I had my first period at age 10. Mom freaked out. Thinking about what happened long ago makes me laugh at the entire situation. Mom figured I started menses when she was doing laundry. I heard her scream “Allison!” I didn’t know what to think or understand her abrupt reaction. What I can remember is my mom telling me to go into the bathroom, with a pad in hand, and to put the pad on my underwear. Then she hands over the telephone so I could talk to my Aunt K., who just graduated from nursing school. Oh what an embarrassing conversation. I talked to my Aunt K about this significant event years later. My Aunt K remembers that conversation like this:
Mom: Here talk to them.
Aunt K: About what? (Mom hands phone over to me.) How do you feel?
Me: O.k.
Aunt K: Do you understand what is going on?
Me: Yep
Apparently I learned about the menstrual cycle at school but I don’t remember that at all. I believe part of my mom’s reluctance to tell me was because she felt inadequate to explain about the menstrual cycle. English was not her first language so trying to translate from Chinese to English was intimidating. In hindsight, it is possible the reaction my mom had was the same reaction my grandmother had when my mom experienced her first period. Overall I had a unique experience. It wasn’t exactly positive but it wasn’t negative either. It just happened.
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Oh my gosh, that is such a unique experience. I was mortified when I started and the thought of having to talk, via phone, with my aunt about it would have traumatized me forever. Did your mother ever discuss it with you anymore, did you feel comfortable asking her questions, or do you think her reaction made you more timid to question it?
ReplyDeleteI believe your story may have topped the awkward first menarche situations. Seeing that you can look back and laugh at the entire situation now is great some women to this day continue to dread even thinking about it. I would have personally loved to have an aunt to come in and give me pointers vs. my mom that’s so straight forward that it’s embarrassing. Hey we live, we learn and then we do a better job when it’s our turn hopefully.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying reading these experiences! Imagine the trauma of having your mother tell your older brother that 'his little sister is now a woman!" Allison, I can relate to this akward phone call!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!