Periods

single dad - real story

another reader submitted a story anonymously  :)

My parents got divorced when I was ten and my dad had custody of me that first summer. He lived near the ocean so we'd go to the beach often. One day we went to the beach and that was the day my first period decided to show up. Keep in mind, this was the summer before fifth grade, I didn't know what periods were yet. 

I went out into the water and kept getting knocked over by giant waves. After inhaling too much seawater and getting beat up by the ocean I decided it was a good idea to go to the restaurant that was near the beach. Lots of people at this restaurant would wear their bathing suits and a cover up so my dad and I didn't look out of place. I sat on top of my towel the whole time we were there and didn't look at the back of my towel until we got back home. I lost my mind when I saw the stain because I was a very dramatic child. I'm talking full on bawling my eyes out tears. 

Of course, the excessive crying caught my dad's attention and he also panicked because he did not have any pads or tampons because he didn't think I'd start so early. My dad attempted to give me the talk once he came back home with supplies but he didn't really know much. 

I also didn't get my period again until a month after I was back at my mom's so she thinks she witnessed my first period and I haven't told her that it wasn't actually my first period. It's been four years.