Amanda A. • Indiana • 26
I was in 6th grade and was at a cheer competition out of state. It was, of course, the first and only cheer competition my mother didn’t go to for reasons I can’t remember. So, I was put in the group to travel with one of our coaches in a rental van. She packed my bag and sent me off. The night before the competition several of us participated in a local high school’s cheerleading clinic which allowed us to cheer at the football game before hitting the road. I noticed a small amount of blood, but didn’t think anything of it.
Fast forward to the warm up room getting ready for competition. I was a flyer for a stunt and I was up in the air when my coach yells “Get her down!” and asked if anyone had a pair of extra spanx.
I didn’t understand what was going on until my coach announced, in front of the entire warm up room of probably 200 people that I had become a woman and started my period. Mind you, our uniform was powder blue, because of course it was. This all took place about 5 minutes before we had to perform. So, I get a pad and borrowed a set of spanx, and performed, clearly traumatized.
After the competition, we get back to the hotel room and as it turns out, the only underwear I have with me is the blood stained underwear I had on. Because of course. That was the last time I ever allowed my mom to pack a bag for me. This was also before cellphones were very common place, especially for young kids, so my cheer coach told my mom about me “becoming a woman” when she picked me up the next night.
