Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your ‘Always’ maxi pads for Over 20 years
and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core
or Dri-Weave absorbency, I’d probably never go horseback riding or salsa
dancing, and I’d certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach
in tight, white shorts.
But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos
on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that
maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can’t tell you how safe and secure I feel
each month knowing there’s a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? I’m guessing you
haven’t. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I
can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body.
Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I’ll be transformed
into what my husband likes to call ‘an inbred hillbilly with knife
skills.’

Isn’t the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you’ve no doubt seen
quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers’
monthly visits from ‘Aunt Flo’. Therefore, you must know about the
bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our Intense mood
swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize
it’s a tough time for most women.

The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just
crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants… Which brings me to the
reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so
painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I
opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing,
were these words: ‘Have a Happy Period.’

Are you f—— kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny
middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing
happiness, is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned
above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James?
FYI, unless you’re some kind of sick S&M freak, there will never be
anything ‘happy’ about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on
Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don’t
march down to the local Walgreen’s armed with a hunting rifle and a
sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you have to slap a
moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn’t it make more sense to say
something that’s actually pertinent, like ‘Put down the Hammer’ or
‘Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong’.

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective
immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have
chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will
certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your
brand of condescending bullshit. And that’s a promise I will keep.

Always. . ..

Wendi Aarons
Austin , TX

The word ‘celebrate’ comes from an ancient Greek word ‘melpo’ which means to sing, dance and praise!

There are many ways to celebrate your first blood- here are a few suggestions-

• Have a RED PARTY! Invite your friends and all dress in red, decorate your home with red flowers, red cloths and eat red foods!
• Have a ‘pamper party’ with your girlfriends, give each other facials, paint your toe nails, braid one another’s hair- create a special girlie space to share your stories and perhaps read some of the ones in this book. Light a candle and share chocolate!
• Create a ceremony - ask your mum and friends to help.
• Talk to your mum about the steps to becoming a woman- is there something you’d like to help you to feel more grown up- to get your ears pierced, have your hair henna’d, or maybe redecorate your room? Chat some ideas over with your mum.
• Make yourself a moon necklace or moon belt that you only wear when you bleed.
• Create a special corner in your room for when you bleed- decorate it with pictures, crystals, stones, shells, goddess statues, candles, incense…
• Ask your mum to buy you some red bedding- soft red sheets to curl up in at your moon time!
• Write a letter to yourself- from your ‘young woman’ self to your ‘child girl’ self, honour her for being courageous to be taking these steps in to womanhood with you! Keep this letter safe and read it now and again.
• Start a women’s circle- gather your girlfriends together once a month- on the full moon or dark moon and have a pamper party, or watch a dvd, listen to music or together create items for your altars or make moon jewelry!

I first came across cloth pads when I was researching alternatives to disposable nappies- in 1989- I thought it was great- save money and the planet! My mother was horrified-it reminded her of the ‘rags’ of her youth! But I was determined to follow my instincts and use my washable pads anyway- in the late 80’s advertising was telling us to shove a tampon up us and get on with life- and my body told me to rest, regenerate and reflect while I was bleeding.

So with no design or sewing experience I made my own Moon Times- choosing pretty coloured and patterned cotton flannelette. They felt more like attractive underwear than a huge sticking plaster! Then I began making pads just for friends and family. After experimenting with various designs I have created (what I think is) the perfect pad that has wings for extra security, fastens easily and quickly with Velcro (hemmed in with zig zag stitch to prevent any edges rubbing!) and comes with a variety of ‘inserts’ for different flows.

When my daughter became a menstruating young woman- I gave her a gift of Moon Times- at first she was unsure, having been given the free packs and the info (from a certain tampon company) at school and the slight brainwashing of ‘periods are dirty, blood should be hidden away’, but of course she had grown up with me as her mum and soon embraced her Moons- she even took them to a sleepover and soon her friends were asking me to make them!

I still sew some of the pads myself but also outsource and have some students and single parents working for me. I was a single mum when I began the business and so it feels reallys good to support lone mums in this way. Work is flexible and they are able to work from home making the pads in their own time.

Because of having a child with special needs I only work part time, I keep my work to the day time in school hours where possible and try to keep weekends as ‘family time’. I have learned to say ‘no’ to work when I know life will become to busy and stressful- if I want to keep myself de-stressed, I need to keep a healthy balance of home and work life!

I am enthusiastic about all aspects of my business; teaching my workshops and Reiki I can encourage and empower people to make positive changes in their lives. Expanding my sales of Moon Times pads helps me to make a small difference environmentally and raise awareness around taking steps to be more eco-friendly- which is a cause I have been passionate about all my life!

And yes, I do use my own pads! I have happily bled on to my cotton pads since 1989, for me washing them has helps me ground and connect to my cyclic nature.

For more information about my workshops and classes click here