Tuesday, 17 April 2012
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Period Prepardness For Your Daughter
Getting your period when you are not expecting it is inconvenient, and sometimes downright embarrassing, for even the most seasoned period-getters. Remember being nine and wondering when your first ever period would come. Will it be soon or in another few years? Where will I be when it comes? What if I am at school?
A lot of young girls get their first ever period when they are at school, which is not surprising considering the amount of time children spend there. However, if they are not prepared, this can be an embarrassing experience they may never forget. It need not be. Here is how to make your daughter’s first period a more pleasant experience.
- Information – The less your daughter knows about what is happening to her body, the more confusing and upsetting the experience will be. The best book I have found for young girls to read is Ready, Set, Grow! A "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Younger Girls by Lynda Madaras.
- Communication – Let your daughter know that what is happening to her is totally natural and nothing to be ashamed of. Be approachable and honest. It is important your daughter feels she can talk to you about the changes she is experiencing and ask you questions. It is okay if you do not know the answers. Be honest. She will appreciate it.
- Be prepared – Although it is impossible to know exactly when and where her period will come, she can be prepared for when it does. What will make your daughter feel prepared may not be what makes my daughter feel prepared. This is where good communication comes in. My daughter was worried about exactly what to do if her period started at school. What made her feel prepared was carrying an extra pair of pants and panties in a plastic bag in her school bag, along with an extra plastic bag for any soiled clothes and of course, sanitary napkins. I also assured her she could call me anytime from school. We also discussed what period cramps may feel like and that if she ever felt those, she may want to go to the bathroom and put on a sanitary napkin just in case.
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Comments (35)
I had to learn from my father.
I can't remember whether my mom talked to me about it or not. I got my period one day and cried because I was terrified. I told my mom about it and she laughed because it wasn't really that big of a deal.
I got mine at the perfect time, now that I think about it.
I was 11, having a sleepover at my best friend's house. She had gotten her first period a few months before mine so she had pads and stuff and told me how to use them.
Aw. I should call her right now.
I never panicked, and my mom hadn't talked too much about it. pretty much just said what to do if it happened. And when it did it was like oh hey.. it's here. And then my mom was all excited... which I thought was weird. LOL
My mom gave me a rather horrifying biology lesson when I was about 11. Way more information than I was ready to handle. I didn't start my period until I was almost 14. I was home schooled, so that wasn't too big a deal. When I went back to public school for my senior year of high school, I got caught unprepared once, thankfully toward the end of the day. I got that "Care and Keeping of You" book for my girls. They are currently 10 and 11. Since my mom and my mother-in-law both started theirs early, I figured I ought to tell my girls about it sooner rather than later. Kailey is one of the youngest in her class because she barely makes the cut off date... most of the girls in her class are almost a full year older than her. Some of her friends have already started theirs. My kids are home schooled for the time being, but are possibly going back next year. I will probably do that kit thing for Kai to keep in her backpack. I always have stuff in mine and in the arm rest thing in my car. (I am terrible about keeping track of my own... even though it is predictable down to the day usually... if I remember to track it.)
I don't remember learning anything about periods before I got mine, but I must have since I don't remember being freaked out either. I got it the day of my freshman homecoming dance at age 14. I guess I already knew what it was since my friends had already gotten theirs.
My mom gave me a book about puberty when I was about 9 or 10 years old. It had everything about male puberty and how babies are conceived too. I knew everything before we did sex ed at school lol. Needless to say I was mentally prepared, but oddly enough my mom never suggested I keep sanitary products with me before I got my first period. Luckily I got my first one during Christmas break, so I was at home when it happened. But if it had happened at school and I had no products it wouldn't have been a big deal. My first few cycles were only spotting for a few days, barely needed more than one panty liner per day. It wasn't until my 4th or 5th cycle that it was heavy enough to need more than light protection.
Hmmm I am surprised at the number of people who bled so much their first time. I always thought the first time was only supposed to be a light spotting. Interesting. Also surprised at the reports here of separating classes by gender to watch sex-ed videos. Schools around here show all videos to both genders (even Catholic schools...we watched both puberty videos and a conception/birth video in 5th grade together as a whole class at my Catholic school). I think it's important for everyone to understand what happens to both genders as they grow up so that they can be prepared when they start having relationships in the future.
I don't think you can ever truly prepare your daughter for such an event. My mom had it easy with me. Not only did I have an older sister, which makes such experiences seem more okay, she had been pressuring me because of it. I was almost 15 and I haven't yet got my first period. Luckily I had it during a school break and my mom was home.
I'd just add one thing: Advise your other children not to make fun of them. It's not appreciated.