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Straight Talk - Her First Period

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Having the "period" talk can be a positive experience for you both

Make the "period talk" a bonding experience

I remember my adolescent years quite vividly. They were some of the best years of my life but also some of the most difficult. We forge some of our tightest friendships as young teens and carve out some of our most memorable memories that we'll end up cherishing for years to come. That being said, there are also memories that will haunt us and embarrass us for just as long. Puberty is at the root of some of these moments and I certainly don't recall that period of my life fondly. The blemishes, hormones and awkward school pictures made me shudder in the past, but now I can laugh them off, not so easy to do though when you’re a teenager. . Now that I'm a mom of a 14 year old my own experiences are coming back to me, and I’d like to make this period in my daughter’s life a different kind of memory than what I had. It can for her be a positive coming of age experience, or at least one not filled of trepidation.

mother daughter

I remember all too well the awkwardness of getting my period and trying to have an open talk with my own mother, who until that point hadn't talked to me at all about getting my period. I think she didn't know how to broach the subject. Now that my own daughter is at an age where her period is on the horizon, I knew that it was my turn to have a discussion with her and I didn't want to wait until she came to me. As I sat down and started contemplating how I would approach the subject with my daughter, it dawned on me that it didn't have to be as much of an embarrassing event as I remembered it being or have heard it be from other mom's going through the same situation. If I approached her in a gentle and understanding manner as someone who had once faced the same situation, there was no reason why our talk couldn't be lucrative for the both of us.

The first thing I vowed to do is be completely honest and open with my daughter. So many times I've heard humorous stories from other mom's about stretching the truth or bumbling their way through and giving inaccurate information, that I knew I wanted to take a different approach. I wanted to center my talk about the honest facts, so, I armed myself with as research as I could get my hands on. Of course, being a woman I knew my fair share but in order to give my daughter all of the facts and make sure they were correct, I did my homework before settling down to engage in straight talk about the subject with my daughter.

Another thing that I wanted to stress to my daughter was the importance of feeling like she could ask me anything. As I recalled my own  talk with my mother, I remember quite vividly the embarrassment I felt and how I was not comfortable with my own body to ask the questions that were burning in my mind. As a parent I want my daughter to know that no matter what she's going through, especially puberty, I'll always be willing to answer her questions and be there as a pillar of support when she most needs it. Especially when it comes to her period, I want to ensure that I let her know first and foremost that no question is a dumb question, and that knowledge through questioning is a source of power.

Always Radiant Pads for teens their period

Highlighting products that I think would be helpful was also on my agenda for our open talk about periods. After so many years of using feminine hygiene products myself, I knew the importance of finding products that work for your specific needs. Always pads have been on my list of must-haves during my period, because they are comfortable, thin, yet provided the protection I needed. I also liked that they gave me choices, we’re all unique and Always pads recognizes that has has a variety of products for all a young girl’s needs. This is why I made plans to highlight Always products specifically for my daughter so that she might be able to test them for herself along with any other products that might be useful to her during her monthly period.

These Always Radiant Infinity Pads for teens are a great choice.

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I know so many women who either didn’t have a conversation with their mother about their periods, and others who said it was awkward and they walked away without the answers they sought. After my own awkward experience, I knew I wanted this to be difference with my own daughter. It didn't have to be traumatic or scary, this much I knew after becoming better acquainted with my body and dealing with a period directly for so many years now. My goal when having our open talk about periods was to ensure that my daughter with armed with the appropriate knowledge but also that it was done in a comforting and comfortable manner so that the experience was as delicate for her as possible given the subject matter.

I love that there is so much information out there for teens and their parents so that such conversations can be a positive experience. I like utilizing such things as videos like the one below, where you can give your teen the link and after having an open discussion they can go off and watch the video in privacy.

Period talks don't have to be scary, in fact, they can be easy and a great bonding experience!

 

 

By on April 22nd, 2016

About Powered by Mom

I’m Michelle aka Powered by Mom. I’m married with one daughter, my hubby was my high school sweetheart, our two dogs Nyx and Cleo and our cat Oliver. As you can see we’re a family of animal lovers. We love to travel when we can, try different food and activities all over the world and enjoy being together. My passions are writing, travelling, creating new recipes, encouraging people to adopt not shop and just to enjoy life while we can.

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42 thoughts on “Straight Talk - Her First Period”

  1. I never had any daughters of my own but I remember my own experience with my first period. I had a little spotting so I got all upset and started crying - my mother never explained anything to me she just gave me a pad. (luckily I had learned all about it in school).

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  2. I like that parents are being honest on the subject today. Because if they are not there is the internet to give all kinda right and wrong answers

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  3. With all the great products out now,and a better understanding of problem periods,things are a lot easier to explain than they were when my mom explained them to me.

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  4. It was fairly easy to approach this with my daughter,and I didn't need to explain belts or pins lol so that took pressure off .

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  5. I learned about periods from school and from my mother, but I'm still envious of the wealth of information that girls get today via the internet. I hope they feel more open and less ashamed than I felt.

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  6. I had horrific periods and sadly passed it down to my daughter,she had it rough but we managed to keep it tolerable.

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  7. That dreaded day for the talk. My daughter is 42 now but I remember the day I had the talk. She was about 11 and started early.

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  8. I remember the talks I has with my daughter and now I am also talking about this with my granddaughter even though her mother is also. I always want them to know they came always come to me for anything and anytime.

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  9. I may be a strange one but I already have a silicone cup lined up for my daughter and she's only 8 months old. If she doesn't like the color I picked, I will happily get her another. I can't wait to take her out to lunch, get her flowers, candy and balloons and make it a party! I never had someone celebrate my womanhood and I embrace it and celebrate it daily (how wonderful it is being a woman!) so I can't wait to shower her in the love I know I deserved as a growing teen! I don't want her to fear it, I want her to know everything and embrace it!

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  10. I have a brother who's a single dad dealing with two preteen daughters (one just started her period, one probably will soon). Their mother didn't bother telling them anything and he's still uncomfortable so it's kind of falling to the other women in the family. I didn't even know about this type of Always pad! I'm hoping we're all giving them the open dialogue and information they need though.

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  11. I have a daughter who will be 12 in October. I keep meaning to have the talk with her about getting her period but I've just put it off. This has helped me feel a little more relaxed about talking to her about it. And I didn't know they had those pads geared for teens. Those will be really helpful.

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  12. I remember helping my younger sister through this and helping give her the talk. She started before me & I had already had the talks haha. We have divorced parents and we were at our dad's at the time so I stepped up and help gave her the talk haha. I didn't get my first one until I was nearly 15!

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  13. While I was told nothing about this as a child or even when I started my period. I told my two daughters about as best I could heck I even told my sons. The reason I told my sons is because there is to much shame when accidents happen to young girls and I was hoping that at least my sons would not take part in any teasing if it happened to a girl at school.

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  14. I am always amazed to hear about girls who HAVE mothers, yet the mothers tell them nothing about this. I can't even imagine what the mothers who don't tell their daughters what to expect are thinking?

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  15. Our dd is only 8 and I've already been talking to her about it. I don't hide when I am on my period so she already knows about bleeding every month. I'm also encouraging her to use cloth instead of disposables. I know I cramped horribly every single month...until I started using cloth and a menstrual cup. Now my cramps are at least bearable!

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  16. I totally agree, I want to be completely honest with my daughter as well. She's only ten, but I know it wont be much longer. It's awkward for me because my mom never openly talked about these things with me, so it's sort of all new to me as well in a way.

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  17. My Mom did not really discuss it with me. We did have a program at my elementary school that explained everything. By then it was too late, I had my first period when I turned 11 and a half.

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  18. My mom didn't talk about it with me either. My friends had to tell me about it. I'm grateful, my daughter and I were able to have a conversation about it, and that she still comes to me now when she needs to talk. It is great how many products are out there now for teen girls.

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  19. My daughter is 42 now but I remember well my talk with her. A good thing since she started early. She was 11 and had so many problems.

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  20. I had the 'talk' with my daughter and I hope she comes to me but I also wanted to make sure no matter what she was prepared, so for the last year I have been buying and discreetly putting pads in her room! Not needed yet but they are there!

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  21. My daughters now are only 2 and 3 and it seems so far away, but I'm sure it will be here sooner then I think. It's nice to read up on what has worked for other families before heading into that stage with ours 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

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  22. I got my period when I was 10. (The women in my family get it quite young...) I remember the talk with my mom was a hot mess. She was so clinical and I didn't know what the heck she was talking about. She was so scientific and when she got to the part about eggs I thought I was gonna lay eggs like chickens do. Looking back I think it's funny but at the time she confused me so much I think I went to my Dad and asked him about it. LOL! You have to remember I was only 10, so I didn't understand how the birds and the bees worked and my mother didn't really know how to talk to a child about it. She spoke to me more like one of her own peers. LOL. She tried her best, but I think a lot of parents struggle with these talks. 🙂

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  23. I have never seen this product but it is a great idea. I agree with you about being honest, age appropriately, and making your children feel like they can talk to you about anything. It sounds like you have alot of wisdom regarding this. Thank you for sharing

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  24. I have no daughters but do have a granddaughter and between me and her mom, we had the 'period talk' and it went over really well.

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  25. My daughter is 7 so I have few yrs to go. She knows a little bit. I love that Always has products specifically for teens. I remember my mom being a little too honest about the subject. I will be open and honest.

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  26. I'm so glad to see that Always has caught up with other companies and created a teen pad! Makes a difference in how they fit. Always have been my favorite pad for a while and ones I shared with my teen!

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  27. I got taught absolutely nothing by my mother so, I wanted to ensure my daughter was prepared with the right mental tools before she starts hers. We had the first talk over a year ago and now at 10 we talk about it comfortably off and on when she wants to broach it again; she should be starting soon too.

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  28. My daughter should be getting her period any time. We've had many talks about it and are comfortable being able to discuss this with each other. She is not worried for when she will get it, so that makes me happy. I got my period in grade 4, I had no clue that it had happened. My mom called the school to have me come home (she found the menstrual blood in my undies), I was so embarrassed when the call came in because I was in the middle of gym class and it was a male teacher who told me what was going on. How embarrassing for me! I didn't want my daughter to have an embarrassing moment like I did

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  29. I have four girls, two of which have started their period already! My mom didn't prepare me to much but enough, so I decided early on to talk to my children openly about this my son is also well versed on this subject, I didn't make a big deal about it, always added some humor, but explained it's life, every girl deals with it!!! They still cringe, and say mom we know!!!!! LOL!!!!

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  30. I am so glad I found a post like this , I know I have already gone through this with my children , But I have a lot of granddaughters and I try to explain softly and gently to my children about this and I really do hope they can with their daughters..

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  31. I am so glad my mom was a RN in Germany during the war!Her mother taught her NOTHING.When my mom landed in Canada she vowed she would start teaching about the body young.I was always in the bathroom with her,from a very young age.That was a very good thing,because I was 3 months into my 9 TH year when I got my period.I was at a CGIT meeting.The councilors freaked.I just told them to call my mom.I was crampy!

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