period dragged on for 11 days.

PTO: Period Time Off

Lizzie W  •  UK  •  15

I was at my best friend's house after school and I didn't know what to do, so I just put loads of toilet paper in my pants (underwear if you're American).

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When my mum picked me up, I told her everything and she said "I will let you have the week off."