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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to have sanitary products on display?

265 replies

Howvery · 29/01/2019 19:26

And by on display I don’t mean on a golden stand under a spotlight but on a shelf in my bathroom.
We have had friends and there DC (dd 8 and ds 6) to stay this weekend.
I have a box of tampons and packet of sanitary towels on a shelf in the bathroom. I went in and noticed they weren’t there, after hunting found them in the cupboard under the sink with the cleaning products, I put them back on the shelf. Just assumed it was DH who has form for throwing things in the nearest cupboard when ‘tidying’. Went back to the loo later that day and noticed again they had been put in the cupboard.
I went back in the lounge and said to DH, can you stop putting my stuff away in the cleaning cupboard. That’s when friend pipes up ‘oh I moved them I don’t think it is appropriate for them to be out especially where the DC can see them’. I was quite perplexed by this, but carried on the rest of the weekend, sanitary products hidden away as to not scar the children.

AIBU to think this is a totally bizarre way of thinking??? Firstly it’s my bathroom, can have things out if I want and find it rude that someone would put them away but secondly to think it is inappropate for children to see them, especially as she has a DD who is 8!
It’s a silly thing but the more I think about it the more flabbergasted I am!!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
QueenArseClangers · 31/01/2019 20:33

Jeez, she’d have a fit at our gaff! To the poster who said that she didn’t want to introduce the idea of periods ‘whilst her sons still believed in santa’ getafuckinggrip Hmm
One of my DDs started her period at 9. Her brother’s have always known about menstruation in an age appropriate natural way. Fucking North Pole elves didn’t fly down the soil pipe and remove their festive magic cos they did!

AIBU to have sanitary products on display?
Racecardriver · 31/01/2019 20:33

I hope you reminded her where her children came from. What a bizarre attitude. I clearly remember my mother explaining her period to me what I was six or so. My four year old (boy) knows what periods are and what sanpro is. It’s really basic knowledge that everyone should have.

KrazyKatlady · 31/01/2019 20:36

My MIL gave all the female grandchildren (ages 11-21) some sanpro as part of their xmas present last year !!🤔😳 (along with other toiletries) There were a few giggles!!

Commonwasher · 31/01/2019 20:40

Like the other poster said: tampax earrings next time she visits...

mytieisascarf · 31/01/2019 20:43

Jesus Christ. I honestly can't believe there are still people who think that periods are something that children need to be told about specifically when they are "old" enough! From the moment my children were born I made no bones about the fact that I had a period - I obviously wasn't dancing around the house doing a musical number about it. But if I was out and about and had to take my toddler into the toilet with me and they asked what I was doing with my sanpro, I'd tell them! Both my kids have known women have periods the same way they know that people poo or people pee - it's just biology.

Although I will say that having your three year old shouting "Do you have your period Mummy" in the loos in Morrison's EVERYTIME you go to the toilet is a bit unnecessary! Not to mention the time a pal came round when I was in shower and my 6 year old told her I had to have a shower because I had had a period disaster! Grin

mytieisascarf · 31/01/2019 20:45

Love the tampax earrings idea! They should be accompanies by sanitary towel slippers....

MissCherryCakeyBun · 31/01/2019 20:47

More than one use for a tampon my DH suffers from chronic nose bleeds....the woman is absolute barking mad

I do worry for her DD and what will happens when she starts her periods Confused

MissCherryCakeyBun · 31/01/2019 20:52

And as for over 50's being embarrassed....this is the 21st century and not the 12th!!!

My DH himmof the nose bleeds is 54 and not remotely embarrassed by them....he sat on the commuter train back from Gatwick with a sanitary towel held against his gushing nose as we had nothing else as it was all in cases.

My dad was a hippy in the 1960's and was not in the least embarrassed by periods etc up until the day he died and he was well over 50 having been born before the war!

Aquilla · 31/01/2019 20:55

I've never seen anyone's on display I don't think! Must be a Mumsnet thing. Mine a discreetly in the cupboard thanks very much.

squeekums · 31/01/2019 21:05

I think it's odd to have them on an open shelf when expecting visitors. I wouldn't display my mooncup, lube, canestan cream, leg wax or cloth pads, because they're personal. Nobody wants to be reminded of your periods when they use your loo.

Eh im too lazy to give a toss what others think about my toilet. Only shelf in toilet is open and be buggered if im storing in the bathroom which isnt connected.

Craftycorvid · 31/01/2019 21:23

Over 50 here and have to respectfully invoke ‘Cissie and Ada’
“I’m approaching the menopause.”
“Yes, but from which direction?”

The mooncup lives in a drawer - all other sanpro bits and bobs go in the wicker basket in the bathroom.

OP, I’m hatching a plot involving you secreting mini tampons in the most unlikely locations in the friend’s house at the earliest opportunity: the cutlery drawer; tucked in the toe of a boot perhaps? Tossed into a flower pot or in the folds of an umbrella so that when it’s opened there’s a neat little shower 😆

MargueritaPink · 31/01/2019 21:25

More than one use for a tampon my DH suffers from chronic nose bleeds

Perfectly normal

mytieisascarf · 31/01/2019 22:11

Nobody wants to be reminded of your periods when they use your loo.

Nobody wants to be reminded that a substance comes out a vagina whilst a substance is coming out of their arse!

MorningsEleven · 01/02/2019 00:29

This reminds me of staying with a French couple as a teenager. The first day, I was taken aside and Mama said "I've got 3 daughters and 5 granddaughters. There's everything you'll need on this shelf if you have a period while you're here. Use anything you want". I felt so cared for.

Commonwasher · 01/02/2019 02:59

I have guests over tomorrow so I clearly need to clear all pantyliner/tampax abominations from my bathroom and get one of those profound message wall stickers put up in the living room saying ‘babies are made of stars and arrive in nurse’s handbags...’

shimmies off in Bodyform slippers Wink

Tink2007 · 01/02/2019 05:30

That is just utterly bizzare. I would have been massively annoyed that she thought it were okay to move my stuff in my home.

It’s very odd to “protect” her DC from periods. Just very odd.

Going down the aisle in a supermarket with them must be like a scene from that Netflix film Birdbox.

Bluntness100 · 01/02/2019 05:54

I think some people are being gleefully harsh here.

She's clearly not had the conversation with either both or one of her kids yet, and as a parent it's her right to do that when she pleases, if she's not for example willing to discuss it with her six year old son yet, then that's her choice. And the products could lead to questions.

So as much as she should never ever have moved your stuff, she should have spoken to you, personally I would keep them in the cupboard whilst she was there, because, it really wouldn't be a big deal to me to have them on display that I would go to war over it.

I find it a bit more odd acrually that it's such a big deal to you to have them on display.

notacooldad · 01/02/2019 06:00

She wouldn't like our house.
There's tampons in a Kilmer jar on the bathroom window ledge for anyone that needs them. It's been like there for nearly 30 years!

JenniferJareau · 01/02/2019 06:21

I've never seen anyone's on display I don't think! Must be a Mumsnet thing. Mine a discreetly in the cupboard thanks very much.

Agree 👍

Sparklingbrook · 01/02/2019 06:28

Yes I have never seen a display in anyone's loo/bathroom. I must mix in the wrong circles?

allthingsred · 01/02/2019 06:29

Yanbu.
Your friend needs to get a grip, sanitary products are part of a woman's life for a lot of years, no shame.
Mine aren't 'on display' but there is a pack on my bathroom shelf in case anyone needs. My dd keeps hers in a box in her room.
Your friend gonna have to get over it, kids seem to start puberty younger & younger she will eventually have to have the conversation

WFTisgoingoninmyhead · 01/02/2019 06:35

FGS. I used to have mine on display in a lovely wicker basket in my bathroom. My DC used to have lots of friends over and I never thought anything if it. I remember when my DD (7) knocked her tooth out I told my son (9) to go get something to stem the blood flow, he came down with a tampax he had taken from the applicator. Worked a treat!!! When my kids were older their friends were glad of them being accessible to be honest. Your friend is rather precious.

Bluntness100 · 01/02/2019 08:02

Yes I have never seen a display in anyone's loo/bathroom

Genuinely neither have I.

Villanellenovella · 01/02/2019 08:26

'No-one needs to be reminded of their periods when they use the loo' - so it's ok to be reminded of shit is it? Better put the toilet roll somewhere 'discreet'. My tampons etc are on a shelf right above the loo for all to see. Women bleed. Get over it. Without it the human race would come to an end.

KrazyKatlady · 01/02/2019 09:43

Of course its up to the friend when is a suitable time to have the conversation but often in suprrmarket/pub/service station toilets they have sanpro dispensers, they're advertised on tv they're not hidden behind the counter in shops etc. I do not "hide" them from my Ds who is 9 but i dont think hes ever commented!! Sometimes kids ask questions that you weren't expecting and you have to think quickly rather than have a planned sit down convo but thats just how parenting is.