I was in fifth grade when I saw a smear of red in my underwear.
My heart dropped. My hands were shaking.
I burst into tears and ran to my mom, terrified that something was horribly wrong.
She said: “Don’t be scared — you’re just growing up.”
But I was scared — for days.
Every time I took a pad to the bathroom, I’d hide it up my sleeve like a secret.
It felt like something heavy I wasn’t supposed to talk about.
Until one day during recess, my best friend told me,
“Oh I got my period last month!”
And just like that, the weight on my chest lifted.
The first period (called menarche) usually happens between ages 10 and 15. It might feel overwhelming at first, but that's just a rite of passage.
Talking about periods openly helps remove stigma and normalize what’s actually a very common part of life, so go ahead, share the good news around!
TheFlowFiles #PeriodPositive #GrowingUpGirl #PeriodEducation #NormalizePeriods #RealTalkPeriods
Your period is personal — but you’re not alone. The Flow Files shares real stories from women who’ve joined the club… in all kinds of ways. Let us know if you have a story to share.