“Is it acceptable to keep a personal stash of pads due to them being taken by family members?”
Have you ever faced a situation where you have to deal with sharing personal items with family? Well, imagine the frustration of always finding your essential pads gone because someone else is using them. Read on to find out how one person navigated this issue with their family.
1. Background:
Living with relatives is usually a shared experience, but what happens when someone crosses the line by repeatedly using personal items without permission? In this case, a young woman finds herself in a predicament where her mom is taking her pads.
2. The Scenario:
Despite having separate boxes of pads, the young woman notices that her mom keeps using hers, leaving her without supplies. She confronts her mom, who justifies her actions by claiming they “share” them.
3. Taking Action:
Frustrated by the constant depletion of her pads, the young woman decides to keep a stash in her room to prevent further inconveniences. However, her mom reacts negatively to this, deeming it inappropriate.
4. Seeking Opinions:
Conflicted about the situation, the young woman turns to seek unbiased opinions. Could her actions be seen as reasonable, or is she being selfish?
What do you think about this dilemma? Is it fair for someone to keep a personal stash of pads to avoid running out? Share your thoughts in the comments! #FamilyDilemma #PersonalBoundaries #PeriodSupplies #SharedLiving #FamilyIssues
You need to find your mother’s stash and start raiding it. Leave your mom one pad. After all-you share pads, *your mom said so*. Leave a note-“thanks for sharing”, smiley face).
Now go hide your pads better, your mama is gonna search your room. NTA and WTF
And maybe switch pad brands or start using tampons or a menstrual cup-or something, because this… this is just ridiculous.
Nothing gross in clean and unused pads. Your mom’s a stealing asshole. NTA
Sharing should be a two-way street. She doesn’t seem to be keeping her pads where you can access them, so why should you?
NTA
You could’ve said you started taking the cash for pads from her wallet every month and I would say NTA. You keep your things in your room and she has the audacity to yell at you for making it more difficult to steal from you. Insane. She’s the only asshole here.
NTA mom can buy her own as she needs them. Heck, even my daughters each get their own stash and they aren’t allowed to take from their sister unless it’s an emergency.
its gross to keep pads in your room? they are quite literally sterile and sealed, its not like youre keeping used ones laying about on your pillow or something
NTA, sharing implies an even input, if shes just using them all and not replacing them thats not sharing, and since she was already aware you had an issue with her taking them all and not replacing them, she can hardly blame you for keeping an emergency stash hidden in your room
Why is this post marked NSFW?
FFS
NTA
how the hell is keeping personal hygiene in your room “gross”…. lol!!! Tell your mom to stop thieving your stuff. You’re not “sharing them”…. You buy yours and she buys hers. That’s called stealing.
Nta , your mum sounds childish
NTA but I suggest you keep 3 pads hidden in your room and stop buying pads in advance. Then when you get your next period, you go buy pads for yourself. Your mom got pissed because, by putting the pads in your room, you are forcing her to pay for her own pads. She’s a leech. oh, and an AH.
NTA, clean pads in a closet aren’t gross. They’re just what they are, clean pads. They’re yours, you bought them, so you can do with them whatever you want.
NTA, it’s actually better to store pads and tampons in a cool, dry place like a bedroom closet if you don’t go through them quickly. Sounds like your mom just wants to mooch.
NTA. Keeping a box of unused pads in your room is not gross. Your mom is mad that she doesnt have access to free pads anymore.
NTA. How can keeping pads in your room be gross, while her bringing some to work is not?
NTA, how are you sharing pads of she only takes from you? Your mom is stealing from you because she’s too lazy and/or cheap to go to the store and buy her own.
She’s just angry that she can’t steal them as easily if they’re in your room.
NTA
NTA I grew up with 3 sisters and mum all having periods at similar times, we all made sure there were plenty for everyone so none of us were caught short.
NTA. Your mom is weird and also wtf “gross”? Like, are they also gross being on a shelf at the store? This dumbass kinda stuff is why so many people have hangups even acknowledging that periods exist. It wouldn’t be gross even if you were keeping UNUSED PADS in plain sight.
Hide them better (not because they are gross, because your mom is stealing your stuff) and let your mom buy her own shit.
how is it gross to store sterile pads??? theyre just fabric and plastic and stuff… your mother has issues
Wtf is gross about pads. What is she? A 12 yr old boy?
You still put a box under the sink so its not like you stopped doing that suddenly (which would be your right to do too)
Her reaction is WILD but tbh moms are just like that. Stop contributing to “our stash” and just hide your pads better in your room. She will snoop and search so make sure theyre somewhere secure. Maybe a locked desk?
NTA, I would do the same thing if my mom was doing that. Start keeping your pads in your room where she can’t find them and try to ask your grandparents if you can put a lock on your bedroom door so your mom can’t try to go in your room when you’re not there. Your mom is TA
NTA. But you are a minor and should not have to buy your own hygiene supplies. Those should be provided by your parent. I would hide them in your room and never keep more than 5 on hand so she cannot steal from you. That is what she’s doing and it’s very wrong.
NTA. Tell her it is grosser to end up with bloody underwear full of clots because you have no pads to use.
I would get a lock box to keep your pads in and then store it some place in your room like inside a suitcase. Maybe get one that has a combination lock versus a key.
NTA. Sharing involves her contributing as well. If you’re a minor, she should provide for your menstrual needs. If you’re an adult, you’ve got every right to lock yours up. I would get a small lock box to keep her out of your things.
Also INFO: is money an issue in the family? Why is your mom acting like a child and stealing your things?
NTA and a few extra things.
First so sorry your mom is like this.
Second (and apologies for pointing this out but we are on a post about personal care!) you can’t assume your grandmother might not be taking them for stress incontinence (urine leak when you sneeze etc) which can happen for women who have been pregnant or older women.
Anyone experiencing this will likely find it extremely embarrassing and might not want to buy the specific product. Specially in a family that thinks unused pads are gross (and I’m guessing grandma is your mom’s mother).
So it might not just be mom taking the pads.
I share my tampons with complete strangers in public loos and your mother pulls this?! That’s girl code. That’s what we do.
Also she seems to be using a lot? Maybe she needs that many, its very possible but maybe she is hoarding them in her room?
Some people are really weird about periods but this is shitty behaviour. What are you supposed to do? Free bleed to the shops for more every day?
Why aren’t you going and taking hers when you find your box empty?
NTA but I’d get a lockbox for your pads to store them in or your Mom will just steal them there.
NTA, maybe you should stop buying them and just use your mom’s. Since she said “we share them” and all.
NTA. Yo mom weird lol. She probably just being a lazy turd and doesn’t wanna get them herself when she needs them. Go buy some kind of lock box, but make it visible to see through and lock em in there lol. I remember when I was a cherrleader in high school, one senior girl needed some so she took all the ones from a freshies bag, used however many she needed? And then tossed the rest in the garbage because she didn’t like the younger one. Oooooh that was a fun fight lol freshie was kn her period and she went ape shiiiiiiit.
This is…weird. I honestly feel like your mom is almost fucking with you. How is it EVERY TIME you have your period she gets hers and then uses all of your pads?? What?? Does she want you to have to ask her for some? Im so confused. I lived with my my mon for 23yrs, has my period for 12 of those years and we were on the same cycle maybe a handful of times, AT MOST. NTA
NTA. Your stuff is getting stolen. Best way to keep stuff getting stolen is to keep it hidden and safe.
And if you’re gross for keeping clean, unused pads in your bedroom, then I must be gross for keeping a stash at my desk at work.
I’d get a hormonal IUD that lessens or stops periods and invest in a couple of pairs of menstrual panties. Ideally, don’t tell your mom and see how she copes when she goes to steal yours and there aren’t any.
NTA
I don’t understand how it’s considered gross to keep unused pads in your room? From now on keep them in your room. As a grown woman with a job, there should be no issue as to why she can’t get her own!
NTA! This is weird behaviour, I’d expect it from a younger sibling maybe, but a parent? …That is some emotionally immature shit. Your solution is totally reasonable, but if you didn’t want to spend the extra money on pads for your mother to steal then maybe consider getting a cup or disc instead!
Start putting them in a lockbox or something because she will go through your room. NTA
Why are periods NSFW? This doesn’t need that label
Leave the box in the bathroom but refill it with steel wool pads.
NTA.
Sorry to say your mother is a liar and a thief.
NTA, that’s absolutely maddening especially if you’re irregular — however even though your mom is saying it’s gross that you hid them in your room, 10000% make sure to change where they are hidden since I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts going into your room to raid them.
Buy the shitiest brand and stick them in the bathroom! Then keep yours well hidden in your room!
First off it’s completely normal to keep a few pads in your purse in case of emergencies. Next time say that’s where you got yours if only to avoid an argument.
Second, to play devils advocate perhaps your grandmother is in fact using them but for an entirely different reason such as mild incontinence. Your mom may need them for the exact same reason too.
Third, there’s nothing wrong with explaining that your property keeps disappearing and keeping your things somewhere that others don’t have access to. I know it’s inconvenient but so is being stuck with nothing when nature strikes.
NTA. It is not gross to keep your pads in your room. Your mom is mad because you’re holding out on her. She didn’t get to steal your stash. Your mom is an ahole. You do need to hide your pads really well because she’s going to try to find them. Be petty and hide hers in your room too, so when she goes looking for your’s she’ll find her own. Then you can call her out for going through your things to steal from you. Also look into getting a lock for your bedroom door.