I knew it was coming, so I should have been prepared - but I'm not. My 12 year old start menstruating this past weekend. I started talking to her about it and I am really surprised at how naive she is. She is a very 'young' 12 y.o. Any advice out there?
You could try getting her a book on the subject that is written for young kids then read through it together. That way she would have a reference to look into if she is to afraid to talk to you or to embarrassed.
Try these books...
Everything a girl needs to know about her periods, by Jane Feinmann or The Period Book (everything you dont want to ask)by Karen Gravelle. You can go to Amazon.com & look up these books & actually read a few of the pages. They are great books & girls can get the info they need w/out being embarrassed by asking her parents.
Dear C.,
Just talk to her. Be honest straight forward and explain everything that goes on. Girls need extra attention at this time and any moral support they get from their mom is really important. My daughter is actually my step-daughter and her mother told her to never talk to me about it. I asked her if she still wanted me to go over the subject with her and she really wanted the information. She was so appreciative to have someone to talk to and her mother never told her anything other than telling her not to talk to me. Really silly don't you thing. Anyway, just give her all of the information you can and answer any questions and be calm and loving. Yes, books help, but nothing replaces honest communication from your mother!
Sincerely,
D.
They have a class that you and your daughter can take at St. Joseph's Women's Hospital...I actually took it with my mom years ago. They may have one at UCH as well, but I'm not positive.
sometimes is helps to get a book and read through it together-
I have a 13 yr old daughter who I have been keeping informed about her body since she was about 8 and had to start wearing deodorant. But I got my daughter this book called The Care & Keeping of You, The body book for girls. It has everything in there about their body and everything. Also on how to find the right bra size. She has not had any questions for me that the book could not help her answer. My suggestion is that you get this book, it only costs $8.95 and if it makes you feel better go over it with her slowly on all the issues in the book so that she can feel comfortable coming to talk to you about anything. Good luck.
If you go to the Tampax website (http://www.tampax.com), they have a "starter kit" that comes with all kinds of information on a kid's level. My 13 year old started this past July and it really helped out. There is a section called "mother to daughter" on the site that answers just about everything - or at least gets the conversation started. If your daughter is shy like mine, let her read on her own without you in the room and tell her you'll be there if she has any questions. If your daughter is more open then read it together. Either way, it covers everything you should need for a new young lady.
Good luck!
Dear C.:
I'm getting to that point also, as I have a 12 yr old daughter who lives w/her father out of state...but I know I need to talk to her ...so I've been doing a little research to prepare and here are a couple of websites I've been to.......www.kotex.com/na/talk/teen
www.kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/understanding_pu...
www.parentingteens.about.com
Hope this helps.
A.
My daughter is 10 and has started her period. We are both fine with it and have discussed what it means and what to do when it happens. I told her that it was part of nature and that it means she is becoming a young adult. We went over some things that she can expect to happen now, such as mood swings, how to keep track so she can anticipate the next time, and that sometimes it might catch you off guard and cause an accident. The part I wasnt expecting with my daughters period is that my husband has freaked out and has more questions than she does.
