When I first started my period, my mother was NOT someone I could talk to about it. I just stuffed toilet paper between my crotch and probably walked a little funny to keep it from slipping out--which it would sometimes! One day when my mom was out of the house, I searched the bathroom and found some tampons. I read the instructions on the box and looked at the pictures but did NOT understand. I tried to figure it out but failed miserably. I tried taking them out of their plastic tubes first. I didn't understand the 'plunger' method at all. The tampons sort of flattened out like miniature pads, which I didn't know anything about, either. Then I got scared that my mom would notice some tampons missing, so I gave up. I kept using the toilet paper method until I turned 16 and could drive. Finally, one day I was allowed to go to walmart by myself and I explored the pad/tampon aisle. I bought a box of both. Went home, snuck them up to my room, and spent the next fifteen or so minutes reading the instructions and experimenting with the tampons until I got it right. I'm almost 28 now, and my mother has still NEVER talked to me about anything related to sex or body changes. I'm still angry that her prudishness caused me such personal humiliation and embarrassment.
Anyway, long story but I'm a very intelligent woman and I can relate to how strange and confusing diagrams and instructions are sometimes--but I knew that wearing a tampon around my neck wasn't the right thing to do. At least I had it in the correct general area of my body. The diagrams and instructions weren't THAT misleading!!!
edit: thanks for the gold, it was totally unexpected and appreciated! :)
lady1985119 karma
When I first started my period, my mother was NOT someone I could talk to about it. I just stuffed toilet paper between my crotch and probably walked a little funny to keep it from slipping out--which it would sometimes! One day when my mom was out of the house, I searched the bathroom and found some tampons. I read the instructions on the box and looked at the pictures but did NOT understand. I tried to figure it out but failed miserably. I tried taking them out of their plastic tubes first. I didn't understand the 'plunger' method at all. The tampons sort of flattened out like miniature pads, which I didn't know anything about, either. Then I got scared that my mom would notice some tampons missing, so I gave up. I kept using the toilet paper method until I turned 16 and could drive. Finally, one day I was allowed to go to walmart by myself and I explored the pad/tampon aisle. I bought a box of both. Went home, snuck them up to my room, and spent the next fifteen or so minutes reading the instructions and experimenting with the tampons until I got it right. I'm almost 28 now, and my mother has still NEVER talked to me about anything related to sex or body changes. I'm still angry that her prudishness caused me such personal humiliation and embarrassment.
Anyway, long story but I'm a very intelligent woman and I can relate to how strange and confusing diagrams and instructions are sometimes--but I knew that wearing a tampon around my neck wasn't the right thing to do. At least I had it in the correct general area of my body. The diagrams and instructions weren't THAT misleading!!!
edit: thanks for the gold, it was totally unexpected and appreciated! :)
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