Why I Stopped Hiding My Cycle (And What I’m Teaching My Daughter Instead)

For most of my life, I carried quiet shame around my cycle.

I didn’t talk about it. I didn’t understand it. And honestly? I didn’t think it was something worthy of my time, attention, or energy.

It was something to deal with and move on.

But something started to shift in me a few years ago after I had Ollie, our second son. I was in a season of postpartum healing and was doing everything I could to start feeling like myself again. I worked with a naturopathic doctor who helped me get blood work done and really tune in to what my body needed. It was so eye-opening.

That season started something for me—a deeper curiosity about women’s health.

I came across the book In the Flo (linked in my Amazon store if you’re curious), and for the first time, I began to realize just how brilliant and intricate our female bodies are. Instead of treating my cycle like an inconvenience, I started working with it. Stephen and I even started planning our launches and creative seasons around it. It changed everything—in our business and in our marriage.

Fast forward to just a few weeks ago…

Stephen and I got the chance to sit down with Cherie Hoeger, the founder of Saalt, on The Rainmaker Family Show—and let me tell you, that conversation took things even deeper.

Cherie shared her story of learning about period poverty around the world. How girls in underprivileged areas drop out of school simply because they don’t have access to period products. That broke something open in me. As she talked about creating safer, reusable period care and the impact Saalt has made in over 50 countries, something clicked.

I realized this wasn’t just a global issue. It’s a womanhood issue. One that affects our dignity, our opportunity, our confidence, and our future.

And now, carrying a daughter for the first time…I think about this all so differently.

I think about the little girl I used to be—unsure of my body, uncertain about what it meant to be a woman, feeling like I had to hide certain parts of myself.

And then I think about the little girl I’m carrying.

What if I could raise her in a home that celebrated her cycle? What if she learned, from day one, that her body isn’t something to be ashamed of, but something to honor? What if she saw me giving myself grace, resting when I needed to, listening to my body instead of pushing past it?

That conversation with Cherie didn’t just inspire me—it challenged me.

I thought I had already come so far in understanding my body and my cycle…
but this conversation took things even deeper and sparked a new passion for women’s health in me.

Cherie’s story completely floored me. Hearing how learning about period poverty around the world fueled her mission to create safer, reusable period care options that aren’t just better for women — but are literally changing lives globally — made something click inside me.

Did you know that in many underprivileged countries, young women statistically drop out of school right around the time they start their periods?

It’s heartbreaking.

Not because they want to… but because they simply don’t have access to basic care like tampons or sanitary pads.

Without these essentials, education gets interrupted. Dreams get deferred. And the cycle of poverty repeats itself — all because of a natural, beautiful part of being a woman that’s been treated like a burden.

And the more I learned, the more I realized…This isn’t just a “global issue” happening somewhere far away. It’s happening right here — even in schools across the United States.

Girls in junior highs, women in shelters, moms just trying to make it through the day — without access to safe, dignified period care.

I had never really thought about it like this before, but it makes total sense. The more I looked, the more I saw that this—this simple thing we often take for granted—has ripple effects that touch every part of a woman’s life.

Insert Cherie!

We recently interviewed her on The Rainmaker Family Show, and she shared so much more about her mission, her heart, and the real stories behind Saalt.

Hearing someone else’s story sometimes just has a way of igniting something in you, doesn’t it?
It was one of those conversations where I just sat there thinking:

 “Yes. Let me help you. Let me help spread this message. Let’s help women and girls everywhere live in more dignity, freedom, and opportunity.”

Because this isn’t just about education.

It’s a movement.
 

And I knew I had to highlight Saalt for you — because if you’re here, reading this, I know your heart beats a lot like mine.

Here’s what Saalt is all about…

Here’s what Saalt is all about:

• Healthier, reusable options like menstrual cups and period underwear (made with body-safe, US-sourced materials).
• A mission-first company — they’ve donated over 130,000 products in 50+ countries to help women stay in school, work, and pursue their dreams.
• A beautiful reminder that caring for our bodies can be simple, empowering, and world-changing.
  

I fell in love with their mission immediately! 🧡

Takeaways that really hit home for me:

 🌸 Period care isn’t something to hide — it’s something to honor.
🌸 Our bodies are not broken; they are brilliant.
🌸 Small shifts (like better products) lead to big confidence boosts.
🌸 We can teach the next generation of girls (including my own little girl coming soon!) that taking care of themselves is beautiful, not shameful.

I realized that healing the way I view my body isn’t just about me. It’s about the legacy I’m leaving. It’s about the woman my daughter will become.

So I started using Saalt’s products—and not just because they’re healthier, safer, and better for the environment (although they totally are!). I use them because every time I do, I feel like I’m reclaiming something.

My rhythm. My worth. My voice.

If you’ve ever felt weird or ashamed or unsure when it comes to your cycle… I just want to say: you are not alone. And there is a better way.

Saalt has made it so easy to learn, to try, to grow, and to feel empowered—no matter where you’re starting from.

They even have beginner kits (which I so wish I had years ago! Lol).

You can check them out here: https://www.saalt.com/rainmaker

With love and empowerment, Chelsey Diaz

PS:
If you want to hear the full conversation with Cherie — full of inspiration, laughter, and even a few mind-blowing stats that had me rethinking everything — you can listen to our latest episode on The Rainmaker Family Show right here. 🎧

Sometimes it’s the smallest changes that create the biggest ripple effects. 🌊
This was one of those moments for me—and I hope it’s one for you too.

With love & empowerment,
Chelsey Diaz 💖