The reality is that boys and men don't get a firsthand experience of what it means to have that time of the month and don't fully understand menstruation. So it makes sense that men shouldn't have an opinion on the matter. Period.
One dad went online seeking empathy for a menstrual situation with his stepdaughter, but he didn't exactly get it.
Let's Be Real: Periods Suck
You don't have to experience one to know that they aren't exactly fun.
Between the painful cramps, the tendency to increase acne, and the straight-up discomfort of bleeding for a week, it makes sense that periods aren't a walk in the park.
However, Most Boys Don't Know Much About Them
Unless they have a sister, girlfriend, or mother who's very open about their monthly cycle, most boys grow up without any real understanding of periods and might even be grossed out about them.
That can continue on into adulthood.
One Stepfather Had Some Things To Say About It
This stepfather took to Reddit to share a story about an argument that went down in his household.
He wrote in hoping to get some sympathy from people online who would support his side of the story.
So What Exactly Happened?
The man had moved his new wife and her daughter into his house six months prior, following their wedding.
Before this, he had just been living with his three teenage sons.
He's A Big Fan Of His Stepdaughter
He spoke well of his stepdaughter, a 19-year-old, who gets along well with his own kids.
He called her a good influence and a very kind young woman, and he really does enjoy having her around.
However, There Was One Issue
All four of the step-siblings share one bathroom.
One week, one of the sons came to his father to say that the step-sister disposes of her used period products in the trashcan in the bathroom without disguising what they are.
The Boys Have Never Really Had A Woman In The House
This father has had pretty much full custody of his sons for most of their lives, them being aged 18, 16, and 15 respectively.
They've never lived with a woman, so they were uncomfortable with seeing period products around.
He Decided To Bring It Up
While the stepdaughter was doing schoolwork at the kitchen table with her mother nearby, the stepfather decided to speak up.
He told them both that his sons were uncomfortable with her disposing of her period items openly in the bathroom trash can.
Her Mother Came To Her Defense
Her mother immediately laughed it off, saying that the concern was "rich coming from a man who sheds like a gorilla."
The mom proceeded to explain that menstrual products can't be flushed and that it's wasteful for her daughter to fully bag and hide each one she has to throw out.
The Stepfather Wasn't Happy About It
In a later conversation with his wife, he said that it was unfair to her to make his sons uncomfortable.
In response, the wife said that her daughter has had her period of almost 10 years and knows how to handle it. Instead, she proposed that the sons "get a grip."
The People Of The Internet Did Not Lean In His Favor, Though
Most of the people said that he was being the jerk in this situation.
Instead of asking his stepdaughter to change her behavior, many suggested that his sons instead should be more sympathetic to her and get over it.
Others Pointed To The Impracticality Of Worrying About The Boys' Discomfort
People pointed out that he can't shield his sons from the realities of a period for the rest of their lives: eventually, they might have to live with other women.
Others mentioned that it wasn't like the stepdaughter was being messy. In fact, she was doing exactly what one is supposed to do with used period products: throwing them out.
Harmony Was Restored In The End
To fix the situation, the mother and daughter put together a presentation—slideshow and all—on periods and had the male members of the house sit down and listen.
The sons and stepfather ended up apologizing to the stepdaughter, and all was right in the family.