Forget fancy cheeses and meats – these parents make ‘period boards’ full of treats and essentials to get their daughters through menstruation.
The boards include sanitary products, chocolates, crisps, tissues and painkillers to support their children through the first few uncomfortable days of menstruating.
Parents Tifany Allen-Ciota, 52, and Michael Ciota, 62, started making the ‘period boards’ as a bit of a joke, but it went down so well with their daughters Brooke, 30, and Courtney, 18, that it’s now a monthly tradition.
The pair keep track of their daughters’ periods on their phones so they know when to get the boards ready and tailor them to each child’s preferences – making sure all their favourite things are on them.
Tifany, a bookkeeper and content creator, from Houston, Texas, US, said: “I kept seeing all these new types of boards on TikTok like a butter board and pasta board.
‘I just thought we need a period board.
‘I wanted my daughters to come home to a safe environment.
‘It started out as a bit of a joke and I thought they might be a bit embarrassed but they loved it.’
And according to Tifany, her husband, who is a financial writer, loves the fact that the boards help him show his daughters that he cares: ‘Michael doesn’t know anything about what they are going through so it helps him understand and be involved.’
‘My husband is very talented in the kitchen,’ Tifany said.
‘He always put together something fabulous and he’s great at putting together charcuterie boards and now he helps me with the period boards.
‘I’ve been taking him to shops to explain the different sanitary products and which of our girls prefers what.
‘I’ve had a lot of other dads reach out as well on social media wanting to learn more.’
Tifany and Michael mix up the boards each month, and tailor them to each of their daughters.
‘One likes pads and the other prefers tampons,’ she said.
‘We include whatever they want on there to help get them through.
‘We want them to know they are loved and supported.’
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE : There’s a new period ‘disc’ that you can wear during sex
MORE : It’s time to call our time of the month what it is. Period
MORE : Why you should be having orgasms on your period – you’ll thank us later
Sign up to our guide to what’s on in London, trusted reviews, brilliant offers and competitions. London’s best bits in your inbox
Share this with