How One Family Learned to Replace Embarrassment With Empathy and Support

The moment my daughter began her teen years, I expected questions, new emotions, and the growing pains that come with becoming more independent. What I did not expect was that the greatest challenge she would face would come from inside our own home.

She had just started her menstrual cycle—a normal, healthy milestone for a thirteen-year-old. She was nervous and a little unsure of herself, still adjusting to something brand new. Like many young girls, she needed reassurance, steady guidance, and the comfort of knowing she wasn’t alone.

Instead, she was met with discomfort from the very people she looked up to.

My husband, uneasy after our teenage sons reacted poorly to seeing one of her used products in the trash, pulled her aside and told her she should try to “keep things hidden.” He said the boys were uncomfortable and didn’t know how to handle it.

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