First Period Story

‘Mummy, what is this disgusting thing in my pant?’, I screamed from the bathroom. It was a Monday morning and I, an 11-year-old girl just beginning secondary school. 

I always thought that periods will come when I was at least 14 and at most 16 because my mum had gotten hers around that age. At 11, I was not thinking about beginning menstruation or dealing with cramps, I just wanted to get through junior school unscathed. Life had other plans for me though; I started my period then.

I had woken up 6:30 am to get ready for school since we had to leave by 7:30am. Preparing to take a shower, I pulled my panties down and was just about to wash it when I saw a huge dark brown stain, I screamed. I had a mix of emotions from embarrassment (how can this thing have come out from me?) to fear (oh my God, am I sick?) to horror (yes, I am definitely sick). I ran to my parent’s room and asked her to please come out that there was an emergency.

I embarrassingly showed her my panties explaining that this was not a norm, and I don’t know why something disgusting will be in there. She let out a laugh - I was not sure what she was laughing at but it was not a funny moment to me at all. I asked her again, ‘what is this disgusting thing mummy?’, she went ahead to explain to me that I had started my menstrual period and talked me through the process of cleaning up, maintaining personal hygiene during this time and how frequently I probably should change. My older cousin was staying with us then so she gave me three of her menstrual pads. My mother also made it very clear to me that I should not let anyone touch me. I cried.

I cried because I saw all of it as a burden, I was 11 years old, and I really did not want something weird coming out of my body or having to clean up blood constantly. It was all weird coupled with the fact that now I had to be careful not to allow anyone. P.S. I took this quite literally. At school that day, if any guy attempted to say hi with a tap, I flinched and avoided any contact. I remained like this for a week until my mum cleared it up that she did not mean literally.

Now that I think about it, it is hilarious, but it really wasn’t then. I am quite thankful I had my mum talk me through what I needed to know about periods but the burden of that at only 11 years old was something I hated. 

How was yours? Was it scary as well or did you have it all figured out already? I would love to hear about it! Use the #SANGfirstperiodstories