I Didn't Mean to Start a Period Workshop Project

My older daughter got her first period in the spring of 2025 just after her 11th birthday, around the same time I noticed my younger daughter was getting armpit hair. Even though I knew it was coming, it still caught me by surprise. I dug out and handed my daughter the period underwear I bought months beforehand. She pulled them on and said, “I hate them.” I sighed. Period panties have been gaining popularity but still aren’t available everywhere. I tell her I can shop for another brand later that day, but if they’re tolerable, they’ll have to do.

I sent a text to my friend, lamenting my oldest daughter’s entrance into the worst part of girlhood, and that finding period products for a kid on the autism spectrum with sensory issues was going to be a task. My friend messages back quickly with a link to Knix Brand period underwear she highly recommends; she had been bleeding for 30+ days due to uterine fibroids that wouldn’t clot. If anyone knows good period underwear, it would be her. 

We shopped on the Knix website, and my daughter selected the style and color she liked. We purchased 4 at $35 each and earned free shipping. Since the period underwear wouldn’t arrive for 3 days, I drove to Walgreens to get 3 more pairs of the period underwear I had on hand. Those are $20 each. I looked around at the sea of menstrual products – I knew the products I liked, but now that I was trying to shop for someone else, the options seemed endless again. I would never wear a disposable pad, but what if that’s what my child is most comfortable with? But she loves to swim… maybe I should steer towards tampons instead? No – she would never try that. Menstrual discs? I own 2 menstrual cups, but I don’t know how a disc is different. I wish she was here with me. Never mind, that won’t help, you need to open these to try them anyway. My thoughts raced – so I grabbed a couple boxes of pads to try out; regular and overnights along with the extra underwear and cashed out.

If you’re doing the math with me, we’ve spent a lot of money so far. I will spare you the breakdown, but it’s $248.00. I get home from Walgreens and hand my daughter the period products I bought. When she returns from the bathroom she says, “I feel like I’m wearing a diaper, and I think the sticky part is stuck to my pubic hair. I guess I will deal with the period underwear” my daughter declared. After a pause she asked, “Do you think they sell period swimsuits?” Maybe. But they probably come in 1 style and cost over $100. 

Around the same time her period started, I was planning Fun Patches for the summer of 2025. Over the last 4 summers I have hosted an average of 12-16 Fun Patch Events a summer, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the early evening and sometimes on Saturdays. We get together and do things like make slime, make ice cream, launch bottle rockets, have a song festival, invent games, go on themed hikes and so much more. 

I was looking for ideas on MadAboutPatches.com I saw their “Blossom Bag” patch where the kids get together and fill blossom bags with period products for when they get their period, or to donate to a women’s shelter or school. I chuckled at the coincidence of having a daughter get her first period at the same time a patch program comes out about it. I was excited to see a program for it. We manage a lot of anxiety in my house, and one of our best strategies is knowledge. Sometimes just knowing what to expect goes a long way in building confidence and learning how to advocate for themselves. Even before I bought the patch program, my mind started working on what a workshop with the kids would look like. 

I like to make event flyers for each fun patch I do so the kids and parents know what to expect from each event. I sent out the flyers to the parents via text, and the reactions to the Blossom Bag event were different than other events. Good different. One mom said, “D can’t make the period patch, but I LOVE that you’re doing this!” another said, “we will be there, what a great idea” a third said, “we can’t make it this time, but please tell me if you schedule another one.” I also sent flyers to my friend who is a Troop leader a couple towns over, we often join each other’s events over the summer. When she saw the flyers she said, “thrilled to see you doing a period event – some of the girls in my troop really need to do this. S and I will be there and I’ll let you know if I’m bringing other girls from my troop.” 

As I was working on the plans for Blossom Bags, I also started working on a tri-fold brochure that contains period nicknames, period color meanings, symptoms, pain management tips and foods that help you feel better, and when it’s time to talk to an adult or doctor. I remember from my days of training that people only retain about 10-15% of the information presented to them, and it’s probably less for kids. I knew we would be talking about a lot of details that they probably won’t remember once their period arrives, so I started thinking about what I wanted the kids to get out of this event. 

I prepared materials for the different stations and worked on the brochure as often as possible. Station 1 “Fact or Myth” would be where the kids read cards to each other and determined if the period statement was fact or myth. At station 2 the kids practiced opening period products, putting them on demo underwear and disposing of period products properly. Station 3 was where they took food cards and sorted them into piles of “Good” and “Not Good” for feeling your best on your period. Station 4 was where they would assemble their Blossom Bags. The event was priced at $20/child and included 2 panty liners, 1 regular pad, 1 overnight pad, 5 sensitive PH wipes, a fun patch, period wellness info card, period product disposal bags and the pouch it all goes into. 

My daughter got her second period on the morning of the Blossom Bag fun patch (because of course she did.) She scuttled off to her room and returned 20 minutes later with a scrap of paper in her hand and declared “I did the math! I have a 28 day cycle so I won’t get my period again until AFTER we go camping!” My heart soared with pride and then sank for 2 reasons. The first was that periods are very unpredictable at first, even with perfect math there was no guarantee that was how it would play out. The second reason was just a month ago she had the whole summer to do whatever she wanted, and now she’s calculating whether she could participate in activities she looked forward to all year. 

It was a pleasant day in early July and I set up the folding table in the backyard along with all the period products I picked up. My Co leader and sister in law confirmed they would be over after dinner to help set up. Including my kids and my co-leaders kids, we were expecting 9 kids to participate. My neighbor texted at the last minute to say her 13 year old had just got her period and couldn’t come. I wrapped my mind around the irony and made a mental note to make up a filled Blossom Bag to take across the street to my neighbor after the event was over. 

With my family and co-leaders help we got the tables and stations set up with all the signs, props and materials at each one. We let the kids decide if they wanted to split up into groups of 2 and go to the stations in teams or if they wanted to experience each station as a single group. They decided to move through the stations as a single group, which allowed for a lot of group discussion. I made sure to throw in a few funny myths about periods to keep them laughing such as “Are bears more attracted to humans on their period?” For the record it’s a myth. 

We started the workshop by having the kids open and explore period products. I have a stockpile of underwear in various sizes from both my kids trying several brands and styles of underwear before landing on a winner. Without removing their own clothes, the girls pulled underwear to their knees and practiced putting a pad onto their underwear. They all giggled and joked while trying to fight the logistics of adhesive wings and where to dispose of the wrappers. Eventually, they all managed to put a pad on a pair of underwear for the first time. 

We moved through the stations together, occasionally throwing in some facts and sharing some stories. We eventually made it to the Blossom Bag station and started to assemble the bags together. My daughter took the role of a “helper” since she’s an actual kid on her period. At one point she stood up on the bench and put a leg up on the table. I groaned loudly as she proclaimed, “listen up children. Periods are terrible. You feel tired. The cramps suck. Being a woman is sh!t. Stay a kid and don’t get your period for as long as you can.” The adults laughed while a couple girls stood with eyes widened and mouths gaped open in disbelief. The good news is my child will always speak her truth, the bad news is not everyone wants to hear it. We talked about a lot of other things like identifying adults who would be helpful if you needed access to period products or if you have a question you need answered. 

As everyone collected their belongings I told the kids I wanted them to leave the workshop with at least this takeaway: Never let anyone shame you for having a period, never allow someone to prevent you from taking care of your bleeding body and never let anyone say you need to behave like an adult or have a adult expectations because you have a period. You are still a child who is entitled to childhood. 

After everyone left my sister in law & co leader talked about how it all went. We still had smiles on our faces as we re-lived some funny moments and agreed that it went well. I started brainstorming ideas for the next workshop. I want more period products, more demonstration supplies, more information to send with them. I didn’t know what I wanted to call it, but I knew I wanted it to grow and go somewhere. I was bummed I didn't have the pamphlets to send them off with, but I had decided to finish it and print them.

I started checking the period product aisles at stores to see what was new and popular and then reaching out to the companies for coupons and samples. I also started talking to other moms and dads about what I was doing, and I was met with lots of curiosity and excitement, as many parents recognized the need for period education for both kids and their caregivers. 

Summer gave way to fall and a new school year. My oldest went to Middle School which brought a whole new set of struggles, challenges and routines. Managing a period at school continued to be something that gave my daughter immense anxiety and over time we increasingly struggled to manage period cramps, headaches and fatigue. Periods cause them so much distress that under the care of doctors, my daughter is currently having their periods stopped. 

The spring of 2026 brought my youngest daughter’s first period. It came just 3 days before her 10th birthday. She groaned and whined and cursed the universe. So did I. But it also brought this Period Workshop idea front and center again. My youngest told me that the workshop was helpful for her in both knowing her period was normal and expected but she also already knew what period products were out there and had an idea of what she wanted to use. My co-leader in the town over has already booked my time to do a period workshop with her scouts. 

With a renewed sense of purpose and a new summer of fun patches to plan, I finished the details of my tri fold brochure and had them printed. I also decided on a name for my organization: The Period Pioneer. Our mission is to educate and empower girls about their periods to end shame and reduce stigma. I’ve also started researching the process of becoming non-profit so that companies can give me more samples and products to demonstrate with. I will need to pay an attorney and fees to register, so I started a fundraiser. I hope that others can see how The Period Pioneer and our mission can help other girls feel prepared and empowered through puberty. 

The Importance of Period Education

Menstruation is a biological process that affects half of the world's population at some point in their lives. Despite its prevalence, many children receive little to no education about periods. This lack of information can lead to confusion, fear, and stigma surrounding menstruation.

Breaking the Stigma

By providing period education, we can break the stigma associated with menstruation. Many young people feel embarrassed or ashamed to talk about their periods, which can lead to misinformation and anxiety. Workshops can create a safe space for open discussions, allowing children to ask questions and share their experiences without fear of judgment.

Promoting Health and Hygiene

Understanding menstrual health is essential for maintaining overall well-being. Workshops can teach children about proper hygiene practices, the menstrual cycle, and how to manage symptoms. This knowledge can help prevent health issues and promote a positive relationship with their bodies.