My daughter hasn't had her period yet. I know its coming soon though. I want to explain that all to her but I dont know how. It'll seem very awkward to her! HELP!!!
I would now like to say she is twelve, not home schooled, but do to budget cuts her school has cut programs like sex ed and they have PE but not health. I know she already knows quite a bit but what I am meaning to say is I need to talk to her about details and stuff like how it works and how to keep herself clean and other things to expect. We dont talk about this sorta thong that often so it's very awkward for her. Also my daughter wants to use tampons right away. I want to show her how to put them in properly but she doesn't want me seeing "DOWN THERE" at all. Any opinions?
All your advice should help thanks a million!
How old is she? Chances are she already has had some of the basics in school (unless you are home schooling). Start with 'special time' where you two do thing together just the two of you (some like to shop, my daughter and I go for walks) and start by asking what she already knows (or thinks she knows). This isn't a one shot deal, this is a long term discussion.
Go to the library and see if you can find an age appropriate sex ed book, it should help explain it well.
just to let you know she probably already knows everything about the period. Im sure she has friends that has a period. I had friends who already lost there virginity at 12. I would just ask her if she knows what it is and if she doesnt explain it to her. I hope you have already had a sex talk with her. My parents had the sex talk with me and my sister very young i was in the 4th grade and my sis was in the 7th grade. Also our schools did sex ed in 5th grade. So def. be talking to her about the period and sex.
Start a conversation with her about getting her period. Ask if she knows what it is and what to expect. Get her the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" and let her know that if you have any questions she can come to you. It will empower her to learn about her body and know what to expect each month. I wish I had found this book when I was a teen!
Wow, I'm surprised you haven't talked to her already. I talked to my girls at age 8 1/2.
My daughter's elementary school did not have a health class, but they managed to teach quite a bit of sex ed. I was very surprised at how much. So she probably knows a lot more than you think. She also probably has a few friends who have already started.
You can start the conversation with saying your almost a teenager and your body will be going thru a lot of changes...... You could also go to the library and find a book that will help to explain it and you can read it together.
Well, my mom introduced the topic with the book "Are you there God it's me Margaret" by Judy Blume. Maybe that's lame now, I don't know. Chances are she has heard something from other girls at school and you will only be filling in blanks and correcting mis-information.
Whatever you do do it soon. My mum never got around to telling me and when it happened I was really confused and scared and embarrassed, not to mention angry with her for not preparing me. Make it positive, there are great books out there ask your librarian.
Just do it!
I disagree with Sarah D. "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" is not targeted for young women. I think "Our Bodies, Ourselves" is a better choice.
I think you just need to spit it out. At 12, even without sex ed at school, she probably knows about periods. Ask her if she knows what a period is. If the answer is yes, ask what she knows and fill in any gaps. Offer to get her some pads to have around the house.
Mama- Tell her right away about menstruation and the hormones. The emotional swings and the loss of energy for a couple of days. Tell her it is when the uterus sheds the lining that it has prepared for a pregnancy. Tell her to shower frequently when she has her period as the hormones have a strong odor of their own.
When my second daughter got her first period we had a party. All the women there told her to get more sleep when she got her period, how to eat well, what kinds of emotions she might have. They told her what to do about cramps. Every mother brought her own daughter. Some of the daughters were older and they too told about their periods. The pubescent girls who did not have their periods listened. One of the women had been through menopause and she told her story about that.
Each of my daughter's periods appeared suddenly when they were 12 or 12 and a half. So please bring up this is information to her asap.
I learned to put in my own tampons. She should learn for herself or use pads. There are so many good ones on the market now.
Glad Rags has a book called Passage:
http://www.gladrags.com/p-38-passage-a-girls-guide.aspx
I have it ready for my daughter she will be 9 in January. I have already bought her a menstrual cup & pantyliners.
You could also go to the library & get more books & videos to help you.
