[Cleo6]

Hi I just wanted some advice really when I started my periods at 11 my mum threw a pack of towels on the bed then told me I would have to buy them in the future. I remember hanging around a chemist for ages til it was empty to go in feeling really nervous. Some months my mum wouldn't give me any money so I stole some from her purse to buy them then she threatened to report me to the police. She hid hers so I use to have to use toilet roll. When I look back at my periods I just feel gross and anxious. I don't want the same from my daughter but I don't know what is normal. Did you talk to your mum about periods? Did you tell her every month when you started? Did your mum buy tampons/towels for you and if so how long for, did you need to ask her or did she just buy them for you? Did you choose what you wanted to use or just accept what were given? If you brought your own how did you feel did your mum guide you or left it to you? Did you like buying them yourself or would you prefer your mum to buy them. I'm sorry for all the questions I just don't want my daughter to feel the same as I did and need any advice to prevent it. Thank you

[Trippin2.0]

My mum said nothing and neither have I to my daughter.

But not for any other reason than the school has said it before we even got a chance.

At first she would buy them for me, but then I figured I would by them myself because she was outdated where products are concerned....

I know my daughter won't like that option though, she's super shy, so I will make sure I buy it for her once she starts hers and I'm pretty sure she will approve of the brand I choose, if not, its definitely open for discussion.

Also I will make sure to stock up so she doesn't need to tell me last minute.

I don't have a daughter but when I was younger my mum bought them for me which I was happy with, it wasn't until I was mid teens I started to buy myself.

I had a lot of embarrassment discussing it with my mum, my friend at the time had a totally different more open discussion with her mum, they used to joke about those kind of things, I wish me and my mum could have been more open like they were.

I'd say don't show any embarrassment when talking about it just be 'matter of fact' about it and hopefully she'll take your lead.

[Unrigged64072835]

My mom bought those products for me, and I did for my daughter until she had money to buy them herself. It was just something we did, and we didn't really talk about it.

[Nammu]

Close to the same as trippin but I had two older sisters so the stuff was there. I started buying my own tho cause non of them used tampons. I let my daughter pick out her own choices and bought them when I bought mine so there was always product in the house. Like trippin the schools here inform girls and we never really talked about it.

[lavenderbrat]

My mother just brought me some pads and she only had to buy them for about a year as I then got a job and had to buy my own. She never gave me the talk or anything, I think I picked up most of it from magazines etc.

My eldest daughter I really can't remember what talk we had, I just kept her supplied with what she wanted till she went off to UNI 5 hours away.

My youngest has been the most difficult. I've talked to her numerous times but because she has an intellectual delay and is on the spectrum it never sinks in. Her first period I actually had to place the pad (I got the ones with wings for added grip) onto her panties and show her how to do it for the first few days. We are over a year in and she had expensive pads, cheap pads, tampons, panty liners and yet every month I get panties covered in blood still found in the wash.

Honestly just talk to your daughter, she probably knows it all anyway but just incase. Maybe take her shopping and let her decide what ones she'd like. She may have friends that already are using them. Also it will depend on her flow, overnight ones for nights but days may be heavy or medium or a mixture. This will all depend on your budget too as in Australia they are pretty expensive to buy, so if cost is a factor work out which ones you can afford and let you daughter pick from them.

[*Laurie*]

My mother was of the WWII generation and she was pretty weird about my periods. It is beyond me why she didn't just keep feminine products in the house, but she didn't. So I had to ask her every month to purchase the products. I was so embarrassed that one time I just couldn't ask her and I stole a box.

Everything with my own daughter was entirely different. My husband and I were totally open with our kids about periods and bodily functions. My daughter tells me she never felt awkward about her periods in our home. As for products, I kept them stocked in the house.

I never had the period talk with my mother. Luckily I had a semi sex education so no awkwardness. My mom was the nervous one actually. My mom bought several brands and sizes to figure which one I liked the best. Feminine products were always in stock because we shared. I guess I was unfazed by it all.

My mother buys my pads. I tell her which ones I prefer and I tell her when I'm "almost" out so she'll pick up a packet at the grocery store.

Edit: I'm 19, live with my parents.

[technigal]

My mom was a nurse so we had the talk and it was very matter of fact, not embarrassing. She bought my first box of pads. I lived with my dad and step-mom and between the two of them they would buy my pads. When I was 17 I started buying my own. I had (and still have) heavy periods and the pads would still leak even changing them a lot.

[KEB1990]

I was shown on of those films in school. I got my first one at 12 and my mom helped me though it. Just talk to your daughters and explain its just a part of life .

[hermitix]

My parents taught me about sex and development of both genders at about 10 years old. I also had a few classes like that in school, so I was pretty educated, yet still embarrassed when I started my period. My mother bought me the first kind and when I got older I asked my parents to buy me tampons. Open communication is key.

[BDPpartner]

My mum had a full hysterectomy when I was baby and I don't have sisters, so my mum and her close friend decided that the best plan of attack was to buy me a range of different towels and tampons to try. Once I had made my mind up I just gave my mum the empty box so she could ensure she continued to buy me the ones I was most comfortable using, then she made sure she included them in the monthly shop and would leave them on my bed.

I felt sorry for my best friend as we were growing up as her mum still had her cycle and insisted that she must use the same towels that she did. My friend was always very uncomfortable and it was always obvious when she had her period as she'd always be pull at and trying to adjust her underwear. She ended up trying the leftover surplus that my mum had given me and eventually found something that suited her and it then took a lot of convincing to get her mum on side, in the mean time we walked dogs, cleaned cars and painted fencing etc to make some cash so she could buy her own.

[AmandaBroken]

My mom taught me everything about it. She taught me all the ins and outs so I was prepared.