Getting their period can be a pretty intense and tough time of transition for young women. It's even tougher when it happens before you even really feel like a woman. Girls seem to be getting their periods at younger and younger ages, however. And I should know, because my tween daughter just got hers at the age of 10.
It was a pretty emotional experience. And by that, I mean it was an emotional experience for me. My daughter, however, handled it like a seasoned pro. She joked around, then got right down to business, placing a pad in her underwear and never shedding a single tear or a complaint.
I was incredibly impressed by her lighthearted attitude! I, on the other hand, was a sobbing, hysterical mess, muttering things like, "But you were only just a baby!" I was worried about how tough it would be for her to adjust. I remembered issues with faulty pads and leaks when I was young. I wished there was something I could do to make it easier on her.
I knew about all kinds of different options for periods. I mean, gone are the days of just tampons and pads. Now there are cups and reusable pads and all kinds of things to make periods easier on women. I'm partial to my cup. But I didn't really think any of these contraptions would be right for my tween.
But there was something I hadn't tried and was curious about. When my daughter got her period, it seemed like the perfect time to give it a whirl. That thing was period underwear. While the concept seemed strange to me, I had heard from friends who liked them. So I ordered a few pairs both for me and for my tween daughter from a company called Joyja.
A few days later, we got our undies in the mail. My daughter was on the third day of her period, so it was excellent timing! Her flow likely wouldn't be too heavy if this just turned out to be a totally leaky, gross, damp experience. She also thought the patterns were super cute.
However, she didn't complain. I tried not to pry, but I took that as a good sign. If she was seriously uncomfortable, she would've let me know. And when it came time to wash the underwear, I honestly couldn't even see the blood. I just threw them right into the washing machine and didn't give it another thought. No muss, no fuss!
The game-changing moment came when my kid had ballet practice. I'd been super worried about how uncomfortable she'd be wearing a pad under her tights and leotard. Plus, what if it was noticeable? What if it leaked?!
Well, thanks to her period underwear, we didn't have to worry about ballet one bit. While I was stressed and slightly terrified that she'd have some traumatizing situation she'd never forget (and it would somehow definitely be my fault), she seem totally unbothered. She said she even forgot she had her period altogether.
Then my period rolled around. I was pretty excited, ya know, amid my period haze and will to live being sucked away (hi, PMS) to try my undies. The first day of my period is pretty much a nightmare these days. My whole body aches but especially my lower belly, lower back, and entire groin area. It's so uncomfortable that wearing a cup on the first day of my period is usually not an option.
I felt relieved that I wouldn't have to worry about running out to the store and buying tampons, and I wouldn't have to mess with my cup. I slid my period underwear on — in a bright, lively pattern, mind you — and honestly didn't give it another thought. I stayed so dry, I wondered if I was really bleeding much. That is, until I went to the bathroom and realized that, yes, my period was present and accounted for.
As a woman in my mid-30s who has had two children, my period basically sucks no matter what. But my period underwear from Joyja definitely makes it more tolerable. When it comes to the first day or so of my period, these days I'm having a far more pleasant experience.
There's a lot to love about Joyja undies. The patterns are cute. They never feel even the slightest bit damp, and I don't have to worry about spending money on products each month. I love them for myself. But as the mom of a tween who is just learning the ropes of menstruation, Joyja has helped to ease my parental worries and help my daughter have a smooth transition into young womanhood.
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