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November Monthly Friend: Lacy Hale

Name: Lacy Hale
Age: 28
Hometown: Wolfpen, KY
Current location: Morehead, KY
Occupation: Artist/Textbook Manager at a local college bookstore

Interests: Art (making and viewing), music, midwifery, feminism, Appalachia, reading, gardening
Dreams: Becoming self-sufficient by selling my artwork. Working with a charitable organization that benefits women. Learning to play the banjo and dulcimer.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: A year and a half.
Reason for making the switch to reusables: I used to rue the day that my period came. The cramps and irritability were terrible but having to go out in public with a synthetic pad on (I never used tampons) was always a gamble and the worst part. I never knew if it was going to leak and let everyone know that I was on my moon-flow or if it was going to move while I walked, bunching up and showing through my pants. Athleticism was a no-no. Bending, squatting, wearing white? Never! Not to mention the terrible diaper rash that I got from wearing those horrid plastic-like pads. I got fed up with it and started researching alternative menstrual products. Upon doing so, I also found a lot of information about all the synthetic pads and tampons fill landfills and even end up on beaches. I did not want to be a part of that!! I knew there had to be a better way! My friend had started using GladRags a few years prior and being from the very small punk and alternative subculture in Southeast Kentucky that we were, most of the females I knew had heard of GladRags. I figured it was time that I looked in to this interesting prospect. Now I seriously enjoy my period. I like claiming my body and recognizing what stage of my cycle I'm in. I tend to use my Moon Cup and a GladRags liner on most days that I go out or to work, etc. but once I come home it's out with the cup and into some fantastically comfy reusable pads!

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share:  I decided to mention to my mom that I had switched to reusable pads and she was quite appalled saying, "Are you serious? Your grandma used rags like that! I remember she'd keep them in a big heavy pot out on the porch to soak. Are you sure you want to do that?" I tried to explain that these were different, had snaps and everything, but she was so horrified that I was "reverting back" to the way the old folks did it. The old ways aren't always bad and with a little ingenuity, they can be the best! I wish someone had told me about these alternatives when I started my period 16 years ago. If I ever have a daughter, she will be given options!