The Period Story

Needtobestrong · Sep 4, 2017

@jayasala42 ..your mother was one smart woman..I'm guessing that you were from a very orthodox family, and of any elders had come to know about your sister attaining puberty they would have considered it highly inauspicious and created big hue and cry..
good presence of mind in such tricky situations..
I don't want to deviate from the topic..But you mentioned that in back in those days, girls never used to wear underpants ?? How did they protect their modesty if they din't wear any inner wears like brassiere or panty inside sari, blouse etc

teenulahari · Sep 5, 2017

SCSusila said: ↑

Hahaha ! That was comical
Click to expand...

Yes, it's comical now but in that situation I was really scared.

SCSusila said: ↑

@jayasala42 : applause for your mother . The more incidents you narrate about her the more wonderful she becomes in my mind , like a larger than life legendary Charcter !
Click to expand...

Rightly said @SCSusila mam, Even I felt the same. Imagine her in this generation, wow she could have achieved something big.

jayasala42 · Sep 5, 2017

Needtobestrong said: ↑

@jayasala42 ..your mother was one smart woman..I'm guessing that you were from a very orthodox family, and of any elders had come to know about your sister attaining puberty they would have considered it highly inauspicious and created big hue and cry..
good presence of mind in such tricky situations..
I don't want to deviate from the topic..But you mentioned that in back in those days, girls never used to wear underpants ?? How did they protect their modesty if they din't wear any inner wears like brassiere or panty inside sari, blouse etc
Click to expand...

Even I wonder how it was possible.After 12, girls wore brassiers available in those days with provison for putting two knots.
Many of the girls in the school from 1945 to 1952 or so didn't wear underpants.In many of the schools there were no toilets.There was big open space with trees here and there. Girls had to relieve themselves behind the trees.I have seen many girls with bare bottom.Only after attaining maturity a few girls would wear underpants especially on those days during which protection is needed.After 1960 all these things changed.You cannot see even an infant without diaper.In those diaperless days, infants had dress only above the waist, other parts open free for everyone to see.Wetting the saree by kids were very common in those days.
jayasala42

Smileyshravs · Sep 5, 2017

teenulahari said: ↑

This is regarding a funny drama that I made during my very first periods. Before my first periods I had a little knowledge about it. As ours being traditional orthodox family they never discussed these matters before children. A few times when I tried to ask my mother & aunt they would just smile and divert the topic. So, I was totally unaware of this one of the tabooed subjects of our society called Menstruation. The little bit knowledge I gained about this topic was through my friends who too were not very open to discuss but used to say that “It’s like a different stomach ache that a girl gets and during that period she will be given lots goodies, dresses and jewelry etc etc”.

Why would a girl’s stomach ache be celebrated this grand? What is so special about having a stomach ache? I thought to myself. I was surprised to know that few people even celebrate this in big function halls”.

The First Periods:

Because of my poor knowledge when I finally got my periods I misjudged it to be some sort of blood cancer. (This was because of the films I saw in which protagonists with blood cancer vomit blood and die and also I had no stomach ache). I was so scared. I started crying sitting under the big jasmine tree in our garden. Just then my sister came running to me with two five stars, I hid my tears. She gave me one, then with so much Vairagya (dispassion) I said patting her back..Now you can have my share of chocolates also, enjoy my sweet sister!!!. She gave me a puzzled look but I continued..” don’t trouble mom, study well”. Then she asked me what happened to me I just gave a smirk and said “you don’t understand”.

When I tried to stand up my legs started paining. ”Hum.. this may be the second stage I think” I thought to myself and asked my sister to help me reach my room. She took me to my room holding my hand.

I thought of telling about this to my aunt as she’s very close to me but I was scared of her reaction. (She is very emotional type; even a good song can make rivers Ganga, Godavari flow from her eyes. Actually all my family members are so emotional types except my mom).

I started chanting Narayana Mantra as my grandpa told me that people in their last stages of life should do smarana of Lord Narayana as this will lead them to Moksha.

I thought to myself whether I would go to Hell or Heaven. “ I have always been a good girl, done danas (donations) of 2 or 5 rupees to friends. Gave my old dresses to Lakshmi (our maid’s daughter) and helped my grandpa in gardening etc. etc, so I may go to heaven.” I thought.

Just then my mother came and asked me to get ready for school. The Conversation

Mom: Teenu! are you not going to school today, you have become very lazy. Come on get ready.

Me: No, Amma! (In a very dramatic way), I can’t.

Mom: Why? Are you not well

Me: Amma! You don’t understand (I couldn’t control my tears)

Mom: Why are you crying?

Me: Mom, I am gonna Die! I have Cancer.

Mom: Cancer!! Kanna!, tell me what happened, why are you crying?

Then I told the entire thing and she started laughing. She took me to my Aunt and told her the entire scene that happened in the room and they both started laughing

I felt insulted. I demanded the reason then they told me that “It’s the Periods” with big grins. “So I am not gonna die” I asked them, then they said No. I felt so relieved.

My mom asked me not to go to school for five days. I was so happy. My sister who was getting ready to go to school heard my mom saying not to go to school and she voluntarily took leave for all the five days along with me.

I asked my sister to give my share of 5 Star (she didn’t eat it, she saved it for the evening). She was very happy that we are not going to school and so happily gave me my share and I started munching it with great relief.

How is it?

Thank U
Teenu.
Click to expand...

Nice one Dear.. Even i have small conversation with my mother at my periods.. Nicely written

teenulahari · Sep 5, 2017

Smileyshravs said: ↑

Nice one Dear.. Even i have small conversation with my mother at my periods.. Nicely written
Click to expand...

Thank U.

teenulahari · Sep 5, 2017

Needtobestrong said: ↑

Now atleast moms and aunts are open about all such topics , and schools also conduct workshops for women health awareness and excess info is available online and all school kids get info from friends and classmates...
Click to expand...

Yes, now the awareness is growing. We too had workshops in our school but were mostly on menstrual health and they did not teach us about the basic part, so those girls who had not got their menstrual cycles yet remained puzzled. But thanks to internet for its abundant info It's really helpful.