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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To buy sanpro and leave them in the classroom

171 replies

HighwayDragon1 · 07/02/2016 18:10

I buy pads (just tesco value ones) and leave them in my classroom, in case any of them are caught short, I buy about one pack a month. The girls know where they are if they need them.

DP thinks it's weird, that the parents should buy them and it's not my responsibility. Now its not, but sometimes you just come on and school must be the worst place for it to happen.

It's not weird is it? How would you feel if your daughters teacher gave her a pad? Is it a line I've crossed? I'm questioning it now.

This is secondary school.

OP posts:

starry0ne · 07/02/2016 19:12

It is all very well saying carry them... however periods are often erratic, sometimes heavier than thought...

I think it is lovely

chillycurtains · 07/02/2016 19:12

You are a very kind and thoughtful person and you are doing a good thing but putting them in a drawer for any girls caught short to use. Please keep doing it and ignore anyone who suggests otherwise.

Terribleknitter · 07/02/2016 19:14

The thing is that what your DP probably doesn't get is that teenage periods can be all over the place and even with the best planning a girl might get caught by surprise, soak through a pad quickly and need an emergency spare that Sod's law will guarantee that it's the one thing she won't have!
My parents (yes Dad too) always made sure that I had what I needed but there were times when my body decided to dump a days worth of blood out in about an hour, always in school

FellOutOfBedTwice · 07/02/2016 19:14

No, not weird. More power to you. I'm a secondary teacher and more than once I've given an embarrassed girl a pad out of my bag- I wish I'd had a teacher who would have done it for us.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 07/02/2016 19:15

I agree parents should provide but it's very kind of you to be the reliable plan B.

Ludways · 07/02/2016 19:16

That's very kind of you. I'm sure they only take them when caught short.

Youarentkiddingme · 07/02/2016 19:22

I think it's lovely

My friends DD started her periods at 10yo. My bedroom is out of bounds. She was given special permission to go in if she needed to and get sanpro snd told she didn't have to ask. She was also told if the 2 younger DCs (mind and friends) said anything she was to tell them I said she could and they weren't allowed and they have to do as they are told too!

Her scondary school keep toilets locked and they have to get planner signed, go and get key etc to use them. Not great for a child who has a period every 2-3 weeks at 12yo. I'm sure she'd love a teacher like you.

hookiewookie29 · 07/02/2016 19:24

Brilliant idea! My dd has been caught out a couple of times at school and was very embarrassed......would be great if she knew where to go to discreetly get a towel.
I remember the embarrassment of it myself and having to ask at the window of the school office, usually with a queue of people behind me.

PinanNidan · 07/02/2016 19:25

As a parent I would be grateful. Dd has not started yet but is well developed in other ways and as a result I have sent her in with two pads and a change of underwear in a toiletry bag.

But on the chance she forgets the bag or as people have mentioned teen periods can be all over the place I would be thankful.

It is also helpful for those children who's parents are not great at providing stuff like this, I know kids at my school in secondary when I was a teen who ended up using rags because parents had not supplied them for whatever disorganised drugs/alcohol/chaotic reasons :( I know it is not your job to do so but I am sure those girls are grateful.

Mrsmorton · 07/02/2016 19:25

Well, he's NBU in thinking parents should provide. But he's BU in thinking parents will provide.

You sound ace, wish I'd had a teacher like you.

If you set up a just giving page so your idea could be rolled out everywhere, I'd definitely donate.

BeaufortBelle · 07/02/2016 19:27

I haven't read the thread but I think it's a lovely idea and that you are a lovely kind and caring teacher.

Sirzy · 07/02/2016 19:29

Particularly for young women who have only just started periods they can be very irregular and unpredictable so it is easy to be caught short, much better to have an easy way to get protection without being embarrassed than for them to struggle without.

Our science technician was the go to woman in my school when caught short,

Passthecake30 · 07/02/2016 19:29

I'd appreciate that for my daughter.

My parents only let me have a pack of 20 every 2 cycles so I would've appreciated them on hand when I was struggling to make them last on a heavy day

Quietlifenotonyournelly · 07/02/2016 19:30

That's a lovely thing to do, very thoughtful of you.

HackerFucker22 · 07/02/2016 19:31

It's a lovely idea but I fucking loathe the term 'sanpro'. It's hideous!!

SoupDragon · 07/02/2016 19:34

Not as hideous as swear words in user names.

altctrldel · 07/02/2016 19:36

I remember being in YR5 and getting changed for PE only to discover I had started my period. I of course didnt realise that at the time. People still joke about it even today, 15 years later. I was completely humiliated and the poor male teacher trainer was sent to the shops 10 minutes away (school middle of nowhere) to buy me sanpro.

Lovely gesture OP IMO

lunar1 · 07/02/2016 19:40

My mum rationed them too, what the fuck was that all about!!

I imagine having them available aids learning. We've all sat in at least one lesson panicking about what might be there when we stand up at the end. I doubt any meaningful learning take place in those lessons.

Natkingcole9 · 07/02/2016 19:43

I wish my teacher had have done this in the past! I think it says a lot about your character. You obviously care about your students!

JoMackl · 07/02/2016 19:46

I think it makes you a wonderful, caring teacher. I remember getting my period at school a couple of times and not having a pad/ tampon on me as it wasn't expected. (My periods were very irregular in my teens.) I had to rely on friends having spares in their bags. I would have been so comforted to know that a thoughtful teacher had a stash put by. to you, OP.

honeylulu · 07/02/2016 19:56

It's lovely of you. You sound like a great teacher! Your husband is right that parents should ensure girls have a supply including spares for emergencies in their bags but sometimes life isn't like that. One time I was caught out at school I found the "spares" in my bag had been there so long the packet had disintegrated and they were filthy, dusty and ragged, yuk!

catkind · 07/02/2016 19:57

What a kind teacher.
Anyone can run out or get caught short, but wtf to parents rationing or not buying sanpro. Poor kids.

CaptainMorgansMistress · 07/02/2016 19:58

You sound like a lovely teacher OP.

Have to say some of the posts about parents refusing / rationing / not caring to buy sanpro for their daughters has really saddened me.

I'm sure there are many other symptoms of neglect or abuse but this one in particular took me by surprise and feels so mean spirited and spiteful.

hels71 · 07/02/2016 20:07

I taught year 6 a few years ago. I made sure there was always a packet of towels in the cupboard. They knew they could help themselves as long as someone told me, or left me a note, when they were running out. Those girls who needed them seemed relieved to know they were there.

Concerned97 · 07/02/2016 20:07

for you! You are lovely!!

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