How mom introduced me to my periods

Not sure this goes here, but doing so.

One time, I was in the seventh grade and had tummyaches and my mother started giving me the talk: that the body gets rid of the ''garbage'' every month.
I ended up having my first period in the ninth grade and did not tell my mother about it. After 6 months of having my period my mother asked me if I have seen blood yet and I said, sure, for 6 months already! Haha, she thought she would be privy to EVERYTHING about my private life and she was upset that I hadn't told her and she berated me saying that she was thinking to take me to a doc already, and that I needed to have told her...fuch!!!!!! you tell me it's garbage and then expect me to wanna talk about it???!!!!!!
Tell me, how does one get over such trauma?????

I'm now in my forties and need to talk to my pre-adolescent about menstruation and remembered how my mom did it, ugh!

Hi nineten

My mom was straightforward with me about menstruation and puberty. She told me exactly what was happening to my uterus & ovaries (I'm sure I dont have to fill you in) and she demonstrated how to use a tampon (with her clothes on!)......and told me what to expect.......how often to change the tampon or maxi pad........to drink lots of water.....tylenol for pain...that it is a normal healthy process for my body. She later went out and got me chocolates and my fave magazines........and then called up her Mom and told her "Pilatus" is a woman now....... .

Hi Nineten,

At least, your Mom told you. Mine didn't tell me anything and I didn't hear it from anywhere else, so you can imagine how scared I was when it happened. I thought I was bleeding to death. My Mom laughed so hard as I cried my heart out.
That was a little over forty years ago, but the memories are still strong.

Hello and welcome to Psych Central. I hope things go better with you explaining the period to your daughter. Have you thought about looking for information on the internet on how to explain having a period to your daughter? I will look and see if I can find a site for young people about having their first period and what it is all about. I will get back with you shortly with the information. Take care Soidhonia

Hello again I an enclosing the information that I found on the internet for explaining your daughters period to her in language that is not threatening. The sites that look really good for childrens information is kidshealth.org, and womenshealthabout.com. Kidshealth.org is a very good site and you go to the site and click on teen health and type in menstruation (period), and the information can be downloaded to see or print out for your convenience. Medlineplus also has information on menstruation as well, if you would like to check their site out (although this is a website for most biological conditions as well including mental health issues). I hope the best for you and your daughter in explaining having a period to her, and I hope you get the help you need in explaining it to her in the right manner. Take care Welcome to Psych Central again. Soidhonia

Yea, that wasn't very compassionate of your mother- I'm sorry it made you feel the way you did. ....it can be such a sensitive time for some girls.

Two sisters in my neighborhood enlightened me about the whole thing--their mom took them for a special day shopping and dinner out for "becoming a woman"-- but when I asked my mom about it (I was 11 then)-- she told me to NEVER talk about that awful thing, that I should be ashamed for bringing it up. So when I was 14, I dealt with it on my own, no support, no questions or concerns and my mom seemed content that I didn't "burden" her with such an "awful thing".

--- I think the forces that be (God or Allah or whatever)-- made sure I didn't have to be in that situation ever again-- I only have boys!

I wish you luck with talking to your daughter and believe you will have the compassion of a great mother.

nineten --and -- daughter--

mandy

my mom didnt tell me about it and i was scared to tell her i started my period.. .... she only noticed cause her maxi pads came up missing... it was embarrassing

Ugh that does not sound like a very nice way.My Mom hardly said much. Just answer her questions if she has any. That's the best way.

My mom sent my older sister, (which with whom I have little to not relationship at all) to tell me what to do. Obviously she didn't explain a single thing to me, but my other sister took charge of the situation, and being 7 years older than me, she was like my second mom more than once, thank God~

my mom was very forward thinking for her generation. (she died in 1999 at the age of 93) she told me when i was eleven and bought what i needed and when my period started i alreaady knew about everything. it started when i was 12. she also decided that tampons were the way to go when i went to highschool. yea mom!

Boy does this bring back memories. My mom tried to tell me about my periods, but was very inept at it all. Her mom NEVER told her, her big sister had that job, and believe me, there was no real knowledge or teaching of anything except what to do and how to do it. I learned from my health class in junior high and from my friends. Unfortunately, I never learned to celebrate the fact that I became a woman, it was more of a dread to have it. I was totally opposite of my mom when it came to both my daughters. I was upfront, honest and as caring as possible. If I couldn't answer any of their questions, we found the answer together in books. I hope your time with your daughter goes well. You can turn things around so she doesn't have to feel the same way you did! Good Luck

My mom never talked to me about any of it.... and to make matters worse I started my period while my mom was in the hospital recovering from a Hysterectomy and I was a afraid to tell my step-father, therefore, I had to wear my sisters BIG OLD GRANNY PADS.
I was really tiny (small) back then so those pads literally covers me from front top of my panties to the back top of my panties.

Oh what a FUNNY thing to laugh at - now that I can look back on it with some humor.

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

This thread has just cracked me up, brought back memories and now I have to share my story!

I remember when I was 12 and in the bathroom discovering my very first period, that I yelled "MOMMMMMM" through the door. Well, she must have recognized the fear in my voice because all of a sudden, the door opened up, and there was a box with my mom's hand attached to it. That was all I saw. She never looked at me or said a word.

It was a Kotex starter kit(belt and all for those of you old enough to remember that awful invention!!)..

And I sat there and read the directions! Gosh, I miss my mom.
Okie

Hello I hope things are going well for you at this time. I am inviting you to cometo the chat today at 2:30 PM. It is with Dr Wylie and you can meet others at Psych Central at that time. Please come. Take care Soidhonia