20 Jul 2021

Aunt Flow knocked on more and more of my friends' doors growing up. One friend was buying pads at age 11, another debated that tampons were better at 12. One went home in the middle of a school day because she bled all over her skirt and didn't know what to do at 13 and one shared a horror story she'd heard about toxic shock syndrome at 14.

At 15, the crimson wave still hadn't made its way to me and I felt a little out of the loop compared to my mates. They'd all pop a panadol because of cramps, pack a 'period' case with them in their school bag full of pads, tampons, and liners, would share their cravings for food, and complain about pimple breakouts; "it's because my period is coming". 

 

But, hearing all of this didn't really appeal to me. I was happy to stay out of the loop for as long as possible. My mum had gotten her period late too back in the day and I was relieved for my genealogy because I wasn't too keen to bleed out once a month.

Being a dancer, I used to sit in the spits whilst reading. After a trip to the beach, I sat on my bed, in my bikini, in the splits, and read Harry Potter for the millionth time. My mum came in and said; "oh bub, I think you need to go to the bathroom". Pardon? I didn't know motherly instincts went as far as feeling my bladder?

"I'm all good..." I said, giving mum a weird look.

"No, you've gotten your period sweetie"... I looked down and there it was. Blood staining my new bikini.

"I must have scratched myself," I said, in complete denial. I didn't want my period! I didn't want to become a "woman".

But as I sat on the toilet and looked down, I knew the sad truth. It was my time to meet Aunt Flow. I was gutted.

That night, I had a dance awards night and had to get on stage to collect an award. I was petrified that there would be a bit of blood on my skirt. So terrified that I wore two pads. TWO PADS!?!

At least my first story wasn't mortifying, not that we should feel mortified when this totally normal occurrence happens to us. *Face palm*. But my friend got her period at her own birthday pool party and she went into her room and cried whilst everyone ate cake. Another friend went over to a guys' house that she had a crush on and bled on his couch whilst they watched Surfs Up. (Great movie by the way).

If you haven't got your period yet, here is what someone told me.

Take a breather and relax. You will be fine, my love! If I, the biggest kook on the planet can work out how to stick a pad on, so can you.

I quickly adjusted to bringing tampons with me everywhere. I tried menstrual cups and period undies as well as heat packs and chocolate when I had cramps. And you will too.

Never forget, you're a girl. Girls can conquer anything.