MENSTRUATION- A 10 YEAR OLD’s INITIAL PERSPECTIVE
May 1, 2024
First story
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Favdel
May 20
Joined Nov 19, 2020

I woke up with a tight pain in my stomach and turned around in bed, trying not to wake up my bunkmate. With fear, my legs were tied to the bed, as I dared not stand up with all the crazy stories I had heard about boarding schools. The pain came again, and this time, it was worse, and I felt like I needed to pee. I knew I couldn't hold it any longer. With a deep breath, I mustered up the courage to wake my bunkmate.
"Hey," I whispered urgently, shaking her gently. She stirred and blinked her eyes open, confused by the urgency in my voice. "What's wrong?" she mumbled sleepily. I winced as another wave of pain shot through my stomach. "I really need to go to the bathroom," I admitted, embarrassed.
My bunkmate sat up, concern etched on her face."Alright, let me follow you," she said.
We both tiptoed towards the bathroom, careful not to make a sound. The hallway was dark and eerie, with only the moonlight filtering through the small windows. As we reached the bathroom door, I quickly pushed open the creaky door. The fluorescent light flickered on, illuminating the tiled floors and old sinks. I hurriedly made my way to the nearest cubicle, relieved to finally have some privacy. My bunkmate waited outside, her presence a comforting reassurance. There was a big red stain sitting pretty at the back of my nightgown. I gasped in horror as I saw the stain on my nightgown.
Panic surged through me, and I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. How could this have happened? I tried to keep my composure, but the tears welled in my eyes despite my best efforts. My bunkmate must have sensed my distress as she knocked softly on the door before speaking. "Are you okay in there?" Her voice was concerned, and I could hear the rustle of her moving closer to the cubicle. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts before responding.
"I... l think I started my period," I admitted quietly, feeling mortified at having to say it out loud. There was a moment of silence from the other side of the door. "Do you think we should call Mrs.
Onyebube?" my bunkmate suggested, her voice filled with uncertainty. The mention of our strict matron sent a shiver down my spine. Mrs Onyebube was known for her no- nonsense attitude and sharp tongue, and the thought of explaining this to her made me tremble even more.
"No, I will try to handle it myself," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. I quickly cleaned myself up as best as possible and emerged from the cubicle, feeling self-conscious. My bunkmate handed me a sweater to tie around my waist to hide the stain, offering me a reassuring smile.
"Thanks," | whispered gratefully. We sneaked back to our bunk beds together, hoping no one would notice my mishap. As I settled back into bed, my bunkmate whispered softly, "Don't worry, we'll figure this out tomorrow." And so I slept there with my crazy stain and self-consciousness, hoping that the night would pass quickly and morning would solve my predicament.
In the morning, I met Mrs. Onyebube (I had no other option), and she taught me a little about menstrual hygiene and how to wear a pad. I told my mama about my new experience during our weekend calling sessions! She was thrilled and added deeper details about menstruation, associating symptoms, flow types, and types of pads. I am still grateful for my bunkmate for that night, two 10-year-old girls navigating menstruation together in a strict boarding school environment. Mrs Onyebube's talk on menstrual hygiene was enlightening, and I felt more confident in handling my period thanks to her guidance. As the weeks passed, I grew more comfortable with this natural part of being a girl. My bunk mate and I even started a small stash of pads hidden in our bedside lockers, just in case of emergencies.
Looking back now, I realized that night was a pivotal moment for me. It taught me the essence of womanhood, girlhood, and femininity. I still struggle with menstrual symptoms like stomach cramps and hormonal changes. That night was definitely one of several days I would be stained. But I gradually learned that what I experienced was normal. Menstruation is normal and should not be shamed or be a hush-hush topic. Society needs to get rid of the belief that menstruation is dirty and should be hidden away. Women should not be subjected to infection and disease because they can't ask for help on how to handle their periods or even get basic sanitary supplies because of poverty. The
the message of menstrual health should be loud and clear.
I found strength in embracing my womanhood and supporting other girls and women who are yet to be confident in their menstrual experiences. You are a woman, fearless, divine, and so is your body and every experience it goes through.