Mom Says I May Soon Get My...

Being a kid means waiting for all kinds of things.

Mom Says I May Soon Get My First Period!

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January 14, 1991 9:09pm and 40 seconds

Dear Diary,

Hi! Sarah here! Before we get to the fun I just want to quickly share that That Was Rad is a reader-supported publication. If you're able, I would be grateful for your support, which will help make sure there's always a free version for anyone who wants some fun 80s and 90s nostalgia. Thank you!

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Ever since Saturday, I have of off and on been getting hurendous cramps in my lower abdomen.  Yikes. Mom says I may soon get my first period. She went and bought me some maxi pads when she went to the store.  In a way, I do hope I get it. But then again, I don't. You see, I'm afraid I will have to handle it during school.  I know I will sometime, though. And I'm afraid people will notice, but I would also be nice to be a woman, as people say.

You might have guessed that this entry would arrive sooner or later! In the video I say I'm twelve, but when I do the math, I'm actually still eleven. I actually didn't get my period for a while...which makes me think about how anticipatory that milestone is. You know it's coming, but have no idea when it will be, so you just look for clues until it, at least for most of us, surprises us out of the blue!

Hmm.  Right now, Dad and my siblings are being telly monsters watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I find it very hard to believe that Dad is allowing them to do so. I watched the beginning of it, but then stopped after reminding myself that we DO have school tomorrow.  

I'm getting some strong first born energy from this paragraph, ha. I am the oldest of four, all two years apart. I was definitely raised to be the example of the bunch, which meant I had to grow up fast. I can see myself trying to "set the example" here by not watching the movie and instead going to bed. The funny/sad thing is that I'm trying to do what I think I'm supposed to do, but I'm really just missing out on the fun. It's still hard for me to let loose and play sometimes, (which is hard enough to do as an adult!), but I'm working on it!

Ugh, I am so nervous. Tomorrow, at third hour, Mrs. B will announce the characters of our play, TEEN III, and I want to be Jennifer so bad. I know, though, that if I do not get the part I want, I will congratulate the person who did and tell myself you can't get everything you want in life.  Even so, I will be very disappointed.

This really encapsulates the feeling of wanting something. I love how I'm trying to reassure myself that "you can't get everything you want in life", even while really, really wanting it. I'll let you know how all this turns out next week!

Oh, my arm is so sore. Write you later.  

Sincerely, Sarah.

This entry isn't very long, but it holds a lot of the pure energy of growing up: waiting for a defining moment that signals a major change in your life, along with wanting something so much, and having no control over whether or not you get it.

Today's prompt is to share something that you really wanted as a kid, and how you figured out how to wait for it. If you got what you wanted, how did that feel? How about if you didn't? Be sure to sign in and share; I can't wait to read your thoughts!

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