my little girl got her period!

[jag5000]

OMG!

so that explains all the moodiness lately!

she's only 10, and just 10 too.. she turned 10 early November!

I just had to tell someone.. my DH stuck his fingers in his ears and said "lalalala" :laughing: I think he needs some time to process this! LOL

DD is happy as larry about it.. has already called her nan and about 3 friends! :D

she's growing up :crying:

how old were your DD's?

[Myztik]

My little sister got hers last xmas holidays and she was just 11. The por thing locked herself in dads toilet and wouldn't come out. Luckily I was there visiting coz Dad came screaming out of the house bright red asking if I could go talk to her lol.

She's ok with it now, think she was more upset coz she thought she couldn't swim (44 degree christmas that year).

[YMo7]

oh no - my dsd is 10 next june... we only had custody of her for 18 months... im not ready for that!

its great that your dd is excited about it - at least she isn't scared or anything!

[zbazba]

I was a "late bloomer" then I guess.

I got mine when I was about 14.

[WorkingClassMum]

My nieces were all around 10~11

Yep 10 is the new 13...

[Baldie's Mum]

I was 15! :rolleyes: My mum was 17........:rolleyes:

Jo, yay for DD!!! Glad she is excited!!! :D

[studyingECS]

It's good she's exiting:thumbsup:


I was 11...it was acually a releif to get it because the antisipation of getting it was making me nervous.

Now I just which the thing would go away LOL!

[fox_girl]

I was 12 when i got mine.

I thinks its lovely that she is so excited. Give her a few years and she will be hating it.
I know i sure dread when it comes around each month.

Is she the first of her friends to get her period?

[Blueberry Crumble]

God I wouldnt be excited to be getting it that early! I was 14 and I still wasnt excited lol. It could have waited a couple more years

[StrawberryTheMilkshake]

I got mine on my 10th birthday. NICE PRESENT, THANK YOU BIRTHDAY FAIRY. :banghead:

[AM]

Thats awesome she is really excited! Do you plan to do anything special to celebrate this crossing of the threshold into a fertile 'woman'?

I remember crying my eyes out, and hating it...:no:

I really wish it had been a positive experience for me, I do LOVE my periods now, but then it was just plain traumatic...:(

[GraceUnhearing]

I got mine on my 10th birthday. NICE PRESENT, THANK YOU BIRTHDAY FAIRY. :banghead:

i got my smack bang on my 13th birthday!
not a nice present :(

[moonwildflower]

I got mine when I was 12. I was out of town, and we were staying with my other family (mum's best friend and her kids). Me and two of the other girls decided we wanted to sit in the doghouse for some reason (really big wooden one). I got in first. I had a skirt on and my knees up so there'd be room for the others. Looked down and saw blood. I was out of there so fast! :laughing:

Ran inside to my mum, who promptly told everyone :o

[Benji]

It's good she's exiting:thumbsup:


I was 11...it was acually a releif to get it because the antisipation of getting it was making me nervous.

Now I just which the thing would go away LOL!

:laughing: Yeah! I'm with you - someone take it back!!

I think I was 12 when I got my first one, then it disappeared for a while & came back again hehe.

[~Temet Nosce~]

Man I hated it when I first got mine.. I didn't tell anyone either, I just dealt with it by myself and would have been mortified if my parents went and told people. I was about 12-13.

[Mariposa]

I'm hoping that none of my girls get theirs early like I did. I was 9.5 when I got mine :(
DD 1 turned 9 in Aug this year, I am hoping that it stays away for a few years yet.

Good to hear that she took it well though.:yes:

[Blueberry Crumble]

Did anyone find it SUPER embarrassing when they first got it? My mum told all her friends and god I was sooooo mortified. And I used to have to buy my own pads, the cheapo mattress ones. Me standing in a shopping isle with only those- no other grocery item to cover up how obvious it was that I had this HUGE packet of pads. I hated it! Lol. Now, I couldnt care less!

[Mrs Nietzsche]

My daughter is 10 in a couple of weeks and I would love to hear advice on how to help her 'handle' it re pads etc? I haven't used pads in like 20 years (not including maternity) and am not up with all the new types... I guess those ultra thin or w/e?

[rainbow road]

I didnt tell mum until she found out 6 months later. She was devastated. I was just like...meh, I'll deal with it! No biggie to me!

Maire, I would suggest ultra thin, regulars with wings, either Libra, Stayfree or Kotex U as first pads. They're comfy, non-invasive and have funky patterns. If you go on their websites you can apply for free samples to be posted to you :)

Yay for Jess, I'm happy she's excited. Makes it mucheasier that way!

10 - sooo young! When I got mine at 12.5 I was one of the first of my friends!

[Mahjong]

I was 10. It sucked LOL

Your little girl is growing up, how precious :goodvibes:

[Blueberry Crumble]

My daughter is 10 in a couple of weeks and I would love to hear advice on how to help her 'handle' it re pads etc? I haven't used pads in like 20 years (not including maternity) and am not up with all the new types... I guess those ultra thin or w/e?

Definetely go ultra thin- I always thought Stayfree Ultrathin with wings was the best, I always felt 100% safe in them. The cheap ones will slip about and make her feel insecure and uncomfortable.

[FiveInTheBed]

good on your DD for shouting it from the mountain top!!:goodvibes:

I got mine about 12ish I think.
I have a 10yo Half sister (don't know if she has hers yet - but she is "quite hormonal" her mum says!)

oh , your baby is growing up :hugs:, goes way too fast.

...I was gonna say ,"damn hormones in KFC!" :p...but it looks like alot of women got theres at an earlier age, 'back then'.

[workin'mumof2]

15th birthday for me. my mum thought i had a problem and took me to the docs a million times saying i should have had my period.. now thats embaressing.:(

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I was 14 when I got mine.. Mum got hers at 19!

[Freya]

I got mine at 12.

Good on your DD for being proud. I was so embarrassed it took me days to tell my Mum.

[mrsmamo]

Ah i remember the day like it was yesterday...

I woke up got ready as my nan, mum, nephew and i were going to canberra for a few days for the floriade. i was in yr 7 at school so that made me about 12 (13 in the jan).

I went to the loo before we left and noticed a small speck of blood and i freaked! so i kept it to myself and felt sick and horrible the WHOLE WAY to sydney (to get my nan) then down to canberra.

Once we got to the hotel in canberra i decided i should tell my mum (as there was more then a 'speck' lol)

Well, mum jumped for joy and told my nan and i was all embarrassed and in a great deal of pain. Ever since then i was regular like clock work (to the hour) and painful as anything.

im so not looking forward to getting them back after bub is born lol.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

Definetely go ultra thin- I always thought Stayfree Ultrathin with wings was the best, I always felt 100% safe in them. The cheap ones will slip about and make her feel insecure and uncomfortable.
:yes:
I'd choose Libra Hearts (Petites) with wings.

They're smaller so would probably fit a younger girl much better.

[PrincessDani]

:hugs: to your daughter and a big congratulations! I got mine when I was 11, my poor big sister was almost 14 and hadnt got hers and horrified. I knew all about it as Mum had gone through EVERYTHING lol. I came home from school and noticed and told Mum straight away, how was lovely and took care of me and nursed me all weekend:D. She said she was happy but felt sad for me too as she felt a part of my childhood was taken away early but I was kind of happy! Your daughter is lucky her Dad isnt coming to terms lol my Dad was shocking. He considers himself to be quite the comedian, inappropriate most of the time lol.

His words: Darling, are you ok? Yes Dad. Now you know why you get them right Dan? I replied embaressed of coarse Dad I know, he replies with because you're a b!tch!!! To most that would be offensive but thats just my Dad, I was however mortified that my Dad knew!

[Grace3]

I also got mine at the age of 10. :(

I use to get them every 3 months in the beginning. Until they became more regular.

I didn't know what they were. My mum never spoke to me about periods. I had to go to the school nurse who explained what was happening.

I use to save my 0.50c drink money every day for my sanitary items. NEVER once did my mother or father pay or offer to pay.

I was traumatized by the way it was all handled and hence I will not be making the same mistake with my DD.

[jag5000]

I'm so sorry to all of you that had bad experiences! :hugs:
isn't it sad that so many weren't told the basics by our mothers? :(

I have always been very open with DD. She knew exactally what was happening the moment she saw blood. DH always knew when I was talking about things like that 'cos he stayed away (he grew up in a rather repressed family) and he often found little drawings I had done of a uterus or something :laughing: DD was still full of even more questions today though!

DD has been ultra excited all day! We went to the shops and she picked out her own pads. It was very cute (but a bit weird) seeing her scanning all the different types. Not embarrassed at all though which is great! She ended up wanting the brand 'u' which is because that's what I use.. mainly because they have a cool wrapper that peels off the backing and wings. She was a little taken aback by the tampons! LOL

DH has been cute too.. slowly coming to terms with it.. :D I freaked him right out by reminding him what it means.. that DD could (physically) have a baby now!

Marie - I don't think it really matters what brand myself. They all all pretty similar now. I personally like pads with wings so I steered DD into using those type.

AM - isn't it cool? I did get a bit teary! I gave her a big hug and congratulated her on becoming a woman. I had a special little bag put away for this moment that I gave to her (to keep pads in for school etc) She liked that. Also I would like to set her up with cloth pads, but for now I think I'll let her use disposables to get used to everything first.

[Lastcenturymum]

It's a real 'coming of age' thing in a way isn't it, especially for us mums! My DD1 was 12 I think and she spent the day home in bed, so couldn't look at the pad without nearly fainting!! She used to be such a wusse, poor thing. DD2 told me about two days later 'oh by the way mum, I thought you would want to know...:D'

I will NEVER forget mine, I was 12 I think and it was Father's Day:laughing: Pads were pinned in your knickers in those days or with a special belt or lace nickers with a plastic panel with elastic loops to hold the pad which were about 2 inches thick! :eek:

I remember telling my bestie at school (she was very well developed, I think she was born with breasts :rolleyes:) and she keep saying 'you??YOU?...gee thanks:o

[alphafemale2901]

OMG can you believe we were just talking about that the other day. I thought it must be not too far away.

Congratulations to your little 'woman' and congratulations to you too.

:smiliedance:

[~*clairesmum*~]

I got mine 2 mths b4 my 15th bday n everyone had theres so iw as qutie excited but soon enough i hated it... My mum got hers at 9 n so did my cousin im really hoping that claire is like me cause if she gets hers at 10 thats on 8yrs away n thats to early for me

Oh i forgot to say i was at my nanas for the school hoildays n told her i thought she was talking to my mum n she goes better go tyrah just got her fist period n hung up im like was that mum she said no alan(her dp) i was so embarresed

[84zsazsa]

Oh wow....growing up!! I got mine Xmas holidays when I was 10....so 14yrs this yr and I was excited too until I got the full experiance of a bad one.....:laughing:

Danni

[pinkgingham]

i was 12. my mum wasnt there as i was on holiday with my nan and didnt feel comfortable asking her so i was really alone for my first period. i hope i make my DD's first period much more special for her than my was. because i didnt have anyone to support me during my first one i had felt shame about it and only once i reached my 20's did i finally come to accept my periods.

[Izy]

I was standing at the entrance to my room watching "I do I do" on TV and felt something wet between my legs.

I had been wanting them to come, but then when they did come I was so scared!

I think I was around 12??? Off to check what year I do I do was on TV and to do some maths..

Oh and Grace- Thanks for the love :hugs:

[jag5000]

OMG can you believe we were just talking about that the other day. I thought it must be not too far away.

Congratulations to your little 'woman' and congratulations to you too.

:smiliedance:

isn't it weird! it was only 2 days after we were on the phone!

you jinxed her!! :p:laughing:

I've been getting wicked PMS since I've had AF back since Flynn (only 3 months ago), I'd never had it before, and DD's cycle came at the same time as mine.. DH is terrified that she'll get PMS too.. he says he's moving out with DS for that week every month now! :laughing:

[mumbron]

Jag5000 i just want to congratulate you on bringing your daughter up so well and with heaps of knowledge so that when the day came to be a woman she was ready!!
i wish my mum was like this you are are great role model maybe when it comes time for me to tell my dd's i might come and get some of your great advice :yes:

[AM]

Jag5000 i just want to congratulate you on bringing your daughter up so well and with heaps of knowledge so that when the day came to be a woman she was ready!!
i wish my mum was like this you are are great role model maybe when it comes time for me to tell my dd's i might come and get some of your great advice :yes:

Yes! :iagree::thumbsup:

I want a baby girl...:hissy: I really hope this bub is a girl, I want to be able to do all this stuff with her :flowerz:

Here is a really neat article: (probably the hippy in me coming out, but meh! :cool:)


Quote:
First Moon Rising: The Making of a Menarche Ritual
By Ksenija Soster-Olmer
Issue 109, November/December 2001

When I first heard about the Red Party, I was intrigued and excited. Remembering the secrecy and negative feelings that surrounded first menstrual periods in my generation, I felt I owed it to my oldest daughter, Tisa, to celebrate this important event. But would she be willing? Or would she be too embarrassed? How would we go about it? We have no experience with rituals and ceremonies as, alas, we are neither a religious nor a very spiritual family.

Tisa was only 11 when I mentioned my idea to her, and her first period still seemed somewhat remote. We talked about people she might want to invite; she said she would let me know when the time came if she was interested, and we left it at that. Now and then I came across something interesting and hid it in a closet--a little statue of a woman, a pair of lacy pajamas, a silk robe in her size. Then one day Tisa came home from school and said, matter-of-factly, "Luckily my friend Sara had a pad with her, because I got my period." I smiled and congratulated her, while hiding some motherly guilt--"You didn't even make sure to give her a pad to take to school!" We had read books together and talked about it all, but I had neglected this crucial detail.

Well, let me make it up to her. How about that party we talked about? She said she would talk to her friends and see what they thought. And what will their mothers think, I wondered. I broached the subject with one of the moms, who was immediately excited. "Oh, I think it is a wonderful idea! I've heard about these ceremonies, but I've never been to one." Once my daughter gave me the green light, I began my research. The woman who first told me about the Red Party e-mailed me the guidelines for a Maidening ceremony her church performed. An old acquaintance who knew about some rituals surrounding the first period said she would be honored to help with the ceremony.

Tisa started to get excited once the date was set. "Mom, could we have lots of candles? Or a fire? How about flower garlands? I saw this great way to put your hair up like the Greeks did in olden times. I want to wear something white or red, and it should be long and flowing." Half of the fun is in planning and dreaming. I wanted my daughter to dream up the most beautiful ceremony; I wanted her to feel as beautiful as a bride, as a goddess; I wanted to celebrate womanhood with her. In striving for equality, I had always pushed aside my feminine side. What good was being a woman in a world dominated by men, all brain and very little heart? Only when I became a mother did I come to appreciate my woman's body. Now I want my daughters to look in the mirror with pride and walk down the street like they own the world, like they are the most beautiful girls in the world. Because they are!

Tisa invited two school friends, a younger girl from down the street, and (after some prodding) the elder of her two younger sisters. Two of the moms joined their daughters. She also invited some women she had always felt close to and admired--an old family friend, a young woman who was her science project mentor, and a neighbor for whom she babysat. I went on the Internet and searched under menstruation, menarche, and Red Party. I went to the library and bookstores. I talked to other women. I didn't find any step-by-step instructions for this rite of passage, but rather bits and pieces around which we could design our own ritual: Serve red foods. Wear something red. Include the elements of earth, fire, air, and water. Share stories. Sing. Tie it all together and see what happens.

I was a bit worried about how a bunch of middle-class women from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds (among others, a devout Christian, a nonpracticing Hindu, a Palestinian, and a Hawaiian) would take it. How would we muddle through? Oh, but we did. And it was the most beautiful, moving experience for all of us, girls and women alike.

We gathered in the evening, with the sun going down and the fog blowing in from the ocean. Everyone wore something red, from a bright red-and-gold Indian tunic and pants to a necklace of red beads over a denim dress. The girls set up an altar on a red tablecloth in the middle of our living room floor. They brought in branches from the bay trees surrounding our house and placed the four elements in the four directions: air (east) represented with feathers; fire (south), with a burning candle and smoldering sage; water (west), with a bowl of ocean water and oil; earth (north), with a bowl of red clay. Between two white candles we placed the daisy garland I'd woven for Tisa to wear. We sprinkled red rose petals and other small flowers from the front door to the altar. Each girl held a red candle.

Standing in a circle around the altar, we started with words of welcome and introductions:"I am a daughter of so and so, a mother of so and so, a sister to so and so." Our wise mistress of ceremonies thanked the elements for their presence and talked about what each means in a woman's life. We learned that air represents our thoughts, ideas, and womanly wisdom; fire our passions and sensuality; water our dreams, visions, and intuition; and earth our body and fertility. We held hands and, timidly at first, then loudly from the heart, sang a beautiful American Indian song:

River she is flowing, growing,
River she is flowing to the sea.
Carry me my mother,
Your Child I will always be.
Carry me my mother to the sea.
River she is flowing…

Then I passed Tisa a box wrapped in red paper. Inside, under many layers of tissue paper, lay a smaller box, crisscrossed by a red velvet ribbon. That box held a small clay statue of the Goddess of Menstruation. "Just as Tisa had to go through all those layers to get to the little statue," I said, "I would like us to go through all our layers and reach deep inside of us and share our thoughts with her."

As we passed the statue around, we talked about the women we admired, our role models. The girls came up with Amelia Earhart and other women from the past; the women talked about dear friends and an elderly **** from the church who is kind and giving. And of course we remembered, with admiration and tears, our mothers and grandmothers. The Indian woman told us about her grandmother, who entered an arranged marriage at 16 with a man whom she didn't love; another spoke about her mother, who raised seven children. We talked about the struggles and joys of becoming and being women.

Then it was time for the threshold ceremony. We placed a red velvet ribbon on the floor to separate us into two groups: my daughter, surrounded by her friends, each holding a red flaming candle, on one side, and all the women on the other side. I had asked Tisa to bring something that was dear to her and represented her childhood. She chose her oldest stuffed animal, which had a permanent place on her bed. Because I had told her that she would be asked to leave it behind, she had carried it lovingly with her the whole day.

Now here she stood, this woman-child, resplendent in a long red dress (my hand-painted red wedding dress--I always did fly in the face of convention), with her long hair crowned with a garland of flowers, clutching her stuffed animal. In a shaky voice she gave her name in response to the first question, "Who approaches this threshold?" When the next question came, "Are you ready to leave behind your childhood, as you become a Maiden?" she whispered, "No!"

"Well," I said, "When you are ready to step over and join our circle, leave your toy behind." Tisa closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and put down her toy. Then she stepped over the red ribbon and fell sobbing into my arms.

"Welcome, Maiden, on the path to Womanhood," I said. I touched her with the feathers, saying, "May the air fill your sails and send you soaring." Circling her head with the candle, I said, "May the fire not scorch you, but make you strong." Sprinkling water on her, I said, "May the water of life flow freely and gently for you," and holding red clay over her head I ended, "May the Earth be a place of joy for you." Then I offered her a spoonful of honey with the words, "Growing up brings with it the sweetness of life." I sprinkled some salt on her tongue, saying, "And also bitterness of life. As you mature I know you will learn to handle both." With a luscious red strawberry came, "May you never hunger," and with a drink of black currant juice, "May you never thirst."

Then I presented gifts. I placed a heart-shaped necklace ("May this heart protect you!") around her neck and a shell bracelet ("May this bracelet embrace you with the love of your family!") around her wrist. With the flames of their candles, the circle of girls reached over the red ribbon and lit her red candle.

Looking around at the smiling and crying women, I told my daughter, "As you travel on the road to Womanhood and you encounter fears and difficulties, remember that you are not alone. Here is your circle of women who will help you and guide you. And remember that I will always be there for you, no matter how heavy your burden."

Then I offered her the stuffed animal with the words, "Even though you are a Maiden now, it is always good to know that you have a precious little girl inside you. Keep this as a symbol of your childhood and my love for you."

I had asked everyone to bring a stone and a blessing or a wish. With my stone, on which the words "Follow your heart" were written, I read her my blessing, inspired and borrowed from different poems I had found:

On the Road to Womanhood
Be free to be you
Be strong, yet gentle,
Be proud, yet loving.
May your body always be
A blessing to you,
A sacred grove of love and pleasure.
So care for your body
As you would for a beautiful garden.
Your womb can now bring forth new life
But remember yours is the power
To open or close the gates of life
In your garden.
Therefore yours is the responsibility
To be a conscious gardener.
Open to the embrace of love
When you find the one
Who is truly deserving.

Each guest then presented Tisa with a stone and a wish. Some had brought stones with Japanese symbols, others stones from their gardens. My younger daughter had searched the dry streambed for a perfectly smooth stone on which she wrote "Joy, Happiness, Generosity." It was touching to see these two sisters (who usually have more than their share of disagreements, to put it mildly) hug and express their love for each other with tears in their eyes. Other stones bestowed blessings of courage, wisdom, health, love, knowledge, strength, and financial independence. Tisa wrapped all the stones in a black cloth and tied it with her red velvet ribbon, to keep as a memory and a reminder of qualities she should be striving for. We ended with a Navajo puberty poem:

Watch over me.
Hold your hand before me in protection.
Stand guard for me, speak in defense of me.
As I speak for you, so do ye.
As you speak for me, thus shall I do.

May it be beautiful before me.
May it be beautiful behind me.
May it be beautiful below me.
May it be beautiful above me.
May it be beautiful around me.

Of course, no celebration would be complete without a feast. We filled the glasses with red wine and cranberry juice, and feasted on the wonderful dishes the women had brought--pasta with red peppers, risotto with chunks of red tomatoes, pizza, tomato salad, raspberry mousse cake, strawberries, cherries, and watermelon. And (although it isn't red) a lot of chocolate! It was a magical evening of tears, laughter, and special feelings of connection, sisterhood, and joy in the beauty and strength of women. Among the party favors that went home with the guests were the red candles used in the ceremony. One day the girls can use them for their own Red Ceremonies.

[Izy]

Thats beautiful....
I want a red party :hissy::crying:

[shockinamillion]

Ohh Congrats you your little lady.

I was super excited when I got my first period too. I had been in pain for days and a few people hinted it might be "that time", well it was, I was at a science centre with a friend and her mum, I immediately called my mum, who promptly burst into tears in the middle of the shopping centre and told the nearest passing stranger. I was SOOOO glad I had put a single pad in my bag that day 'just in case'. I was 12-13.

My mum told me all about everything, so I was very ready for them.

Oh Maire, I would suggest Kotex U. I wont use ANY others, they stick well and the Ultrathing regular with Wings are great. They are the least plastic feeling ones imo. I can't stand the feel of Libra or Stayfree.

[PunkyDiva]

:hugs: Congratulations to Miss J. Just beautiful that she is embracing this as a wonderful stage of life, but then she has you as her mum. :D
Too funny over DH's reactions :laughing: maybe tell him my Miss M was having a conversation with my DH recently over what pads were for. Actually I was a bit miffed as he does so many things that a mum would traditionally do cause I hate shopping and a lot of girly girl stuff.:o

I was 18 when I started menstruation properly but that's cause if my dancing. My mum was very offhand about it so I vowed if I had daughters I would celebrate with them.

Miss C was 13 and we went out for the day, had lunch, bought supplies of girly stuff and I also bought her a gorgeous ruby ring as a symbol of her entry into full womanhood. Guess I'll be getting her another peice of jewellery for this next big milestone. :p

[jag5000]

Jag5000 i just want to congratulate you on bringing your daughter up so well and with heaps of knowledge so that when the day came to be a woman she was ready!!
i wish my mum was like this you are are great role model maybe when it comes time for me to tell my dd's i might come and get some of your great advice :yes:

oh thank you so much! that is just the loveliest compliment I have had in a long time
:hugs:


that's a really lovely ritual AM :)

[~Temet Nosce~]

Ohh Congrats you your little lady.

I was super excited when I got my first period too. I had been in pain for days and a few people hinted it might be "that time", well it was, I was at a science centre with a friend and her mum, I immediately called my mum, who promptly burst into tears in the middle of the shopping centre and told the nearest passing stranger. I was SOOOO glad I had put a single pad in my bag that day 'just in case'. I was 12-13..

I was in a science class.. :o worst timing ever! I felt like I needed to go to the loo.. thought I leaked a little from being busting :o then.. oooh sh!te! run to the toilets :laughing: then got in trouble for not comming back to class for about half an hour.