DO leave Dad out of this conversation

PADS4DADS is a social enterprise charity supported by actor Michael Sheen. The aim is to encourage dads and daughters to talk about their monthly periods. ‘let’s not leave Dads out of the Bloody Conversation,’ is their slogan. One word — let’s.

You might imagine teenage girls have enough to suffer without the embarrassment of cosy chats with daddy about their period problems over a nice, calming hot drink.

The Pads4Dads kit includes a 20-page booklet and sachets of hot chocolate to encourage bonding. All together now, cringe. Of course, there are cases where it might help. Single dads with pubescent daughters will surely be grateful for this wellmeaning intervention. however, call me old-fashioned, but some things that are part of the female condition don’t always lend themselves to big conversations with the opposite sex.

I didn’t have a single chat with my father about periods, and I think both of us are entirely grateful for that. Sharing, caring and understanding are important, but I’m not ready for this sudden wild enthusiasm to put the men into menstruation.