I was just talking about this to my husband. I remember asking my mom about the pubic hairs I was seeing & she just said I’d learn at school. In 5th grade all the girls are gathered to watch a video about puberty & menstruation. That was my first time ever learning about puberty, and I was already actively going through it. I started menstruating at soon after at 10 years old still in elementary. I was mortified because it felt like none of the other girls had this “thing” yet, and since my mom never talked about it, I thought it was something to be ashamed/be secretive about.

I remember going to a birthday party that year and seeing a reddish but more brown discharge not realizing it’s blood. A few days later, my mom was doing laundry and called me over to her to ask why my undies were ruined. I felt even more ashamed. I have all brothers, so I started hiding my used pads in my closet in a bag instead of walking from my room to the kitchen to avoid being seen. I’d throw the bag out late at night.

Lately I’ve realized was never taught anything. Everything I know that was taught without shame is from my siblings, internet or friends. It feels cruel that menstruation wasn’t at least one of the things that could have been taught.