Hey guys! Long time no post. Since I wrote last big things have happened. Unfortunately the biggest news story was the Boston Marathon bombing. Like everyone else, I am praying for Boston. The story of Patrick and Jessica, newlyweds that both lost legs in the explosion particularly saddened me. I feel inspired by all the goodness people have showed in the aftermath and am so grateful both bombers were brought to justice. In much happier, though way less important in comparison news: Josh and I traveled to Omaha and found an apartment! We had a blast exploring our soon-to-be-home city, checking out apartments, meeting with Josh’s coworkers, and eating our way around town. My stomach settled down the day I got into town (thank goodness) so we really went all out. I’m going to have a post on our apartment hunt, a post on our hotel (We stayed at the Element by Westin– It was fabulous and if we weren’t getting a two-bedroom apartment I’d tell all of our friends and family to stay there!), and a post about all the food and fun sights we saw.
Those posts are going to have to wait for a few more days though because today I have a post I’ve been waiting for forever to share with you guys! It’s my video debut! This past January I was one of the lucky bloggers to be chosen to attend a roundtable discussion on all things feminine with Kotex for Generation Know. The first time I wrote about this event I recapped the discussions and shared Instagram photos I took throughout the event. The second time I posted about this event was when I shared the professional photos taken at the event and shared a behind-the-scenes look at a video shoot.
We talked about periods, vaginas, self-confidence, media, societal pressures and expectations, and what it’s like to be twenty-something women in the twenty-first century. It was an amazing experience for me. I kind of had an a-ha moment and realized that even as a proud feminist it is easy to let societal conventions tell us that there are parts of our body we shouldn’t talk about, that we should feel are “ick” or “gross”. I realized that we as women need to be proud of our bodies and thankful for all that they do. If we don’t love them, no one else will. I realized that there is true power in women getting together and having open and honest discussions.
Being a part of Generation Know made me realize how little information young girls are being given these days about their reproductive health, and how important it is for them to grow up with accurate information and facts instead of the silly myths we’ve been passing on for generations. Those same young girls grow up into twenty-something women who still don’t fully understand their bodies. These same young women grow up to be mothers who are too embarrassed or timid to talk about those same issues with their daughters. It made me realize that my generation can break the cycle. We can say enough is enough and that vaginas and periods and all that “icky” stuff is not something to be ashamed of. It’s a part of who we are and it’s time we start educating ourselves on it. If I have a little girl some day I want to be able to talk about all the things that were never talked about with me. I want them to know that while having a period is not always fun it is a good thing and it means they’re healthy and their body is working like it should. It’s kind of funny that having your period ever even became something to be ashamed about. Having your period is a source of power. There is nothing I can think of more powerful and wonderful than having the ability to bring a life into the world. If I have a little boy someday I want them to know that women don’t just turn into monsters once a month but that they go through hormonal changes that are preparing them to continue on the circle of life someday. I want him to know that women are not dirty and unclean when that happens, and to treat them with care and respect.
Today I am sharing the videos that were filmed at the event. It’s so cool to remember the conversations we had and then to see them transformed into short little video clips. I love these videos. They are honest and real and they have such a great message. I feel so lucky to be a part of this campaign. I truly believe it is doing so much good. I hope the videos make you think, or at the very least laugh at my ridiculous period story. I’m so curious to hear your thoughts.
Question of the Day: What do you wish you had known as a little girl about your period and your body? What do you hope to tell your own little girl (or already tell her) someday?
U by Kotex Brand is committed to empowering girls to change the way the world thinks about periods and vaginas through Generation Know, the first generation of girls comfortable asking questions, gaining real knowledge and spreading information about their health and bodies to others. To get the facts, learn how to make a difference and get a free Generation Know bracelet to symbolize your commitment, visit www.GenerationKnow.com. For every girl that joins, U by Kotex brand will donate to Girls For A Change to continue to create change.
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by U by Kotex® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of U by Kotex®.
Thank you for sharing this Erin. The videos are great and so honest. There is so much fear and stigma surrounding these topics but I agree that especially now, it’s so important that girls get the right information. I don’t even think that my mom talked to me about these things but that I relied mainly on friends for information!
Aw thank you Christine! I was the same way, everything I learned I found out by researching myself. I want to make sure that when I have kids they feel like I can be a source of information for them and that they’re not alone in trying to figure out all the changes they’re going through.
AHHH I LOVE THIS.
and with my daughter on the cusp (seemingly?) of body changes this has been so on my mind lately too.
I just want her to know she can ask me ANYTHING.
Your daughter is so lucky to have you as a mom. I’m sure she’s going to feel super open with you.
Awesome videos!! My mom did talk to me about these things because her mother didn’t. She didn’t want me to be as clueless as she was. My husband and I use real body part names with our little ladies and I will be very open with them about the changes in their bodies as they grow up.
It’s funny that you all talked about knowing what your vagina looks like. I actually got out the mirror right after my first kiddo was born. I was curious about the stitches. Learn from my mistake and don’t do that. You’re better off not knowing. 😉
Way to be so open with your daughters! I’m sure they’re going to appreciate that when they’re older. I will take your advice and not look at the stitches if I get them during labor! haha
My mom and I, as well as my best friend at the time and her mom, went to a class all about this stuff. You’d think that would be intimidating, but it was very well done and very on a fifth graders level. My mom has always been very open. The hardest thing for me was when I first got my period and then had to go to swim practice. All my mom kept telling me was to relax to try and get everything situated, but that was the hardest thing to do! I cried, but mom still made me go swim! haha.
Aw haha it sounds like it was a good thing your mom pushed you a little bit. I remember Tampons being super strange and scary to me when I first got my period, but I stared using them right away. I didn’t want to be held back in terms of activities like I would be with pads.
i think it’ sa great campaign as well. my mom did a great job talking to me. she even bought me a ring when i got my first period to commemerate the experience bc she thought it was such an important time.
Way to go your mom! I hope to be able to do that if I have a daughter someday!
Great post. This is important information for young women and mothers. It is so strange that these days, with all the seeming “openness” in society, that women still may be embarrassed to talk about their bodies. I’m glad to hear that this is something that you are a part of.
Aw thank you Debbie. I am so proud to be a part of this. As someone who had to find everything out by myself through research I really look forward to being able to teach my future children that their bodies are the most important things they have, and that they should not be ashamed about any part of it.
Great post, with 3 older sisters and my mom in the picture I, surprisingly, did not have any info on how to handle my period and a lot of it I ended up finding on my own. If I have a little girl, I know that I need to handle things differently.
I hope to do the same! My dad was a single parent and had no idea what was going on in the female health area! haha
This is awesome!! I know our student org had Generation Know come in and talk to us about this campaign, and it sounds awesome! Beautiful video from a beautiful girl, Erin! 🙂
Aww thanks Amanda! You’re so sweet! I love how the campaign is all about knowledge and empowerment. That’s such a positive campaign.
I cannot wait to read more about your time here in Omaha! I would say that you definitely experienced your fair share of crazy Midwest weather! 😉
Oh man the weather was not fun! But I LOVED Omaha! I’ll definitely be posting more of my recaps tomorrow!
What an amazing event to be a part of. It is pretty wild to think that girls and women find their period to be something embarrassing, when it is (like you said) a sign that your body is doing what it’s supposed to be doing and is healthy
Congrats on being selected to be a part of this and thanks for sharing your experience!
Thanks so much! I felt so lucky to be a part of this campaign, I hope it does a lot of good for young girls.
What a fun experience! I will always remember when one of my friends got her 1st period at my house and totally freaked out because her mom never talked to her about it. Even though I had never had a period at that point, I knew exactly what it was because my mom talked to me about EVERYTHING!!
Way to go your mom!! I hope I have a daughter someday and I want to be just as open.
What a great event! I knew NOTHING about my period, what was going on with my body, or even sexual education in general. As embarrassing as it is to say now, I literally did not understand “how it all worked” for a long time. I now have a daughter and have chose to use proper names for our parts and try to be more open. I want her to have an understanding of her body from home, not what she hears others talking about at school. My Mom did her best, but wasn’t comfortable discussing things like that. When I got my period, she threw a pamphlet she got from a maxi-pad company at me with a bag of pads.
Oh man that must have been tough going through that! Way to break the cycle with your daughter! I was kind of in the same boat with my dad being a single parent. It wasn’t that he was even uncomfortable with all that was going on, he just didn’t know what was going on! haha
This is such a great post, and I’ve enjoyed reading all of your posts about this incredible event. I can’t even imagine how amazing that experience must have been.
I’m definitely less embarrassed about “period discussions” now than I used to be, but still freak out when something is a bit abnormal or any new questions come into play.
http://somethingaboutthatthing.blogspot.ca/
Aw thanks Jackie! It has been the most incredible experience and one I am so proud to be a part of!
You did great!! You look fantastic and you shared a super personal experience. Way to get out there and make this message positive!
Aw thanks so much Meg! This really means a lot coming from you. 🙂 I had a blast chatting with you tonight!