Michelle earned herself a spot of glory forevermore with her creative follow-up meeting to the Body Talk meeting we had last month. This clever gal created games to get the girls comfortable with pads, tampons and bras. We broke into 5 teams (1-2 moms per group of girls) and Michelle gave us each a different task to complete first. There were 5 tasks total, and each team needed to complete all five. I honestly couldn't remember the last time I laughed for as hard and as long as I did this evening. Michelle was on hand to assist groups as needed, and provided all the necessary materials. A few of us brought some boxes of tampons to help the cause.
Here was the rundown of each task:
#1: All About Bras
Measure one member of your team to see what size bra she should wear (the band size only, not the cup size). Or if no one is comfortable being measured, come and measure Michelle. Then jog in place and count up to this number as a team.
Choose a bra and put it on. Have your team members stuff it with socks. Count how many socks it took to stuff, then have everyone in your group do that many jumping jacks. Pass on the bra to the next teammate, stuff with socks, and repeat.
Have everyone in your team sit down "criss-cross applesauce" and link arms when you are finished.
#2: A Period Quiz!
1) Using the provided reference books, figure out approximately how much fluid/blood a woman loses every month during her menstrual cycle (her "period"). ________________
2) How many days does a typical "period" last? _______________
3) How many times per year does a woman get her "period"? ______________
For the next 2 questions, circle the best answer:
(Just take a guess, these answers are probably not found in the books.)
4) How much does a package of pads cost?
$1 $3-6 $6-12 $50
5) What are "pads" sometimes called (other names for pads)?
sanitary napkins rags maxipads pantiliners all of the above
Turn in your quiz to Michelle to get your next task!
#3: All About Pads (note: this one works best on a smooth floor surface; not carpet)
First, make your own pad out of toilet paper or Kleenex. Put it in the underwear and deliver it to Michelle. Second, get in line with your teammates at one end of the room. Have the first person attach pads to the bottoms of their feet, then slide across the room and back. Take the pads off and stick them to the next person's feet and repeat. If the pads are no longer sticky, get new ones. Dispose of the "used" ones properly (wrap them up in their wrappers or in toilet paper and put in the garbage.)
When finished, sit down and put your arms in the air when your team is finished (but remain SILENT)!
#4: More About Pads
First, get a pair of underwear and a large/thick pad. Put the pad in the underwear. Count how many teaspoons of water you can pour into the pad without it leaking. Have everyone in your team count out loud.
Why do you think you shouldn't wear a pad when you are going swimming? Write your answer below and give it to Alicia.
#5: Tampons -- What are they and what can you do with them?!
First, have one of the moms in your group lay down on a table. Have each team member open up a tampon and try to shoot it over the mom lying on the table -- it must go over her and land on the floor. If it lands on her, pick it up, out it back in the applicator and try again.
When everyone has successfully shot a tampon over the mom, pick up all of the tampons, applicators and wrappers, and make a sculpture with them. Get some washi tape from Michelle to help hold your sculpture together -- the sculpture must represent something you love about summer. If you need more tampons, as Michelle.
When your sculpture is finished, decide on a song you all know and sing it quietly together.
This evening gave the girls a chance to be silly and get comfortable with all these wacky changes coming. Our first meeting about this topic was pretty serious; it felt good to let loose and keep the humor going! And honestly, I don't know if the girls or their moms enjoyed it more! Thanks, Michelle.
