To be p***** she made a big deal about something so trivial!

[87Shadow]

Sat in a room with person A and B.

Person A and myself having a chat about our children and I told her a story of my son, when 4, once came to me with a box of tampons in the supermarket and said "do you need some more of these mummy"

This is where person B who wasn't even involved in said conversation comes into the conversation by saying "what the F**, why would he know what tampons were at 4 years old"

I explained that he had seen them at home, sometimes in my bedroom and sometimes in the bathroom.

She then went into a big rant about how she doesn't think it's suitable for children to see these things and there really is no need. I told her it's not something I have ever hidden in my house nor would I feel a reason to do so. I then left it at that, just a difference in opinion, surely?

Roughly 40 minutes later, person B suddenly says "ha I knew I was right!" I looked at her confused and she tells me that she asked on her group WhatsApp friends chat and they ALL agree with her about how it's wrong to have these on display to a child.

AIBU to be now really pissed off that she's made such a big deal over this -and would I be unreasonable to tell her to F off

Of course the uptight woman is going to gravitate to other uptight women. Why do people always cite their friendship group as evidence of something - like it’s an independent MORI poll ?

Yanbu. What a bizarre reaction she had. It's not like you left a dildo lying around for the kids to see

Silly moo. Periods and tampons and towels are normal things. My adult son is lovely to his girlfriend, doesn’t think twice if he needs to pop out for supplies. Likewise my daughter’s boyfriend.

My Mother hid everything, you had to ask for a towel from her supply hidden in her bedroom. When she suspected I had my first period, she told me to wee in a potty to show her!

I vowed I wouldn’t be like that to my kids, so they weren’t hidden (in a tin so they don’t skitter everywhere, Lil-let’s power to escape the box is legendary), buying sanitary stuff is as normal as buying a loaf.

My Mum still can’t say menopause, it’s always The Change, never menstruate or period, it’s ‘On’ & towels were those looped monstrosities from Dr. White (or DWs on the shopping list). I vowed never to be the same. My daughter’s first period was all about cake, chocolate & a host of products to try. No hint of the shame I was made to feel monthly.

B would pass out if she knew that they could not only recognise the box, but knew why I had different ones, where they went, why they went there. Can't remember exact ages, but all definitely ore starting school.

Raising relaxed girls & 'with it' boys is NOT something to be embarrassed about!

Stops moo

Daft woman. Aged 3 I was watching tv in a room full of relatives and a tampon advert came on (mid 1970s) and I loudly asked my teenage sister ‘aren’t they what you stick up your bum?’

@87Shadow Hahaha Ah yes!! Some days I think they dream up ways to embarrass us to the MAX!! I was once in the loo in Tesco with my then toddler DS who announced at the top of his voice that he felt very sorry for me because he had a willy and his big brother had a willy and Daddy had a willy but poor Mummy didn't have one. Was I sad about that too? No darling I relied. I dont mind, and I have use of one when I want it. It sailed right over his head and there was nobody else in the bathroom.....or so I thought Well I opened the door to an elderly lady who just couldn't contain her mirth!!

She's absolutely ridiculous.
Periods aren't some shameful, nasty secret that should be hidden from young children

I made sure my son saw sanitary products and when he asked about them, I explained in age appropriate language what they were for. He saw me and his dad naked up to a certain age. He has grown up to be totally unfazed by anything to do with the female body. Unlike my current (not DS’d Dad) DH who was brought up in a very Victorian household. To this day, his mother turns the telly over when adverts for feminine hygiene come on, or if there’s kissing in a film. DH squirms and shifts in his chair at the mention of periods, tampons, vaginas etc! It’s ridiculous! A grown man that cannot deal with the functioning of women’s bodies! He’s an example of exactly why boys should be exposed to these things.

Did she mishear and think you’ve been demonstrating them? It’s a fricking box?!

I was watching something recently before the watershed, and a tampon advert came on. Kids are exposed to them.

@CentrifugalBumblePuppy I like that idea a lot. DD I think is very close to starting her periods, and as someone who was brought up to think of periods as shameful and something to be hidden away, I would hate to think she will be embarrassed or ashamed when the time comes. DH unfortunately is still very ‘squeamish and won’t even talk about periods or sanpro, so it seems there are still plenty of people who do think this way. It’s definitely something we need to address, so she can come to either one of us and it not be an issue.

My son thought there were sweets. He was disappointed that they weren't.

That's not a friend, that's a twat.

A while ago I was at a supermarket checkout and on the next checkout was a lone man in his 20's. He placed 2 packets of sanitary towels, paracetamol, a few large bars of chocolate and a large bunch of flowers on it.
I remember thinking what a lovely young man.
Your friend would probably have had a breakdown op.

Wouldn't cross my mind to hide them. Bizarre

My 3 year old DD comes into the bathroom every single time. I dropped her off at crèche and she told the male nursery nurse that mummy had done a red wee wee. Luckily, we're in France and there's a good chance he didn't understand.

Ffs, my male friend keeps tampons at his house for his girlfriend.

My sons have known the basics of menstruation since they were small (they asked, I explained).

Very bizarre response from your friend.

Although one of the downsides of being open and honest with your children is the moment you're having a horrific hot flush in a taxi, and your son says completely matter of factly in front of the taxi driver, "Don't worry Mum, it's just your menopause"

@Needhelp101

bless him

I wonder what she’d make of me? Aged about 2, DS walked in on me changing a tampon. Later outside in the garden, he tried to poke a pen up my bum 🙈

@87Shadow, he has his moments 😁

@87Shadow send her a link to this thread with the email heading HA! I knew I was right, Mumsnet thinks you’re bonkers.

She’s nuts, you did the right thing OP. Periods are not a shameful thing, it’s not bizarre for a 4 year old to know that mummy has periods.

' I was once in the loo in Tesco with my then toddler DS who announced at the top of his voice that he felt very sorry for me because he had a willy and his big brother had a willy and Daddy had a willy but poor Mummy didn't have one'

On very similar lines: I was once working in a nursery school, where I met a very articulate two and a half year old, who told me: 'You know, I've got a willy! And my Daddy's got a willy. But my Mummy hasn't got a willy. She has a bottom!'

God shes nuts.

Does she cover her kids eyes and drag them down the aisle at warp speed when she goes to tesco.

Who are these people with massive houses where the tampons can he hidden away in a secret bunker never to be seen by child eyes...

Back in the real world most kids have seen them in the cupboard and been told age appropriate answers when they ask.

Never seen kid burst into flames seeing a pack of always

Her and her friends would shudder in shame and disgust at me, I leave my mooncup in its little bag on the shelf