I started mine at eleven, right after school started. My best friend had started some four months earlier. My mom babied her; hot water bottle, a box of pads and tampons, chocolate ice cream. When I started, I tried to tell her, but she was busy at work. So I found the tampons under the sink and used them. It was not until my third period when I had to ask for more tampons that she found out. She just kinda stared at me and asked if I had any questions. I said no; I was so afraid of her at times, and I hated to bother her because she would guilt me for days afterwards. Gees, I am so glad I never had a daughter.