Need Help Explaining This to My 8Yr Daughter?

I definitely think the growth hormone used in mainstream inhumane commercial farm animal houses (cows, pigs, chickens, etc) is a HUGE part of too early puberty in females. Most of my friends and my younger sister were all BIG milk drinkers - I have never liked milk. I didn't get my period until I was 14 y/o but everyone else around me got it about 9-11 y/o. These poor GIRLS were mercilessly harassed by the boys (and some girls) in their schools.

Good luck finding a book or movie for her - she will need it - but remember not to lie about anything and not to dumb it down, just make it more appropriate for her learning comprehension.

http://www.justsayyes.org/maryflosimpletruths/
Embarrassingly, I have this book, but I have not read it yet. I went to hear her speak. The book is about sex, I agree with the other posters that you'll have to talk about where babies come from. From her talk, she said just keep it to the mechanics and the facts.

There is an American Girl book (The Care and Keeping of You) that is excellent and addresses this is the context of hygiene and not sex and reproduction.

That said, you're setting yourself up to be behind the 8 ball if you don't use this as an opportunity to start to talk about reproduction and sex. You don't have to get graphic, but she should already know about where babies come from, how they are made, privacy, good touches and bad touches. If you haven't explained reproduction at all, be prepared to do so if she asks *why* we get periods, which is a perfectly logical question to ask. The reproduction talk is a great opening into beginning some dialogue about sex, even if right now all you say is along the lines of "because we make babies through intercourse it's really important that adults only do that when they are grown up and married" (or whatever your blanket statement about sex will be for the next few years). Talk about sex shouldn't be a one-time thing that happens when a child has already heard about it from her friends. Start early, talk openly and often, make no question taboo and you will be laying a stronger foundation for open, honest, candid conversation when that needs to happen later.

Well, there's Judy Blume's 'Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret'. It's a great story about periods and puberty, I personally think your daughter is the right age for it. (Course we liked that book especially since my daughter's name is Margaret!)

Otherwise, why not just talk to her about it? Even at that age, she's hearing things from her friends, so it'd be better if she got the truth, matter of factly, but with humor, from you.

:)

yes, it's time! Just be honest, open, & as Theresa said....use some humor. Let your daughter help you find a book to read after you talk a little bit "about her body". By incorporating her into the book end of it, she'll be able to have some autonomy over life choices.....sometimes that really does help! & yes, I know many girls who've started before age 10....

I just saw Theresa's answer - that's the book I gave to my daughter...it's very good!!!

Yes, I think the hormones in our foods affect how our children growing up too fast...

Good luck!!

My daughter & I talked about periods about a year & a half ago. She'll be 11 in February & hasn't gotten a period yet, but I know it's coming any minute now. Even though we have discussed it & I ask her fairly regularly if she has any questions or wants to talk about anything, I also bought her Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume as some others have already mentioned. It just puts it in a different perspective of a group of girls instead of mother/daughter. She told me it was her favorite book she's ever read.

I would just go to your library and ask for recommendations on this. Don't make a huge deal about it. Follow her lead.

I purchased the care and keeping of you book a few years ago too. My girls are 10, 8, 5. My oldest 2 girls enjoy the book(s). We've bought others. I've had the talk with my 10 year old because their 5th grade teachers told us to have the talk before they begin the section in the Bible regarding "begat" and the word "concubine". I was preparing for the talk and made a little basket for my daughter. It had small pads, deoderant, bath and body spray/lotion, small beginners bras, a little bag similar to a makeup bag to keep pads in at school (carry to the restroom discretely) etc. I had purchased 2 books by Dannah Gresh "Six ways to Keep the Little in Your Girl" and it discussed how to make it a special time/talk between mom and daughter. I also used the verse in the Bible about "you are fearfully and wonderfully made" and followed that with you're special and this is what takes place and this is why, etc. The book gives you a little info on how to make this a special date and not a horrible event. You keep it on her level. Also in the basket was a special necklace. I purchased a small gold key with a heart necklace and told her that it was a reminder that her "private parts" are her most valuable treasure that God has given her to unlock when she is married. Purity and abstinence are my goals with my girls. However you decide to do it, make sure she understands that she can come and talk to you anytime about it and how she feels. One very important thing the book mentioned was not to focus on how horrible it has or is for you, so that their little minds are not scared. Example: Oh my cramps are horrible, instead say something like you may have a tummy ache feeling, but if you do let me know and I'll get you something for it.

Here is an upside: After we had the talk my daughter was ready to wear the pads and all excited. I thought to myself, honey it will not be that great trust me. :) Ofcourse I'm one of those who had to take 800 mg of ibuprofen a day, until I discovered I had fibroids (another story). All's good now and I'm praying my daughters do not have bad cramps because my mother never did. Go figure. I'm thinking I'll have to have the talk with my 8 year old soon because I believe her little buds are getting puffy. Whatever you do, make it a relaxing talk for her and for you.

You can do this, after all you're a mom! God bless you. Most importantly remember you can continue to add to the talk and information as she matures. It's not a one time deal. (my 8 yr old turns 9 in May too - :) )

Check on the Dear Abby or Ann Landers Web sight. I think they have a pamplet type book just explaining periods and body changes just for young girls!The main thing, be honest with her and answer her questions, but don't get too complicated.

There is a book called "The Care and Keeping Of You" that does a nice job explaining some of the changes your body goes through and how to best take care of it and stay healthy. I'm not sure how much detail it goes into regarding periods (I've only skimmed through it) but it would be a good book for her to read, since it does discuss puberty in general, both the physical and the emotional aspects of it.

Try giving her some Midol. My friend who is a nursing professor gave it to all 7 of her kids when they started doing this hormone change. It made such a huge difference.

My FIL takes Midol for his migraines and it works better than any Migraine med on the market.

"The Care and Keeping of You" by American Girl Books is really good. Both my daughters read it from around 6 yrs old and they still use it for reference. My older daughter got her period this past spring at age 10 (she'd actually JUST turned 10) and knew exactly what it was, what to do and how not to freak out about it. I think it also helps that they've seen me have my period each month. When they had questions, I just answered them very matter-of-factly. So even my just-turned-9yr old knows exactly what a period is, why women get it, and what to do. But first, try the book. It really is helpful in explaining things in a way young girls understand.

My daughter liked the book, "The care and keeping of you". It was very informative. On the period issue...I started a few months before I turned 12. My daughter just started hers this past summer, at 13 1/2. Because of the whole girls start around the time their mother did, we've been anticipating this for the past two years.

We learned early on that God puts babies in a mothers womb, but now you are older and ready to hear a little more. There is a special substance that a woman's body makes each month in order to become pregnant. When this subtance isn't used to make a baby, your body has to release it, and this is your period. It is a wonderful thing and all girls are different. Some get this as early as 8 and some as late as 17 or 18. It is sacred and very special for women to experience. You can keep a pad in your purse, so that you are ready.

My doctor told us the same thing about girls starting younger these days because of the stuff in our food! We've had lots of talks about how our bodies change, etc. without going into too much detail. The key is to answer questions she asks in an age-appropriate manner; DO NOT offer information unless she asks!! To help my daughter I bought her a book called "The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls" - it's part of the "American Girl" series of books - it gives little girls information about their bodies but (in my opinion) just enough for them to know at such a young age. (The only really graphic illustrations are when talking about tampons!) But it's a great book! Your best bet is to go to the book store and look thru the books to really pick one out you're comfortable with. And of course, the best thing is to keep talking to her and keep the communication going!! Good luck!!!

I didn't read your comments, so I don't know if this has been addressed or not already, but I felt the need to comment on something you said. You said you did not want to address sex yet. I completely understand- my oldest is almost 7, and I can't imaging having this conversation within the next year or two. However, I think if your daughter is almost physically ready to be having menstrual cycles then it is absolutely necessary that you introduce her to the idea of sex. Nothing elaborate, but bare bones basics of the anatomy of it and the purpose of it (so mommies and daddies that are married can have a baby). There is a CD that I've listened to by Mary Flo Ridley, and she goes through a process that very gradually and age appropriately reveals the concept of sex to our children. I highly recommend you look her up and listen to it. I was convicted that I needed to reveal more to my son than I had been (although we've still not had the full conversation yet). Even if you decide not to go "there" with her yet, PLEASE, find and listen to the CD, it will be a great asset for when you do have that conversation. In my opinion though, once her body starts this process she needs to understand why, and what the purpose is, and understand that she can get pregnant.

My mom gave me a book called, "The What's Happening To My Body Book For Girls" (there's one for boys, too). I was 9. It helped me understand a lot. It does talk about intercourse, though, and male anatomy. But, I really think the two go hand-in-hand, where fully understanding it is concerned, anyway. My daughter just turned 10 a few days ago, and I believe we are reaching this point VERY soon. I've had several talks with her, and she knew more than I had hoped she would already...from older girls at school and daycare. She's okay with the period part but utterly disgusted by the sex part. So, she now knows WHY all of this happens to us, but now our conversations revolve strictly around menstruation and we'll get more in-depth on the sex part as it becomes necessary...which is hopefully a LONG way off!! GOOD LUCK!!