Camping with Dad and younger brother.

My first period showed up when I was 11 about a month before my 12th birthday. It was mid June and I was on a camping trip with only my Dad and younger brother. My parents were divorced by then so my Mom wasn't on the trip with us. We had been there for a few weeks and on a whim my older sister decided to stop by the campground for the day. She had never showed up randomly before and especially not without her boyfriend. It was just a spur of the moment thing for her.

I still remember the moment it showed up despite this being 8 years ago. I went into our camper to change into jeans when I found the evidence waiting for me. I knew exactly what it was but I was very angry that it showed. After changing and making an impromptu pad out of toilet paper I lay on the bed and cried. I don't know why I was so upset but I felt like it was going to ruin my summer. I also didn't want to tell my Dad it had started. This isn't exactly a conversation a young girl wants to have with her father. After being inside for quite a while my Dad came looking for me and found me mid tears curled up on the bed. He started to prod me for what was wrong and after repeatedly saying it was nothing, I finally blurted out, "IT'S A GIRL THING!" He paused for a moment before his eyes went wide and he jumped up to the door and yelled for my sister.

After telling her what was going on she took me on my first pad buying trip. After returning from the store I took my Dad's cell phone and spent the next 45 minutes on the phone with my Mom. She felt so bad that it happened while with my Dad but was so relieved that I at least had my sister there with me. My Dad pretended like the day never happened and I was content in following suit. I'm still so thankful that my sister picked that day of all days to show up for a visit. That day could have been very traumatizing if I was stuck in that very new situation with just my Dad and my 8 year old brother.