Let's talk taboo topics with Modibodi

[JustineBMumsnet]

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There are many topics that are traditionally considered taboo - and whether that’s discussing your period, the menopause, money whether you have it or not, or topics like incontience or sex, talking about taboo topics can sometimes be helpful, and so Modibodi would like to hear about the ways you talk about taboo topics with your friends and family.

Here’s what Modibodi has to say: “Modibodi™ is modern, protective apparel, created for real women. real bodies. real leaks! We cater to give all bodies more confidence and comfort, and a more sustainable solution to disposable hygiene. Our founder and CEO, Kristy Chong, spent almost two years working scientists and designers, developing, and testing the patented Modifier Technology™ that makes up the super stylish leak-proof knickers into the Modibodi collection. We have a UK team and warehouse, with same day dispatch, so you can get your Modibodi quickly! Modibodi also gives back to women in need through their Give A Pair program.”

“Modibodi believes that making a positive impact should be as easy as changing the undies we wear and now your swimwear too. Along with our sister brand RED, which is period proof protective undies for tweens and teens, we want all women and young girls to feel confident and be leak free. If you don’t believe us, try them for yourself with a 30-day free trial.
Modibodi offers FREE shipping in the UK and Northern Ireland, and are currently offering Mumsnet users 12% off their first order with the code ‘mumstaboo’ on their site. Offer excludes packs, gift cards and sale items.”

How would you talk to your daughter about her period? Or educate your son on what happens to women during menstruation? Are continence or ‘leak’ issues something you feel like you can’t mention, or are there topics that you’d be too embarrassed to speak about outside of a doctors office? Do you find it difficult to talk about money with others, out of fear they’ll feel judged, or that they’ll judge you? Perhaps there’s some people in your life you’d talk about anything with, regardless of how taboo the topic?

However you discuss topics that are traditionally taboo, share a comment below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list) and one MNer will win a £100 Modibodi voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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I was always too embarrassed to talk about my periods when I was young, even though my mother was a family planning nurse. I've tried to be more open about it as I've got older and discuss everything with my DS. I've now bought some Modibodi period underwear and love them so am telling everyone!

I work in mental health so I'm very open about that and encourage my children to talk about feelings and emotions and not to bottle things up. I also talk to them about drugs and alcohol and hope that if they ever need help they'll be able to come to me.

I have a prolapse and since I have had children I would be happy to tell anyone, when I was younger I was mortified about taking about such things but now I think my body has grown and birthed three children and everything is perfectly natural. I have found if you are honest lots of other people will open up about similar issues. I haven't told my children as I don't think they need to know yet but when the times right i will or if they ask I would be very honest.

I'm very open at home with all topics so I hope it will dispel any taboos at home

I started my periods early ( age 10) for the time although that's probably not an unusual age these days. It came as a bit of a surprise to my Mum, there weren't any pads in the house as she and my much older sisters used tampons. My Mum wouldn't go to the shop to buy any or give me any money.It was like she pretended it wasn't happening.

I clearly remember having to use wadded up toilet paper frequently at primary and senior school as I didn't have access to San pro when I needed it. As a result I always keep a good supply in the loo and my DD has never had to worry about asking for any.
I thought I had been quite open with my DS who is a young teen but recently when I had been in the bathroom for a while he asked me if I had had my period in there. I had to explain it actually takes a few days and isn't over and done with in a few minutes

I've tried to be very open with my kids about periods etc (quite a bit of discussion was prompted by my son finding tampons and thinking they made great sticks of dynamite!).
I think money is the last taboo for most people.

Being brought up in a household that no topic of conversation was taboo, I want my children to be open with me and feel comfortable talking about any subject.
I had a miscarriage before DD1, unfortunatley I feel that this subject is still taboo. It felt like the world had no happiness and I would never feel happy again, people that didn't know I was even pregnant wondered why I was so upset and I really struggled to tell them what had happened. When I did tell them they shyed away from me feeling awkward, which made me feel even worse.
Its silly that in this day and age its still a taboo subject, as it happens to so many women every day.
Ill give my daughters the confidence and security that they can come to me no matter what the subject!

My 1st period happened in junior school, I leaked through my uniform and remember vividly how ashamed and embarrassed (and confused) I was by it. I have never heard of Modibodi before but will definitely get some for my dd when she is a bit older, brilliant idea as first period can take most girls and women by surprise and it's reassuring that hopefully my dd 1st period won't have so many horrible memories that mine did. I still remember the shame of trying to tie my cardigan around my waist to hide the stain and the worry of bleeding through on to my chair.

Periods and leaky bladder have always been taboo subjects in our household as we never really discussed it growing up we just had to deal with it. However I intend to be more open with my daughter about periods and discuss it with her as soon as she hits teens. When I started as I had no knowledge I literally thought I was dying!!

Also with weak bladders I developed this after having my kids I always believed it was an old age thing but I was quite young when I got it. So goes to show anyone can get it. It is a bit embarrassing to talk about it but awareness should be encouraged.

I grew up with periods not being talked about at all- my mother handed me a leaflet to read and that was that.

I am so much more open with my children-I want me children to feel like they can ask me anything. My 10 year old knows about periods and the youngest sees the sanpro in the bathroom and it’s just not a big deal in our house, unlike growing up when I was told to hide it so my siblings didn’t see it.

Always been really open - always used correct language rather than euphemisms e.g period rather than “time of month”. Discussed mood changes and explained why I might be a bit more short tempered at certain points in my cycle, have also discussed this in relation to their friends e.g. encouraged them to cut their friends a bit of slack when their hormones might make them more irritable etc.

We tried to openly discuss all things as and when they came up, no topic was dismissed. They are all everyday events and facts of live that people need to be more open about otherwise they become an issue.

🤞🤞🤞

How would you talk to your daughter about her period?
My Daughter is only seven so I've mentioned it, in a way she would understand. She is very inquisitive and we had the conversation about whether men could marry men and women could marry women so I answered honestly and told her that they could as they may be attracted regardless of gender (put in a way she would understand). I am very honest and open and hope she knows she can ask me anything, and I will tell her, support her and be there to give advice for her.

Or educate your son on what happens to women during menstruation?
I don't have a son, but if I were to would start off with talking about the changes he will/ may experience as he gets older, and lead onto it from there in regards to the changes girls go through also.

Are continence or ‘leak’ issues something you feel like you can’t mention, or are there topics that you’d be too embarrassed to speak about outside of a doctors office?
After I had my Daughter, I started jogging and got on a trampoline a few years later, and yes, I had it. I talked to a close friend who after mentioning had gone through it to.

Do you find it difficult to talk about money with others, out of fear they’ll feel judged, or that they’ll judge you? Perhaps there’s some people in your life you’d talk about anything with, regardless of how taboo the topic?
Only family, and yes I do feel judged, despite working long hours sometimes it can be a struggle as a single Mum (I also feel judged about the fact I am a single Mum).

I started my periods aged 10.

My catholic mother never told me anything and school didnt teach it til you were 12 back then - and all girls were taken into a room - I guess they thought boys didnt need to know??

It was horrible. I thought I had some awful disease of the bottom - I no idea where the blood was coming from!

Pads were the nastiest, cheapest you could buy and did feel like actual towels in your pants.

I have 2 boys and have never hidden periods from them. I'm very proud that my 16 year old offered his female friend some painkillers and offered to run to the shops to get her some san pro when she unexpectedly started at school.

When I was at school boys would have made jokes, been really unkind. Perhaps things are changing for the better?

I love the idea of modi bodi - so simple! I still use pads - resuables - and tbh they still feel ungainly.

I promise there were paragraphs in that when I wrote it...

My boys are 3 and 5 they know mummy has blood that comes out of her and wears ‘nappies’ at certain times of the month.

Tampons actually fit in the nerf gun!

I’ve been very open with both of my DC all their lives about periods, in an age appropriate way.

When DD started her period she called me at work to let me know. We got her a goft bag of lots of different pads to try, a box of chocolates, some magazines and nail polish but otherwise didn’t treat it as a big deal.

I’m trying to encourage her to use reusable products now as I favour my mooncup and reusable pads, I don’t push it as she’s not too keen but hopefully in the future.

Nothing has ever been taboo in this family. If a child is old enough to ask a question, they're old enough to get an age appropriate answer.

•I am expecting to talk to my children about menstruation when an appropriate age.
•Leak issues are something I would like to talk about with someone more, I have had leak issues since a child and i have not ever really spoken to it about it to anyone.
•Money, I suppose it is a private thing, i don't ask people. My dads pretty open about it.
•I can talk to my dad about absolutely anything and have no judgement

I think honesty is the best policy when it comes to talking about 'taboo' subjects.
My children always know that I will answer them properly if they ask me a question. If I don't know the answer I say why don't we find it out together.
My boys are now teenagers but when they were 3 and 5 they discovered that tampons soaked in water were great for sticking to the bathroom ceiling! I had to tell them why they shouldn't waste them which led to the period talk. I have since told my daughter about periods. She is now 6 and wants to be a Doctor - when she noticed the blood she was upset and asked all about it.
Other subjects get talked about daily.

Nothing is taboo in our house! Talk is free and, thankfully, we all happily and openly discuss any issues without any embarrassment whatsoever - talking openly from a young age meant that my now teenagers are happy to openly discuss any issues at all. Much healthier!

I find money a very difficult one, I’d rather people didn’t know my unusual circumstances. If MN discussions are anything to go by people can be quite judgemental about money! Although I think It’s very important to discuss with children so that they learn to budget and manage money and also understand the value it has (but that there’s also a lot more to life than having lots of it).

I am very open about all other bodily “taboos” probably to the embarrassment of some, but my job means talking to strangers about absolutely anything that’s an issue for them so nothing makes me blush or even blink anymore!

I hope I can bring up my daughter to be body confident and unashamed of her normal and natural biological processes.

I think the key is to be as open and honest as possible (in an age appropriate way). My parents were not very forth coming with information when I was a child and as a result I am more of a prude than I should be. I don't want my daughter to feel she cannot talk to me or ask me about periods or sex etc. I rather she talked to me rather than getting misinformation from outside sources (she's only 2 so probs a bit early to be worrying about this yet!)

I try to be very open and honest with my girls. DH does too and I make sure that we talk about periods and bodies when he's around so they hopefully won't be embarrassed talking to him about it. They're only 7 and 4 though so we'll see how that works out!
I help with personal care at work so there's very little that doesn't get discussed during my working day-
I work with young teens and we all tend to be very open and honest as appropriate. My last shift we discussed contraception in detail, followed by a few poo jokes 😄

If my DS (aged 6) asks about anything, I will tell him as honestly as I can. I try not to hide anything. While nothing is off limits, I do think that children need to learn that some topics should handled discreetly.

For me, its not a matter of a topic being taboo. Somethings I do not want to talk with others about. Most of my friendship and family circle don't need to hear about my finances, periods, medical issues.