Accidents are unavoidable (in life, but especially on your period). It is not unusual for your friendly local uterus to sometimes cause leaks and stains.
I used to feel super embarrassed when I occasionally messed up, thinking I was the only one that had mistakes now and again.
You’ll be glad to know then, that you’re not alone; we’re not always perfect during this trying week! (I mean, who decided that on the week that we’re at our most emotionally vulnerable, in constant pain and generally a bit spaced-out, is also the week we have to keep track of how saturated our sanitary product of choice is?)
Just a few weeks ago I went over to a friend’s house, and I’d like to emphasise the fact that this was one of my guy friends.
He had invited me over to watch a football match that was apparently important. I’m not big on football, but he is, and I looked forward to a day at his house hanging with him and his siblings.
I was aware that I had gotten my period just the day before, so I obviously brought pads with me. I knew that I’d have to be careful and change regularly to prevent any accidents.
At first it was going fine. I was outside in their garden watching the boys play football while chatting to their little sister.
I made an excuse to use the bathroom and switch out my pad, and I was doing a good job at not overreacting to anything or seeming too grumpy, as I often did (isn’t it wild how we try so much to come across as ‘normal’ during our period?).
When the actual game was starting, we went inside and chose our spots, and somehow, I was stupid enough to sit down on the ONLY WHITE ARMCHAIR there (proving just how spaced-out a gal can get on her period).
I was confident though, far too confident
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The horror story is about to begin. It was a dark and stormy night in my uterus, but I had previous experience on pad rotation, and I knew that I would get up in at halftime to change again.
This didn’t end up going to plan though, as I was faced with some problems. Firstly, my pads were in my shoulder bag and I was worried it might look weird if I picked it up and took it to the bathroom with me.
Then there was the issue that opening pads could be noisy, and two teenage boys in the next room might wonder what the sound was.
There was also no lock on the bathroom door, and while I knew that no-one would come in if the door was closed, the idea that someone could just walk in on me changing was unpleasant and, to top it all off, I soon discovered that there was no bin in that bathroom, so what would I do with the used pad?
All factors that were far too scary for my liking.
With all this against me I didn’t end up using the bathroom during halftime. I did sneakily check the seat though and was happy to see that I hadn’t leaked, so I assumed that everything was fine.
Oh boy, was I wrong!
When the game ended and I got up to follow the others out, I checked the armchair out of habit and froze in panic.
I. HAD. LEFT. A. MARK.
The horror story wasn’t over!!! It wasn’t a big stain, but it was bright red and on a white armchair, meaning it really stood out.
I quickly covered it up with a pillow, picked up my shoulder bag and rushed to the bathroom. I was too freaked out to worry about what that might look like.
When I went back to the lounge, I sat on the ground next to the armchair. No way was I sitting on it and risking another accident, but I also couldn’t let anyone else take the seat in case they moved the pillow aside.
I felt super awkward, and I think my friend noticed I was acting a lil’ strange, but I had to play it off as ‘normal’ (God knows if I succeeded, I was far too busy dying inside).
I decided that I had to tell his mum, though it took me a while to gather up the courage. I didn’t need to worry though, she was so calm about it, telling me not to worry and offering products if I needed them.
She just said to cover it up for now and then she’d wash the covering after the kids went to bed. I was so relieved!
And so, your heroine survived this particular horror story, but she’s not about to sit on a white armchair anytime soon.