There are many phases that we go through, as a woman, and one of the phases which changes a lot for us is menstruation. I remember how I used to fuss over my periods when they were so new to me.

Yesterday, I was going through some of my old stuff when I found an old diary of mine. It brought a smile on my face. I would love to share some of the pages from the diary that I used to write during my early teens.

1^st, March, 2007:

I am so mad that I had to write about it as soon as possible!

I can’t believe what just happened! Mom came to my room and started acting a little weird. She started asking me all sorts of crazy, out of the blue, questions.(That was gross!) and then she came near me and hugged me tight. She said, “You have grown up. You need to know certain facts about yourself now.” And this is what she told me:

Mom:A girls first period means she is growing up and is ready to have a baby someday.

Me: Ma, but I am too young! What are you talking about?

Mom: Beta, I am just making you aware of certain things. I am not saying you will have a baby now. It is still a long way before you have one.

Me: Umm, Ok! Can we please not talk about it?!

Mom:A period lasts for 2 to 7 days when a girl or a woman experiences menstrual flow. For most girls, it amounts to about 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters). A girl has to wear sanitary napkins or tampons to prevent the blood flow from staining the clothes.

All the while, I was thinking, “Mom, I don’t wanna listen about it anymore. Please pray for me that I don’t have periods at all. I really don’t want to have them because anyways I don’t like kids and don’t wanna have them!”

21st, March, 2007:

You won’t believe what happened today morning, seriously, it was huge! When I woke up, I saw some blood stains on my pajamas. I was like, Oh dear Lord what is happening! I was shy to tell my mom. I finally mustered up the courage and tried to call my mom from downstairs. She was in the kitchen and everyone had woken up. “Mom..Mom, can you come upstairs?” My mom replied, “What is it beta?” I said, “Ummmm, mom you just come up, its urgent!” I waited for the next 10 minutes but she did not turn up. “Mommmmmm…..”, I screamed. Finally, she came upstairs and explained everything to me. I was so frustrated about it all. I told Krina and Binisha, my friends, about it. But they just smiled as they were already well aware about it. It was quite a horrible day for me. My stomach was hurting and I felt very uneasy.

So, this was it! My first periods! So childish, right?

I no longer get those weird cramps. I am completely ok with my periods. I still have mood swings at times but I am happy and proud of my body. Earlier, I used to feel ashamed and bad about it but now, I am okay with it.

Menstruation has been a topic that has been confined to girls’ locker rooms and ladies’ bathrooms since long.

Girls use different code words for indicating periods like code red, monthly reds, battery down and so on. Are you embarrassed, slightly ashamed, and slightly awkward?

Please don’t be ashamed of it at all. It is one of the best gifts by God to womankind. I am not saying you should be like, “Ohhh I have got my periods! I feel so happy about it! I feel like a woman now! Every time I have periods I love myself!” I get it.

Menstruation has been stigmatized as gross and embarrassing for so long that it’s only natural to want to fight back that mentality. The experience can sometimes be painful and annoying but it is very natural and I have started living with it. All I want to say is accept your body, accept it as it is, it is a symbol of you being a woman.