Mystery of the Period Gifts
When I was about six or seven I managed to sneak a look at my parents copy of Dr Spock, and boned up (as it were) on the secrets therein.

As a boy, I found the section about Girls Parts to be of particular interest. In there was mention that when a girl is expecting to start her periods for the first time, it's a good idea for her to receive a box of napkins and a belt.

Well, I had next to no idea what was meant by any of that. For quite a long time I wondered about this ceremonial belt and accompanying napkins, and gave my big sister some searching looks when she appeared wearing any new sort of belt.

The mystery only deepened when she went shopping one day with my mum and returned with a nice silver coloured leather one, and I congratulated her and asked if I could see her serviettes.

All I got was a clout round the ear, which was her usual response to stupid questions.

(It was many many years later that I discovered that the Good Doctor was talking about sanitary towels, and that the belt was a pre-adhesive method of holding them in place - or so I have been lead to believe...)
(richardm, Fri 26 Sep 2008, 16:54, 3 replies)

whoa
my mind is blown, all these years I've been wrong...

shit, I have to return some napkins, brb
(Monsun beery wanderlust, Fri 26 Sep 2008, 17:09, closed)

Now that I think about it
do Americans talk about napkins with wings these days? I doubt that would have made it any easier to understand, and indeed could have led to some difficult conversations in restaurants.
(richardm, Fri 26 Sep 2008, 17:15, closed)

And they are still available
For the more traditionalist lady.
And how do I know this, as a card carrying owner of a Y chromosome?

I used to work for the company that made them
(Sir Tainley Barking Ezekiel 23:20, Sat 27 Sep 2008, 21:11, closed)