When their daughter got her period, they quickly bragged about it online. She finally said “enough”

Tamsin Winter’s book “Girl in Reality” will be published by Wydawnictwo Literackie on November 15. Eva is 13 years old, has influencer parents and has her “own” YouTube channel. But there’s really nothing to say. It’s her parents who deal the cards. The girl often feels shame and embarrassment because of their online activities. One day, however, he says “enough”! Thanks to the publisher’s kindness, we are publishing a fragment of the book in advance.

During my lunch break, I watched my parents’ performance on TV so many times that after school I could recite it by heart. Mom was wearing more makeup than usual, and dad’s hair must have been dried on purpose because his hairstyle was thirty centimeters taller. Pyra was at the gaming club that day, so I sat alone on the wall in front of the house and clicked the play icon again. I didn’t want to watch the show again, but somehow I couldn’t help myself. As if I was checking to see if it really happened.

Literary Publishing House Girl in real life

— Welcome after the break! — The presenter, named Lisa, grinned at the camera with her freshly whitened teeth. — We know that the first period is not an easy event in every girl’s life, but imagine what it’s like when you share this experience with millions of viewers. This is exactly the idea our today’s guests had. Jen and Lars Andersen run a parenting vlog, and the video about their daughter Eva getting her period has probably gone viral all over the world. Jen and Lars agreed to tell us more about it, so, folks, welcome to Good Morning!

The parents smiled as if on command and said: – Good morning!

They must have practiced it on the train. The other host, Jeremy, leaned toward them and said, “Your channel is called All About Evie.” You post about all the events in your daughter’s life: from two-year-old’s tantrums, through birthday parties, to the first acne. Your video announcing that Eva got her period has over a million views, and the hashtag periodicwarriors is breaking popularity records. If any of you haven’t seen this recording yet, please do so.

I sniffed, inhaling the cold air. The first seconds of my mother’s video appeared on my phone. Luckily, someone mercifully stopped the playback before my mom showed my unicorn panties to the world. “So you’re a vlog family,” Lisa continued. — And you’ve been posting about your daughter for years.

The parents smiled and nodded like synchronized swimming champions. Lisa looked at the notes in her hand. —Eva is thirteen now. It’s a difficult age. Why did you decide to share with the world the news that she got her period?

Dad squeezed Mom’s hand. I noticed that he was doing this for the third or even fourth time during the recording. Mom smiled and replied, “Lars and I always think carefully before we publish anything about Eva.” Hearing something like that made me snort with anger.

— Besides, Eva matures quite late, so I’ve had a box with gifts ready for this occasion for some time! We organized a wonderful party to celebrate this important event in her life…

“Yes,” Lisa interrupted, turning to the camera. Her honey-gold hair gleamed in the glow of the lights. — I think we even have a few photos from your periodic event.

Pictures of our living room with themed decorations suddenly appeared on the screen. Her mother’s voice could be heard in the background: – This is an important moment in Eva’s life. In mine too, as her mother. That’s why I wanted her to know that she had my support. I wanted to… Oh, I’m sorry, Lars! —The camera caught the smile she gave her dad.

— We wanted to let her know that having a period is nothing to be ashamed of. That it’s something completely normal. That’s why we decided to share it with our channel viewers.

At that same moment, Dad straightened his leg and accidentally kicked the coffee table. He laughed and said, “Jen and I wanted this important event to be a positive and empowering experience for Eva. And thanks to our platform, we also wanted to give strength to other parents in a similar situation.

— And was it really a positive experience? Jeremy asked. — Was it from Eva’s point of view? Because there were a few critical comments on our Facebook profile today. “No parent has the right to make things like this public,” writes Audrey from Milton Keynes, while John from West Lothian adds: “This is cruelty to your own daughter. What do you say to those of us who believe that certain information about children should remain confidential? family?”.

“Well, we’re pretty open as a family,” Dad replied. — We talk about such things quite honestly at home, not only in front of the camera. Our channel is actually an extension of our open attitude and lifestyle. Jen and I don’t think Eva has anything to be ashamed of.

I paused the recording because I knew what would happen next. The part that hurt me the most. I took a deep breath and steeled myself as if I was about to tear off a band-aid quickly.

— We must emphasize that we are very careful about what we post on our channel. We always make sure Eva doesn’t mind! – Mom batted her eyelashes because she knew very well that the last sentence was a complete lie. However, no one noticed anything.

— We wouldn’t include any information that would make her feel uncomfortable. “Everything about Evie” is a unique channel. We have a whole store of amazing memories that we keep and publish. Eva is grateful that she can live a fairy-tale life. If we had received a signal that he was not feeling well, we would have stopped recording these videos immediately.

Every time I watched that clip, it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. “Yes,” Lisa said. —We invited Eva to take part in the program with you, but she didn’t come because she’s at school, right?

Dad smiled and nodded. — Yes, school comes first.

— That’s a very sensible approach! Jeremy praised and everyone laughed. – So Eva is thirteen. Wasn’t she the least bit embarrassed when millions of people found out she got her period?

—When you’re thirteen, everything seems a bit embarrassing! – Dad replied. – But Eva is used to it. She was popular on the Internet even before she left her mother’s womb! – And all four of them laughed again. —Jen and Lars were our guests today. Thank you very much for the interview…

I paused the recording and scrolled through the messages from Hallie and Jenny. I didn’t reply to any of them, I just put the phone in my jacket pocket. A rain cloud hung over my heart, getting heavier and darker with each step, and when I stood at the door, I thought it would burst. I ran into the house and went upstairs without a word. I didn’t even take my shoes off. I heard grandma calling – the phone was on speakerphone. My mother called after me, “Eva!”

But I only replied: “Leave me alone!” — And I slammed the door to the room behind me. I curled up in bed, still wearing my shoes, and stared at the strings of lights on the ceiling. I waited. A few minutes later, the door opened and my mother looked into the room. – Hi honey. Everything’s all right?

I glanced at her, then looked up at the ceiling again. The black-lined eyes that had looked nice on TV now reminded me of a badger. Mom slowly approached my bed, as if she was expecting a bomb to explode. She sat down next to me. – So you saw it?

I crossed my arms and curled my hands so she couldn’t grab my hands. — I know it’s hard for you right now.

I felt him stroke my arm and I pulled away. — But one day you’ll be proud of us. From myself too.

– You said untruths about me. You lied, I whispered.

-What did you say, honey?

“You lied,” I repeated. – In TV. You said I didn’t mind and that you would stop making videos if I felt uncomfortable about it. These are your words.

Mom stroked my arm again, but I pushed her hand away. By force of will I refrained from crying. — Eva, as your parents, sometimes we have to decide what is appropriate to say in a given situation. Contacts with the media are shaky ground. One thoughtless word and a storm will break loose. I’m sorry you’re upset. I feel terrible about this. But what was I supposed to say? It was a live show. She squeezed my arm and then stood up. – Sorry. I hope you know that we do it all for you.

“Yeah, sure,” I whispered. I blinked and a tear rolled down my cheek. I looked back to see if my mother had noticed, but she had already turned away.

The phone vibrated for what felt like the thousandth time. The name Carys appeared on the display.

All right? What did they say??

I ignored other messages, tags, screenshots and snapshots. I thought I could pretend it wasn’t real. I only responded to the picture Pyra sent me – a portrait of King Charles I with my neighbor’s head inserted. I rubbed my eyes and replied to Carys: The usual. That nothing happened.

Carys wrote after a while:

But talking about you on TV is a serious matter. I hope you’re holding up somehow.

The phone vibrated again. Another message from Carys:

On a different note, I’m glad you volunteered to take care of me.

I replied:

I’m glad too .

Daddy called from downstairs: “Eva!” Grandma wants to talk to you!

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, stood up, and went downstairs. Dad was already waiting by the stairs, phone in hand. I ran away, grabbed it from him and ran back to my place. I closed the door behind me. As soon as I heard my grandmother’s voice, tears came to my eyes again. I tried to speak in a light-hearted tone, but holding back my tears made my nose hurt. Grandma asked if I had a cold. — Did you see that interview on TV? – I asked.

Grandma replied only after a while. — Yes, your dad sent me the link. Do you know that you will come to see me in just four weeks? I hope there won’t be a storm then.

— And what do you think about this interview?

Silence again. – Grandma? — I asked to make sure nothing interrupted our conversation. — It seems to me that your parents have their hands full with this channel. I guess it gained huge popularity. And I think you’re just wonderful. And you know what else I saw today? Porpoise!

I smiled, leaned back on the pillows and listened to my grandmother’s voice. The cry of seagulls could be heard in the background. It felt like something was carrying me far across the ocean so I could snuggle into her soft, yet biting woolen sweater. I felt her warm breath in my hair. And the delicious smell of grønkål soup.

I was that Eva again. Not the one everyone laughs at. Nor the one about whom parents say incredible things in the vision. The real Eva.

The quoted fragment comes from Tamsin Winter’s book “Girl in the Real”, which will be published by Wydawnictwo Literackie on November 15, 2023. Translated by Maria Jaszczurowska.