My first menstrual cycle was in the summer of 86' when I was in Mexico visiting my grandmother. My parents were back in Dallas at home. One day I felt weird pains in my stomach all morning and thought it was just a stomach ache. About mid morning I went to the restroom and found blood in my under garments and freaked out. I ran to my grandmother and aunt and explained what happened. Up to this point I had never heard anything about menstrual cycles. My grandmother and aunt laughed and told me that I was a women now. They explained what was going on with my body and why women have menstrual cycles. They showed me how to use sanitary napkins and explained the importance of staying clean while on the cycle.
I was mortified and embarrassed, but my grandmother made me some tea and reassured me that it was normal and every women goes through the same thing. I was pretty bummed out because I could not go swimming or climb trees like I used to with the boys. I felt weird and thought the boys might notice the difference.
It was hard for me because I was so far from home and did not have my mom to talk to, not even by phone. I had to wait until the end of summer vacation when my parents picked me up to share the news. I cried and told my mom that I did not want this menstrual stuff and wished I was a boy because they didn’t have to go through this. My mom reassured me and spoke to me about conceiving and how without menstrual cycles I could not have a baby later in life. She also told me the one thing I will never forget, she said “this is the one time of the month you can be mean and get away with it”. Once she spoke to me a little more I felt better.
I thought I would share my story because it was really hard for me when I started my menstrual cycle. I was scared that I would not be able to do the things I did before. At the time I thought it was the end of the world. I hated the cramps, bloating, and the sanitary napkins. It took a lot of time for me to get used to it, but eventually I had no choice but to deal with it. To this day I still hate TOM (time of month) and curse it every month.
Thanks for reading,
Yadira Cheatham
Yadira,
ReplyDeleteI read your story and I'm sorry it was so hard for you when you got your menstral cycle. I remember when I got mine it was really hard for me too. I just remember asking my mom what "this" was and her telling me very calmly that I just got my period. I was like "what's that?!" and she told me that every woman gets it. I cried and cried and cried for days!!! I hated it and thought I was going to die! But after about 2 years I got use to it. I was only 12 when I got my period. But I just wanted to let you know that you weren't alone in going through that hard time. I think for most girls it's a hard thing to go through.
Sincerely,
Carla
Yadira,
ReplyDeleteThat brings back so many memories for me to. I did not discover what a period was until I went to the restroom one day and oh my God, I was bleeding and thought something was wrong with me. I yelled so loud for my mother who came screaming saying whats wrong and showed her what was on my panties and she just fell out laughing. I was confused at why she thought it was funny and Yadira just as your grandparents told you, mine broke it down to me about how I was a woman now and I'm no longer a little girl and started to discuss the ins and outs of having a period. Although I laugh at these times, I also wonder why I was never educated on this matter prior to it happening. I attended a private school and I don't even remember ever having a sex-education course until my adolecent years. I don't it was right for my mom to not educate me of what to expect and reason being is because you never know where or what you may doing when it comes. I chose to educate my little girl from the age of 10 of what a period is, how it looks, why it happens and what to do in the event I'm not there to help her. I believe it is very important to educate our girls as much as possible about their bodies so that they can make better choices when life hits them.
Dana Anderson
Yadira,
ReplyDeleteHi this will be the second time I have tried to respond to your post my computers were freaking out on me. Anyways, your story reminded me of a story my grandmother told me about her menstrual cycle which is quite hilarious.
I cannot remember what year it was when she started,but she said she started around 11 or 12 years old. She was at home one day drinking some red juice called bug juice, she said it was her favorite thing to drink. She was outside of her house playing when she had to go to the bathroom, she ran into the house because she said she really needed to go, pulled down her panties and went.When she was done she turned around to flush the toilet and freaked out!!! She started yelling and screaming ran out of the bathroom almost forgetting to pull up her underwear and in hysterics tell her mother "mom I peeing bug juice" LoL. I was almost fell out of my seat when I heard that, I thought to myself how stupid she did not know. So I asked her why did you think you were peeing juice as I laughed, she told me that back then they did not believe in talking about sex or the body in such a way. The only time they would talk about it is when it happened and even then they did not go into much detail.
I was shocked to find that out, because I found out about my period by my mother and school. What I learned in school was reinforced at home by my mother. I was 9 years old when I started my cycle and have hated ever since.
I started my period on a family road trip with my mother,grandmother and aunt. I knew exactly what was going on, my mood changed so rapidly, I started having migraines and stomach cramps it was horrible. The symptoms of my cycle have progressively gotten worse so I sought out an explanation from my OBGYN when I was 17 and she diagnosed men with PMDD. My cycles are crippling, I get symptoms 1 or two before it actually hits. the symptoms are sever depression and sadness, irritability,sever incapacitating cramps and back pains, very heavy blood flow, dizziness and weakness. Sometimes I would even pass out due to the extreme pain. I once passed out in my college shower, because I was using the hot water to ease the cramps, I woke up choking on water. So I advise anyone who is anemic which I am do not take showers or sit in a tub full of water with out letting someone know you are in there. It is dangerous, I continue to do it because it is the only way to somewhat ease the pain.
My grandmother told be that they did not teach sex education in school, and when I told her we were being taught about sex in school she asked me what are they teaching you? I told her they were teaching about STI,contraceptives and masturbation she was flabbergasted when she heard that,lol.
It is funny to she how different generations find out about sex, but I think it is important that children are educated by parents first rather than school. It should be the parents responsibility to teach about sex education.Children should not be oblivious to sex, but educated the only way the kids can get hurt is if they are not well informed.
Kitara Wright.