Be Prepared Here are four ways to not get caught off guard: 1. Make an emergency "purse." This "purse" should have all the basics you will need in case you get your period: liners, pads, and tissues. Add a funny note or special charm to help cheer you up—it is a great way to lessen the stress of getting your period unexpectedly. 2. Always have a spare. Whether it's your first time or if your period comes unexpectedly, it never hurts to have a spare pair of underwear stashed in a place like your purse or hidden in a bag or locker. 3. Track it. Use a calendar to keep track of your periods. Use a secret code to help you figure out when it will begin, how many days it lasts, and how heavy it can get. 4. Know the signs. Pay attention to your body. You might feel bloated, get moodier, spot, or have a discharge before you get your period.

The Uninvited Friend

By Melissa Algranati

The Talk

My mom sat me down and explained, "Every girl has a 'friend' who visits her every month. It is all a part of growing up."

HUH?

After that confusing conversation, it took an all-night sleepover for Michelle (my BFF) to translate what my mom was talking about: my period.

As Michelle and I talked, all I could think was:

• What if I get it in school or during the summer at the pool?
• What if there is a lot of blood?
• Would everyone find out?

The Reality

All my 'what ifs' became reality during lunch one day. "I can't believe this happened to me," I thought. "My underwear is soaked and there are 15 minutes left in lunch period. What am I going to do?"

After taking a deep breath, I did what any self-respecting kid who just got her period for the first time in school would do: I hid in the bathroom and cried.

The Way Out

"Hurry up in there!" the lunch aide shouted into the bathroom, my sanctuary from public humiliation. At that moment I realized I couldn't spend the rest of my life hiding in the bathroom. I wiped my tears, stuffed some toilet paper in my underwear, wrapped my sweatshirt around my waist and made a bee-line to Michelle at our lunch table. Whispering, I told her EVERYTHING. Michelle, being Michelle, took charge of the situation.

Dragging me by the arm, she brought me to Mrs. A.—our favorite teacher—and told her what happened. (Between you and me, I was convinced everyone knew at this point.) Mrs. A. led me to the nurse's office, gave me a pad, told me to change, and then we had a little "talk." She told me every girl gets her period. Some get it at 10, some at 12, some as late as 16. It's all a part of growing up, if you're a girl.

Honestly, I'm still not sure how I survived without Michelle and Mrs. A.