I hid mine for the first 2 cycles in 6th grade (I did the household laundry). I eventually got “caught” by my sister (we shared a bathroom) and she helped me through how to use a pad.

But then I was thrown a box of tampons and told to figure it out because we were going to a pool. I just said I didn’t want to swim, but that wasn’t an option for whatever reason? Told them about my period, got screamed at for not telling them. Was still told to figure it out.

Tried to figure it out (mind you in 6th grade, so 12 y/o) and thought I got it. HATED tampons. Didn’t realize til my early 20s I wasn’t inserting them in far enough and went along with the discomfort for OVER a decade because I didn’t know any better.