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I just wanted my mom! | Source: Shutterstock
But I’m not writing about any of those firsts. I’m writing about a first I never looked forward to experiencing—my first period. I’m pretty sure the only time in life you pine for a visit from Aunt Flo is when you think you’re preggers and don’t want to be.
I especially never wanted to get my first period at summer camp, hundreds of miles from civilization and my mom. But after archery class one hot summer day, I saw blood in my underwear. Let’s be honest: no matter how many birds and the bees talks you received and no matter how many health classes you taken, no one is ever truly prepared for her first period. I didn’t feel like a woman; I felt like an ER patient. “My vagina is bleeding and it won’t stop” ran through my mind in a loop.
I figured a little toilet paper could solve the situation and it’d be over by dinnertime. (Yes, I was bit confused on periods.) When that didn’t work and I was close to using my camp’s summer supply of toilet paper, I finally confided in a friend. By confided, I mean burst into inconsolable tears. I didn’t want my period, and I didn’t want it like this.
My friend did what any intelligent 12-year-old would do when facing a crisis: she brought in reinforcements. As a collective group of friends, everyone decided we must tell the counselors. The counselors comforted me in the best way they could, but I could tell in their eyes that they were thinking: “I came to work at camp for a tan; I’m not being paid enough for this.”
I never thought I'd have to tell my dad! | Source: Shutterstock
Let me tell you, the only thing worse than getting your period at camp is having to tell you dad about it over the phone with the male camp director listening in the same room.
For a few days, I waddled around camp in my counselor’s mattress sized pads until finally my vagina stopped bleeding. When the weekend arrived, a counselor pulled me aside and said I had a visitor—another camp no-no. She led me to the parking lot where my dad sat in his car. He had driven over three hours to deliver his daughter two things: a beautiful letter about growing up (no period mentions, thank god) and a McDonald’s extra value meal—another camp no-no.
To this day, I can still remember sitting in my dad’s car and sipping a chocolate milkshake. We didn’t say much to each other, but it was better that way. My first period was a total bitch, but it did show me how much my dad loved me even if had no idea what to say to a recently mensing daughter. And it also taught that if you don’t know what to say to someone, buying a chocolate milkshake works too.
Gwendolyn is the author of the new novel A Long Way From You.
Have you gotten your first period yet? Where were you when it happened? If you’re still waiting, do you carry pads with you just in case? Tell me everything in the comments!
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well i was in my room when my sister walked end i was like what the hell do you want because she was just staring at me then all of a sudden she ran torwards me and gave me a big hug she said in my ear i know you got it then i started crying beacause its only me her and my father she saw my bloody underwear she was so happy so was i
of course, my first period had to hit the day before i started 8th grade, and it wasnt fun because i was wearing a dress that day while we were out shopping! so of course my family took me home, and the next day i was awkwardly trying to adjust to wearing a pad….yeah not fun when the only pairs of jeans you own are all tight fitting and you’re pretty sure you have gym that semester -___- but looking back, it couldve been worse i guess ha!
Well I knew it would come any minute, I just turned 12 and I was anxious to know where & when I’d get it. On wednesday I went to Missouri to see my grandma. I went with my mom that i dont live with and her husband. My sister was there too. When i got there it was us 4, my grandma, my two BOY cousins, and their parents. We went for a hike and when we got back my stomach ACHED! I ran to the bathroom and there it was, blood. I screamed HANNNNNNNNAH! (My sister) she ran up and said WHAT! I told her and she hugged me and told me it was ok (shes 14) i couldnt believe it! My period… ON THANKSGIVING! I asked her to get my mom so she did. I was crying and was like WHYYYYYYYY?!? Periods suck, bad. But i only got a little bit of blood and learned to survive. Its Sat. And I just got home, away from Missouri! You know what also got away? My period
I dont know why but I really want to get my period. I know its weird but I just do. Ive been having discharge for about 1 year but still no period. People that have,got them please tell me your perspective about them
Your period is a menace. My aunt first told me about periods on a beach trip, after I noticed something on my cousin’s leg. My aunt used words like beautiful gift, and later my mother told me the truth- periods suck! I also had discharge for more than three years before I got my period, so don’t worry about it, just be sure to have some pads around the house and some loose change with you when you’re going out. You’ll be fine!
I carry pads tampons pantilines and jist in case a extra pear of underwear, i have been getting lots of signs that my period is coming like, headacs, acne, cramps, and bloding
I’m pregnant.
ok so i was on the bus when i had a huge cramp! then all of a sudden there is blood on the seat and my friend next to me is looking at me like, ” what the hell are u doing!” true story!
Well, i guess i cant really talk to any one about my “period. only having guy friends and plus my only having my dad to count on . i guess ill talk to girls my age. im 13 btw. and i need to know something. i went to go pee. And when i wiped i noticed it had a pinkish spot on it. not like period blood. like pinkish. It really hurts to go to the bathroom. i looked online it said urinary infection. i am a virgin. and cclosest doctor is 1 hour 30 mins away! i wanna tell somebody but really nobody to tell. help.
Hi Avril. Don’t be worried! Before having my first period (btw i’m 14 and have it for about a year) i had that too. I thought it already was my period, very light, but still. It really hurted to pee and I got really worried because I thought I had an urinary infection. Then, about 2 months later I got my first period. I’m not a profesional, so I don’t know what’s your case, but probably it’s the same thing that happened to me. So be prepared!
I was so anxious to get my period! I was really annoyed that I hadn’t got it yet, and was practically checking my panties every time I went to the toilet! The anticipation of getting it had kind of worn off, and it was at the start of summer in grade eight when I got it. Although I thought I was an expert on “becoming a woman”, when I felt a great gush of fluid come down, I had no idea what was going on! To make things worse, when I had my first period (and whenever I do for that matter) when it starts… it really breaks loose! My underwear were soaked through, so I asked my coach for a sub (I was playing a semi’s game of Basketball at the time to make things worse!) and ran to the bathroom. When I got there I realised what had happened, and rushed to my gym bag for something to help me. All I had was a thin panty liner on a piece of cardboard backing we were giving in PD as a sample.
Not the best first time, but really what is!
It was a month before I turned twelve and the weekend before I went to Camp.I had my first period when I was spending the night at my Dad’s house. I had used the bathroom and when I went to wipe and I discovered the red river was flowing. I started crying and said “Daddy! I think my period just started!” and I had to put a wad of toilet paper in my underwear until I got to WalGreens to buy some pads.
I have not start my period yet and I have a brown discarge and I think it’s my period. Help??
Okay. Um lol your period is red but brown when dried on your panties. Hen you have your period you have alot off cramps (well I do) down below your tummy. They feel awful to me, but cramps are a big part. I use to think the same thing… asked the school nurse and it was an east infection. So ask your school nurse or parent.
Hey I totally know what your going through I had brown discharge then later that day I got my first period, but it can also happen 2 to 3 montjs after you get the discharge.Its ok just put on a pad or whatever and ask your mom and/or use google to learn whatever you need to know.
I had mine the day before I was due to start year 7 annoying muchhhh!
im a bout to go to camp and im scared that i might be on my period and theres suppose to be alot of swimming what do i do!!
Tampons are a lifesaver for swimming!! you just have to get the right brand with a plastic applicator and it takes a couple of times to get used to them and be comfortable but they are sooo much more convienent than pads!:)
My first period was the second week of January in the sixth grade. It was my first week back at school after winter break. My mom was on the other side of the country visiting her grandfather, my greatgrandfather, who ended up passing away the next month. I was staying at my dad’s parents house for the week because they live pretty close to my school and my dad had to take my little brother to school and then go to work, no time to take me to and from school. I’m not so close to my grandma so for the whole week i walked around with tp folded up inside my underpants. soooooo uncomfortable! of course my period ended the day before my mom got back. when she got back i had to tell her of course which was really awkward and she started crying saying how grown up i was and how she was so sorry that she wasnt here. it was sooooo awkward.
my mom was crying when i told her i started to it was awkward
sooo yeah, I was actually looking forward to it since I was 9 (not a giddy looking forward it, but an ‘I cant wait to become a woman’ type looking forward) I got my first during the middle of 8th grade. I thought 3 folds of TP would be enough (obviously not!) thankfully, I had dark wash jeans on then XD. but I waited til it was 12 at night to tell my dad, (my mom lives in another state) who has had nooo experience with this kind of thing, who made a fuss about me telling him to late, what I should have and the like, before turning me loose in a gas station to find what I needed. when we got home, I don’t think he got the message that I wasn’t up for talking, because I went straight to bed, but he wanted to talk about how proud of me he was for becoming a young woman. and as much as I understood where he was coming from, I just didn’t want to hear it- so we spent the rest of that 5 minutes (which seemed like hours) in total awkward silence. If you haven’t had yours yet, get stocked :3 it’ll be easier, and if your worrying about it being awkward, it kindof is – but after a while, you get more comfortable about it and learn to accept it – hell, you’ll even start joking about it!
haha yeahh. it was at my aunt’s baby shower.. c:
Yes and unfortunately I got it on the first day of soccer practice :/ i actually was looking forward to mine and to me it wasnt fun but it wasnt not fun idk
Yes i got my first period about a year ago i got it in school thank god it didnt go through my pants i almost had a brake down at home and didnt know who 2 tell my step mom and the worst thing of it was the next day was the praid and i had 2 be in my cheerleading outfit witch was tight and had my underwear stuck in my butt!But now i never know when my period is coming because im always stressed out with school and home and life,realtioships and more!
This story made me laugh partially because that must of sucked, but mostly because my first period sucked too!
I was in 8th grade I think, and I had this boyfriend who walked me to class and texted me constantly every day. Well, before my period started, I developed an “illness” and I was in bed 24/7 regurgitating my guts out nonstop. My parents and I thought it was just food poisoning or something, but that night, mother nature’s gift came to my surprise as I went to go to the bathroom. Being in my sick state of mind and restlessness, I saw the blood and immediately passed out, and with my luck, landed half way into the bath tub. Instead of having shower curtains, we had sliding glass and yeah, my stomach landed on the rails and, yeah… It hurt!
So I was literally sick to the stomach that whole week. After I had been gone from school and away from my phone for about two days, my boyfriend texted me and asked where I was. Obviously, I wasn’t ready to tell any boy about this so I just figured it would be easier to not reply. So he dumped me :3
my dad is the coolest person about that kind of stuff! honestly if im feeling grumpy or something he usually excuses me during my period! whewhhhh to dads!!!!