Dawn celebrates motherhood here. At least before the advent of home testing, the first sign of impending motherhood used to be the friend who didn't come to visit.
More euphemisms from the Museum of Menstruation:
- Are you in need? "When I was in college in Berea, Ohio, if my female friends or I discreetly asked for a tampon or a pad, we would get the equally discreet response, 'Are you in need?'" writes the 26-year-old contributor from Parma, Ohio. (April 2001)
A little ketchup with my steak "I had a boyfriend who lustily referred to it as 'a little ketchup with my steak.' Those Arizona boys do like a little ketchup and a lot of steak. Thought you might like a little extra positive terminology for your wonderful site. Thanks, ******* (now a New Yorker)," writes the contributor. She entitles her e-mail containing this information "That thing, that thing." (February 2002)
A snatch box decorated with red roses (a) "snatch" and "box" both are vulgar terms meaning "vagina" in American slang
Are you seeing red? (a)
At high tide "Performance artist Laurie Anderson has a song 'Red Dress' in which she says 'at high tide,' her euphemism for menstruation," writes the male contributor. (July 2001)
At war "I'm a college student and my roommate always uses the term 'at war' when she's on her period. All of the girls on my hall now use the term," writes the contributor. (February 2002)
Aunt Aggie used by a writer to the Would you stop menstruating if you could? page on this site (December 2002)
Aunt Flo is visiting (a) Flo is a short version of the name Florence. A contributor e-mailed MUM (March 2002), "I traveled to London on business. Of course, Aunt Flow had to come along." See also Gramps.
Aunt Martha from the title of a painting by Judy Jones in the Art of Menstruation series on this Web site; she said that was the term "we" used for menstruation (August 2002)
Aunt Ruby The woman contributor, from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (U.S.A.), wrote, "We call it Aunt Ruby; lots of people say their aunt is visiting, and we added Ruby after a character on General Hospital [an American television program] back in the 1980s. We always used to laugh at her name and say it sounded like a period. Now it's my family's favorite way to refer to it." (2000)
Aunt Sally "Aunt Sally is one that my friends and I often use. I have a great aunt named Sally, who always meant well, but was constantly messing things up. and overstaying her welcome. I think that it's a very appropriate name for such a time. By the way, I'm 13 years old," reads the e-mail. (November 2001)
and that's just a portion of the "A's."
Article comments
1 - Dawn
Um, uh, Ewwwwwww!!!
2 - Murphy
That tampon art sounds a little over the top...
But the names for your period are funny!
Someone I know announces her period and bids for sympathy by telling her boyfriend, "COngratulations! You're not a father!"
I occasionally call it "suffering the consequences of being a woman."
My sister in law has a variation on the aunt theme, saying she's getting a visit from her red-headed aunt.
3 - Valerie
Why aren't major networks, Cable networks, PBS Lifetime, etc.. doing stories or making documentaries re: Menstruating Women Facts and Myth.
I'm serious, I see the monthly cycle absolutely in synchronizing with the lunar cycle. NASA has done studies on this.
I see menstruation and menopause as wonderful mysteries that need to be talked about...OUTLOUD
There should not be any embarrassment when a tampax pops out of your bag in public. It just means you are a healthy woman.
What about Menstruating women and wild animals, Polar bears in particular, sharks etc?