When you feel you are ready to use tampons instead of pads for your period, you may need to gain the permission of your parents (in many cases your mother). Gaining their permission is important because they buy your feminine products. It is also good for them to know what is going on in your life so that they can take care of you. For example, if your mom says she is headed to the store in an hour, ask her if you can have a talk before she goes. Perhaps send a quick text to ask your parent or guardian to meet with you so that when you see them face to face, they will be ready to listen. Say, "When I get home from school today, can we talk for a minute?" If you feel embarrassed or stressed about talking to your parents about using tampons, try writing them a letter. You may also want to write a letter if it's hard to find time to sit down with them. Writing a letter helps you organize your thoughts and make a strong appeal. Write down your thoughts in a logical order, such as opening with your desire to use tampons, describing why they are a good idea, explaining that you have the responsibility to handle them, and closing with a polite request. Revise your letter for proper wording and punctuation. You could open with, "Dear Mom, I know it may seem weird that I'm writing a letter, but I wanted to ask you something personal, and I feel more comfortable writing a letter than talking face to face." You could also consider making it electronic, either writing a text or email, if that is something your parent or guardian would read. If talking to a parent or guardian is too difficult, either emotionally or logistically, you may want to talk to another trusted adult first. Get advice from them on how to approach your parents. Discuss your fears with them. They may be able to offer advice that makes you feel less uncomfortable than talking to your own parents. Another adult you might discuss this with is your doctor. Your doctor can offer medical advice about tampon application, calming the fears of both you and your parents. Pull aside a trusted adult and ask, "Hey, can I talk to you about a personal issue real quick?" This can also be an experienced friend. Part of asking for permission is being ready to have your request denied. Your parents may not feel you are emotionally prepared for such a step. They may think you need to be a little older, or that tampons aren't safe. Be prepared to show maturity by not getting upset at their refusal. Think about their personalities and your past experiences with them to help you anticipate what they might say. Ask why they won't agree to let you use a tampon in a respectful manner. Not getting upset can be the sign of maturity your parents need to agree to let you start using tampons. For example, a mature person is thankful, meaning they express gratitude even when things don't go their way. Understand that your parents are most likely interested in your safety and are not trying to be mean.
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One-sentence summary -- Ask your parent/guardian for a private conversation. Write them a letter. Talk to someone you trust. Be prepared to be denied.

Sometimes, when someone we care about feels crappy, the best thing we can offer is a listening ear. Give your loved one the opportunity to air his or her grievances about academic problems. Being able to express oneself in this way can be incredibly soothing. Plus, allowing your loved one to vent shows that you care. Demonstrate active listening by turning to face the person and making regular eye contact. Nod your head or make appropriate sounds to show you're listening, such as "uh-huh." When the person is done talking, try to reflect back what he or she has said using emotion. For example, you might say "It sounds like you're really angry about your performance on the test." At this point, simply let the person talk. Refrain from trying to "fix" the problem just yet. One humbling way to support your friend during this tough circumstance is to share a situation in which you struggled. It might pertain to academics or it might merely be an anecdote about a different obstacle you have to overcome. Just make sure that the message is clear, and that you don't make yourself seem better than your friend. It may be scary at first to open up and tell someone about a difficulty you faced. However, it's important to note that sharing your story may help your friend see that everyone encounters hardships and that it's entirely possible to succeed despite setbacks. Although you can't fix the situation, there may be something you can do to help the person through it. Are you good in the subject that he or she is struggling in? Perhaps you could casually offer some tips on how to improve. Do you have pretty good study skills? Maybe you can share some of those nuggets of wisdom with your friend. Keep in mind that your friend may not want your help. Instead of thinking in advance of how you will help, simply ask "Is there anything I can do?" and see what the person's response is. If he or she wants help from you, let them make a specific request. That way you don't put your foot in your mouth by coming off like you're superior. Give your loved one a much-needed self-esteem boost. It's normal for someone's self-esteem to take a hit after performing poorly in school. Take a moment to offer a sincere compliment on some other attribute. Remind the person what else he or she has going despite having a bad grade. You can say something like "I know it sucks that you got an F in math. Luckily, you don't have to worry about that in English. You're the best student in that class!" Just make sure the compliment is true and the person knows you're not just saying it to make them feel better. If your friend is upset over bad grades, the very best comfort you can offer is your presence. Just be there. Extend a shoulder for them, if they'd like. It's not really your job to fix the situation or make it better in any way, really. It's up to your friend to deal with poor grades, but he or she will certainly appreciate you showing support and acknowledging that it's a sucky situation.
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One-sentence summary --
Let the person vent. Share a story of how you overcame adversity. Offer to help however you can. Remind them about other talents. Be there.