According to UNICEF, 26 percent of people on Earth menstruate. That’s one in four of us. And yet, for many women and girls, simply talking about periods in public is still considered taboo. As the mom of a 10-and-a-half-year-old daughter and two teenage sons, I’m determined to change that narrative, one small step at a time.
Earlier this month, I shared a photo of my sons, Micah, 15, and Elijah, 16, on a private Facebook page—and watched it take on a life of its own.
It was a simple snapshot I’d taken while we were back-to-school shopping at Target.
“‘My teenage boys helped me shop today,’ I wrote, ‘which included buying their little sister’s first bras… because breasts happen.’”
For good measure, I added, “‘Both boys carry a tampon and a pad in their backpacks in case one of their friends needs one. Just a mom out here, trying to erase gender taboo!’”
Within hours, the post had racked up thousands of likes and comments, and as I write this, it has over 65,000 reactions—and still counting.
Most of the response has been overwhelmingly positive. But it also sparked women from their 40s to their 60s to share their own stories, recalling moments from their youth when they desperately needed period supplies and had none.
One woman remembered bleeding through her clothes as a young girl, and how a male friend had wrapped his sweatshirt around her waist. She said she’s never forgotten his kindness.
But the majority of the stories shared echoed a common theme: humiliation, shame, and helplessness. Countless women spoke of fathers and husbands who “would never have gone to the store to buy me period supplies.” Some readers even expressed offense at the idea of trying to normalize periods.
One thing became very clear: menstruation is still a major gender taboo. And I want to raise boys who look past it.
“Bleed-throughs happen,” I’ve told my sons. “They can be mortifying, even traumatizing. But kindness and understanding from any friend goes a long way. Be that person.”
Our bodies are simply doing what they are made to do. Why should that be embarrassing?
I first started these conversations last year after reading about a man hiking the Appalachian Trail who gave a tampon to a woman who had bled through. He reportedly said, “It’s no big deal; I grew up with a mom and sisters.” That story stuck with me.
One day, while driving, I looked at my boys in the rearview mirror and casually suggested they carry a tampon in their backpacks in case any of their friends needed one. They didn’t say much—teenagers, after all—but they thought about it.
By the end of the school year, they saw the reality of what I’d been talking about. One of Elijah’s friends had a bleed-through. She was only allowed to use pads due to her religious beliefs, unlike her other friends. That day, Elijah decided to make sure he and Micah always had pads in their backpacks—just in case.
Our high school doesn’t provide or sell period products, and with a student population that is 60 percent female, this can create real challenges. According to a 2019 U.S. study, 92 percent of high school students reported needing period products at school, yet only 42 percent of schools offer them—and most of those cost money.
This year, Micah took it a step further, letting his close female friends know he always keeps a sweatshirt in his locker and a tampon in his backpack. “‘You know, in case you have an emergency,’” he explained. “‘My mom wanted you to be covered.’”
His friends were slightly embarrassed for a moment, but they accepted it. Elijah, on the other hand, told everyone—male and female. While a few boys teased him, most responded with, “Cool, dude.” His female friends were grateful, even suggesting he keep products in his car too.
Raising teenage boys is a constant mix of laundry, feeding their endless appetites, nagging, laughter, and quick, teachable moments like these. Helping them understand what truly matters—keeping friends safe, showing empathy, and recognizing what is a “big deal” versus a “no big deal”—can make a lifelong difference.
By normalizing these conversations at home, we teach our kids that periods are nothing to be ashamed of. My hope is that kids of all genders, including transgender kids, know my boys are a safe place to get period supplies. Even more importantly, I hope that small actions like this begin to shift how our whole high school thinks about menstruation.
When I first shared the photo in that private Facebook group, I expected maybe a few other parents would think it was a good idea to send their boys to school with period supplies. There were a handful of vocal naysayers, of course—but the majority responded positively. Single mothers, parents of young boys, and those raising teenage girls alike recognized the importance of erasing period taboos.
Change doesn’t happen overnight. But perhaps, just maybe, it starts with a couple of teenage boys, a mom, and a few pads and tampons in backpacks.
