Extending Grace: Lessons from My Journey with Menstruation
Growing up, the early arrival of my period shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. I started menstruating in Grade 5, at just nine years old, barely old enough to grasp what was happening to my body, let alone manage it properly. It was a time when most of my peers were still playing with dolls and had no concept of menstruation. What is menstruation? Menstruation, also known as a period, is the vaginal bleeding that occurs when the lining of the uterus sheds after an egg is released but pregnancy does not occur. Back then, my period was heavy and unpredictable, a biological phenomenon I was completely unprepared for. I didn’t know pads came in different sizes or that “heavy flow” meant I needed something more absorbent. My uniform often bore the blot of my inexperience, a glaring red flag of my struggle. Instead of receiving the grace and support I so desperately needed, I was met with discomfort, embarrassment, and, at times, judgment. My period blo...