To have told son I couldn’t go swimming as I have a period

[Bouliegirl]

This morning DS8 asked if we could go swimming. I told him no, as I have a period. But we could probably got at the weekend. He was happy enough and shuffled off

My MIL was horrified that I told him this and said that I shouldn’t be talking about periods with a male relative

Of course you should have been honest with him. We need to teach children (and a lot of grown adults too!) that periods aren't tasty taboo subjects. It's completely and utterly natural and you were right to be honest with him. I would have said the same!

Oh god how ridiculous ! What year is she stuck in? 1930 ??

I don't think you're being unreasonable to have mentioned your period, no. It's not a taboo.

But I wouldn't have positioned it like swimming isn't something you can do on your period, because plenty of people do. You can go swimming, you presumably don't want to, which is fine, but it's not really educating him if you're teaching him that your period means you can't swim.

Fully agree with the previous poster. He’ll come away with some odd ideas.

This.

I agree its the right thing to do to mention your period but I don't think you should be teaching him that women and girls with periods can't go swimming - cause they can.

I've voted YABU - of course you can go swimming.

My periods certainly mean i can't swim! The first 2 days is a blood bath. I'm sure no one wants to have me in the pool leaking blood all over the place ....

Even with tampons?

Yep.

Not something I would tell my child. He has years to learn all that. I would have said I wasn't well enough to go but will be fine by the weekend.

That sucks! @Laiste I can relate to the horror show experience 😭

I flood and get random blobs ect ect but this isn't about me - it could also be about cramps and just feeling like shit.

If we want to be pedantic it's easy enough to say ''Some women can swim during their period but Mummy can't - she finds it hard. So we'll go next week''.

I have dreadfully heavy periods. So no, I can’t swim because I have a period.

If you don’t have this issue, that’s fantastic for you. But it doesn’t change the fact that I can’t go swimming today because I have a period.

Agreed, OP's MIL is stuck in the past thinking it's an off-limits topic for discussion with male relatives! How will they learn?

You just didn't need to tell an 8 year old about it

MIL is unreasonable. You're teaching your son that women have periods and they're nothing to be ashamed of.

yes, for me it’s still the case. I have dreadful periods which are also joined by migraines. My son is used to me feeling ill when I have a period

Why ever not?

In a way I think it’s good that things like periods are the norm in your house hold, then when he’s 13 he won’t act all grossed out when someone talks about them.

Why not? It’s the reason why. It’s not (or shouldn’t be) a secret. Most adult females of childbearing age menstruate. It shouldn’t be taboo

What’s the eewww for? Are you revolted by your periods?

@Bouliegirl that's awful! I suffer too but not to that degree. I'm also open with my son about mine. I mean, if he insists on accompanying me to the loo I am going to tell him why I'm bleeding when he asks what it is!

Ah school holidays, a golden time to be outside with friends..or sat on Mumsnet.

Periods are a normal thing for 50% of the population. It's really not shocking

My dd is a competitive swimmer and swim's regardless of periods (her choice). There are some great period swimwear out there (funkita etc) in case anyone is interested.

There's nothing wrong with telling a child the reason why you don't want to go swimming. Your MIL is old fashioned.