Sabrina P • Tennessee • 43
I was almost 18 when I first got my period. I went to an all girls high school and had lied about it because I was literally the only one I knew who didn’t get it yet. When it happened, I was stoked.
It was day 3 of my first period when a girl at my lunch table asked if anyone had a pad. I was secretly excited and eager and rose my hand “I do!” I fished through my purse and pulled out the pad my mom had given me. Every one of my friends looked at it as it got passed down the table.
My mom, an immigrant, worried I would leak and be embarrassed so she’d bought me three inch thick, eight inch long pads meant for women with bladder issues. It went from my belly button all the way to top of my butt crack. When it reached my friend at the other end of the table she said, “what the hell is this?” She opened and unfolded the trifold pad as everyone stared.
I confessed immediately and told them all it was what my mom had given me. Pretty soon everyone had pulled out examples of what I needed to use and told me to ditch the diaper.
