Did you read the title of this post and get butterflies in your stomach? I know I did the first time I realized that I needed to talk to my daughter about her body. When my daughter was really little, like 5 or 6, we had the kid version of the birds and the bees talk. As I started noticing changes in her body, acne, greasy hair, and chest development, I knew it was time to have the talk with her about her period.
THE FIRST TALK WITH MY DAUGHTER
The first talk was rather nerve racking, but over the years I got better with practice. Because my daughter was developing earlier than I did, I had to pull her aside to talk before she was really ready to ask questions. The last thing I wanted to happen was for her to get her first period and have no idea what was going on! How scary!
When I realized it was time to talk, I just waited for a time that my daughter and I were alone. The first talk, I just pulled off the band aid and started talking. Stumbling over my words, I was a nervous wreck. My daughter seemed to understand what I was saying, but she was too shy to ask any questions. Talk about feeling like a complete failure.
LET HER KNOW YOU ARE THERE TO ANSWER HER QUESTIONS
Over the next couple of months, I would just pop in and ask if she had thought of any questions yet. Most of the time she would say no, but every now and then she would ask me a question or too. It was really important for me to let her know that I am always available to answer questions, and no question was too silly or embarrassing.
We were one of the lucky ones, by talking a little bit over the years, we were able to let our daughter understand the changes her body was going through and that is not something to be embarrassed about. When she actually started her first period, because all three of our children share a bathroom, we had a family meeting to discuss the changes they would see. (We asked our daughter’s permission first of course) This made it easier to explain to the younger kids, and helped us having to explain what all “that stuff” in the garbage can was.
To make our talk a little fun, the last talk we had I gave my daughter a cute little makeup bag that she can keep a few pads, some lip gloss, and band aids just in case she needs them. She thought it was so cute!
5 TIPS TO MAKE TALKING TO YOUR DAUGHTER ABOUT HER PERIOD GO SMOOTHLY
Ready to have the talk with your child? Follow these five easy tips to make sure your talk goes smoothly.
1. Talk at a time when your daughter and you are already doing something together. This will help break the ice!
2. Make sure that you don’t pressure her to ask question, just let her know that you are there. Eventually she WILL have questions and come to you.
3. Emphasize that there is nothing to be embarrased about. Even share how you found out about your first period so she can relate.
4. It’s ok to break the talk up. Sometime too much information too soon is a bad thing. If she’s hesitant to talk, break it up into different talks. That way she doesn’t feel forced to talk about this sensitive subject.
5. Make it fun! Make her a great gift to get the talk rolling, or take her shopping for her first bra. This will be a great segway to talk further into the subject!
There you have how our family made it through our first period talk, plus great tips to make yours easier too! How did you talk to your daughters about their first cycle? What tips can you share for other readers?
I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by KotexTween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.
About Ashley Sears
My babygirl is 7 here Dr told me I need to start thinking about having the talk with here after she turns 8 because more and more girls are having periods earlier. She said you don’t what her to be freaked out you want her prepared but at 8? I was 11 so I don’t know.
That’s a really good idea. Even though she is young, you can start the talks off slowly. Just a little bit at a time. That way, when her period does roll around you have it covered, but don’t scare the heck out of her because she’s really young. Good luck!
This is great! I felt prepared when I got my period, but it was definitely a sense of impending doom and not fun at all! Way to go for doing something fun and positive!
I definitely understand the impending doom feeling ha! My mom and I didn’t talk about my period that I recall. When I started, I wasn’t sure if it was or wasn’t. So glad to hear you were prepared for it though!
Love the pack of goodies. My daughter is about to turn 11 and I know are time is coming. Need to get a goody pack like this ready.
thanks for the advice/
You’re welcome. I am telling you the little goodie bag went over wonderfully! My daughter was about your daughter’s age when she started, so we had to have talks much younger. Good luck!
I gave my grand daughter the puberty talk last night…She is only 8 and is getting ready to have the monthy thing visiting soon…She was glad that we had a great conversation..I showed her how to put a pad on..at first she put the pad inside out…Ladies, be sure that they know how to put them on correctly. Esp..if they start when no one is there to help them….
That is such great advice! It’s little things like that that we have all been doing for years that we sometimes forget to talk about. So glad that your grandaughter enjoyed talking to you about it!
I’m liking the goody bag idea too. My daughter just refuses to talk about it. She is 10 1/2 and whenever I try to bring it up, she just say, nope, not me.. don’t want to talk about it. She knows more then she lets on, but just doesn’t want to talk. She refuses to call a bra a bra.. have to refer to it as the Little top and even then she just tells me how much she hates it. I tell her to get use to it, we all hate them and that just doesn’t get better with time.
Someday the guard will come down and I just keep trying
Jennifer, don’t fret. My daughter was the EXACT same way. When we first started talking, she didn’t want to talk about it all! I just kept popping my head and asking if she had any questions. I got a lot of no’s before I got to a yes. Keep your chin up, you are right she will eventually need you to answer some questions.