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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not have 'guest' sanitary protection in bathroom?

999 replies

EasyCube · 29/05/2014 18:16

Long story short, a relatively new friend and teenage daughter visited I later received a text

'Thank you for having us, unfortunately you have caused xxx embarrassment as she could not find the guest tampons and had to come home with toilet paper in her underwear'

Confused

Is this a thing? I have never once thought before that I should have pads/tampons in the bathroom, easily accessed by guests

My mum was great and I loved her a lot but we never talked about periods (I bought my own stuff from pocket money/paper round money) and now I'm wondering if this is just another thing I was never told about and feel a bit stupid to be honest Sad

Does everyone else have things available in the bathroom for guests? I'm thinking about other bathrooms I've been in and can't say I've noticed this before?

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 29/05/2014 19:43

Bet she doesnt know my 16yr old would curl up into a ball if I text about her perood

tilliebob · 29/05/2014 19:44

Never heard of it. And my guest loo is just a loo in my house, we all use it...I'd never assume anyone would go through my cupboards either Shock. You take your own supplies with you, I've always got some with me and DD is only 12 and is fully equipped at all times too.

This thread has made me laugh though. You learn something every day!

gorionine · 29/05/2014 19:45

If they are obvious to find no, I agree with you Charlie , but if you cannot find them,you ask if there are any usually. If you decide to go DIY tampon, do not send a text complaining there was no 'guest tampons'

FidelineandFumblin · 29/05/2014 19:45

I think I just subconsciously resent the idea that sanitary products are secret female things that we have to remember to carry around on our person at all times or whisper about in corners with our hostesses. I am very keen to transmit to our DDs the idea that they are ordinary consumables like soap and loo roll that are found in bathrooms. Admittedly this has, until today, not been something i've thought about in much detail.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 29/05/2014 19:45

In all seriousness, I would reply with

Oh, I'm sorry she was embarrassed, is it the norm to provide stuff for visitors, who knew?'

Then drop her like a soiled sanitary towel.

Arse of a woman.!

ApocalypseNowt · 29/05/2014 19:47

Does everyone else on here have a 'guest bathroom'?

We don't. We make our guests shit in the woods at the back of our house. I guess i could chuck some guest tampons out there.... It'd be like a game! Guests would have to rummage around to find them like pigs looking for truffles!

FidelineandFumblin · 29/05/2014 19:49

@ Apocolypse I hope you are going to tie them in pretyy ribbon bows first Smile

LoveBeingInTheSun · 29/05/2014 19:49

But surely you'd need to offer a range including pads, tampons and a loan mooncup?

Bluestocking · 29/05/2014 19:50

The thing that really surprises me is that the girl told her mum about it in the first place. I would never have thought to mention to my mother that I'd got caught out without sanpro - it just isn't that big a deal, you make a wad of loo roll and get on with it!

Mrsjayy · 29/05/2014 19:50

Nobody is really saying its a secret thing though just you make sure you are prepared for or if you are caught short you dont say snd blamea host for your dd having to use loo roll San protection is a personal thing imo they are not in hiding I n my house but its not something you supply to guests

CorusKate · 29/05/2014 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FidelineandFumblin · 29/05/2014 19:51

Love the pack of the thing that noone in the house uses wouldn't go down very fast though, the stuff you do use would need replenishing regularly anyway and the mooncup is a step too far Hmm

rubyflipper · 29/05/2014 19:53

I have never heard of such a thing. If I was caught short, I would ask for a spare one or go to the shop and buy some of my own. In a dire emergency I have used a wodge of loo roll. I was at home and had run out of tampons, so I made do until the shops were open again.

Greydog · 29/05/2014 19:53

Why would you - I always take my own toothpaste/toothbrush and any other things I need. I certainly wouldn't expect "guest tampons" Numptie

ToysRLuv · 29/05/2014 19:54

I have said this before, but I once got my period suddenly while I was on a 10 day long horse riding camp away from home, again when I was very new to it, and was hideously underprepared for it -had only one pad with me. Was so embarrassed to ask (was only 12) even though DM told me to, on the phone), that I fashioned my own sanpro out of a piece cut out of a plastic bag for the bottom, a wad of cotton wool for the middle, with toilet roll wrapped on it as a top layer. I attached this contraption to my knickers by "bandaging" it around my pants gusset (I know it's such a wonderful word, isn't it?). Every time I went to the loo, I would replace the top layer of toilet roll..

FidelineandFumblin · 29/05/2014 19:56

Corus I take the view everyone can make do with medium sized pads (we don't use them ouselves) or whatever tampons we are using. Same as they can use our preference of soap and loo roll. I'm sure people do bring their own too (I don't actually ask Grin).

Nappies are a good point. I keep a packet of maedium sized nappies (hedging my bets) despite not having babies. Occasionally someone uses one. Better than nothing and does the job i'd have thought

BellaVita · 29/05/2014 19:56

The mother is as mad as a box of frogs Grin.

Was she expecting you to have a "selection" of different sizes on offer labelled "guest use only"?

ILoveCoreyHaim · 29/05/2014 19:56

I don't have any sanitary equipment in the main bathroom or the downstairs loo. Tampons are in my top draw in bedroom, dds lilet pads are in her draw and she has 2 spare packs in her school locker, a couple in her bag. Get them off tesco every time they come on BOGOF and stock up. I have a couple of tampons in the zippy bit of my bag. Can't say anyone has ever asked me if I have a spare tampon. I do remember being caught out when I was younger though and putting a wedge of loo roll in my knicks being worried sick it would fall out my trouser leg.

OurMiracle1106 · 29/05/2014 19:59

Nope. I have pads and tampons in my bathroom cupboard. But my best friend comes over tho and despite me not having periods I would rather in case anything happens here she can access something. I also bought a whole load after a procedure to remove cells on my cervix as I was told I could bleed quite a lot and suffered all of about 4 spots of blood

But other than that living with three boys I .wouldnt be buying them even though they might have female guests on occasions.

BellaVita · 29/05/2014 20:00

And I am the only female in this house and I have a coil, so do not have periods. You wouldn't find any sanitary wear here.

AllMimsyWereTheBorogroves · 29/05/2014 20:01

It would never in a million years occur to me that I could open a cupboard in somebody else's house and help myself to something inside without prior permission - unless it was loo roll. I think if I found no soap to hand I would do my best to wash my hands without rather than start rummaging about looking for some. Ditto hand towels. I wouldn't even feel comfortable dipping into a basket of supplies on an open shelf. I would assume it was there for the women of the household, not for any random visitor.

gorionine · 29/05/2014 20:03

yes but, Fdeline, not that sanitary products need to be hidden per say, they don't but if , like in my case, your bathroom cupboard contains as well as sanitary products a lot of other things (including medicine) I would rather someone asked rather than rummaging through.

erin99 · 29/05/2014 20:03

Making do with loo roll is not embarrassing. Your mum texting her friend about the contents of your knickers is highly embarrassing. Or so we thought...!

Very bizarre conversation but like stillstaying I would send something like "I'm sorry she was embarrassed, is this the done thing now? Who knew?!" and leave it at that.

It would never, ever occur to me to think it's acceptable guest behaviour to rifle through the cupboard and help myself to the contents.

BerylStreep · 29/05/2014 20:04

Only read OP.

Shock what a weirdo!

I have pads in our downstairs cloakroom cupboard, but only because I might need them when using downstairs loo. Wouldn't be bothered if anyone used them, but they aren't 'guest protection'.

I have never, ever encountered this. Sisters have occasionally been caught out, and asked if I could give them some pads, but I would be a bit Hmm at the expectation it is supplied randomly for guests.

It is quite an aggressive text. I wouldn't bother with the friend in the future, she sounds hard work.

Deverethemuzzler · 29/05/2014 20:05

not that sanitary products need to be hidden

Mine do. It doesn't matter how many times they open them and are disappointed, the DCs still think they are going to find something exciting in one of those rustley tube shaped parcels Hmm

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