*Ladies only*What nice things did your Mum do when you started your periods?

Odette

Ah the mid nineties and me, a willful 11 year old. Started when I was playing a computer game, I was most annoyed!

I remember being concerned even though I knew what it was. Still I didnt tell anyone (My Mum is a foster carer and would have been supportive and great) because I was mortified and still am a very private person when it comes to things like that! I sorted myself out.

Later, when I was 15 I was sick and I told my mum I couldnt go to school. She got very excited and started explaining that it was probably my period and that we should get prepared...I had to explain that I had been having a period for over four years and dealing with it myself...I think she was a bit upset...Sorry Mum, you know what Im like

OP your daughter might want no fuss, I think you know best what your daughter is like - decide accordingly!

dotstar24

i was the last girl out of my mates to start. Mum gave me a big cuddle and some pads, we had the talk at home and school waaaay before....also got put in my room with some claire rayner books explaining what happens etc. The only thing i wish she'd done is take me to the doctors sooner...i really suffered with the pain and now take mefenamic acid to counter this....was a day off each month at school.

donquine

My mum said, "Here's a pad. Do you know how to use it?"

The nice thing she did was wash my sheets without me asking. She didn't make a big deal at all, so I didn't feel it was a big deal.

mayforher_2

This thread has some lovely stories! Some mean ones too, I hope none of you are mean mums!!!

When the time came I told my mum although i was really nervous for some reason, just incase id got it wrong and it was something else. And my mum hugged me and talked to me about it for a bit and how i felt and the next day she had bought me some really expensive pearl and other gemstone bracelets and i was dead chuffed and i still have them to this day to remind me of it

dotstar24

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Urgh. Flashback to being 13. Collapsed on floor in girls' toilets at school, agonising cramps, back spasms, vomiting, feeling like I was going to die. Had to stumble to Head of Year's office to tell him I was feeling ill. He took one look, worked out what it was and said 'do you want me to drive you home?'. He asked if I had anything, which I didn't, as I had been forced to deal with toilet roll since I was 11, except when I could nick something. He stopped at a chemist and came out with a packet of the poshest ones he could find. (Bodyform were brand new at the time) and a packet of paracetamol. In the car, he said that, if they were really bad all the time, I could go to the doctor and they could help me.

He dropped me off and spoke to my mum. She smiled as he drove off.

Once he had gone, she screamed and shouted and called me every name under the sun, including weak and pathetic and how stupid did you have to be to think that they hurt. She then informed my big brother and his best mate when they came in later that evening about how useless I was. Big brother left a big packet of things on my bed every 4 weeks without fail from then on.

I know none of this could ever happen nowdays, but I still rate that teacher highly for being so sensitive.

As a rule, I think men still are more sympathetic, even if they are a little embarrassed sometimes.

thats so awful!! :mad:

pisces_cat

God what awful experiences some of you have had!!

I don't remember Mum having a specific 'talk' with me, but I had an inquisitive big sister so I think when she asked questions Mum explained things to us both so we just always knew what to expect and where the pads, tampons were kept so we could help ourselves (can't imagine having to buy my own - don't think I did until I left home for university).

Mum was soo sympathetic and helpful when I had really heavy periods and terrible cramps (often passed out and had to get her to come and fetch me). As there were 3 girls in our family there was no embaressment about talking about our periods (even round the dinner table! :rotfl:though Dad would often leave the room! I hope it will be the same for my girls!

Eldest DD is only 7 and I have gently started telling her things so there is never the need for a big talk.

Don't remember any special treat the first time - though I got the day off school.... Just remember feeling very grown up, especially as big sister was 2 years older and hadn't started hers yet! Started using tampons almost straight away, although I found it difficult to start with - was only 11, but went swimming five times a week so didn't really have any option.

Feel so lucky to have such a great Mum reading some of your stories...

milliemonster

I remember noseying around my mums bedroom and finding some pads she had, there was an address that you could write off to on the back for samples and a booklet entitled 'A Time for Change' or something, in fact I think I still have them somewhere! so we wrote off and from then on I collected loads of these samples and booklets and so was well educated and prepared for when the time came, I couldn't wait!

I still remember the day clearly when it happened, I just went to the loo as normal and noticed! shouted my mum and she confirmed it, mumbled something about now I was grown up and had to be careful with boys (I was only 12 fgs!), I still remember asking her to not tell my dad, which of course she did but thankfully not in front of me, and also my much older sister, who had just had a baby herself and yes she told her in front of me and I was very embarrassed.

My dd is nearly 11 now and is developing a very womanly figure, sadly I lost my mum last year but I have read through this thread with interest and picked up a lot of tips, an earlier poster mentioned a book 'Are you there God, its me Margaret' and I had completely forgotten about this!, I read this when I was about 10 and it was fantastic, I have just found it on Amazon for £3.92 and bought it for my DD. I alredy get her her own deodorant, she is wearing a bra now and I think its only a matter of months before she will start, I'm pretty sure I will cry!!!!

Mado

Poor thing was a bit upset tonight, and we had a big cuddle.
I had left the bag of "goodies" on her bed (including the moxie's tampons who come in a nice little tin which I found in a bigger store):cool:

The one thing that worries me slightly is that the school bans any kind of medecine brought in school (apart from inhalers and epipen) if not given to the school nurse. I think I'll ignore this rule and make sure she has a couple of paracetamol in her special purse.

Apricot

I remember mine, I was 11 and I woke up for school and saw this blood. It had already been well explained to me and I just put a pad in (from my mums stash) and went to school. However, it didn't occur to me that I would need to change the pad during the day so after school at my nans I went to the toilet & just asked my nan to get me some towels. I sat on the toilet until she came back from the shop with 3 different varieties of towels & a box of tampons. I told her to tell my mum as I was too embarrassed & my mum bought me a big bar of chocolate & magazines when she came home from work.

I can remember being totally paranoid that anyone would see my pad under my school skirt (it was summer) & begged my mum not to tell anyone else!

OP i think your way of handling it has been fab.

tara747

Spendless wrote: »

So am I, but Mr S tells me things like IL X was so upset to hear that child y had started her periods that she had to put the phone down on child y's mum when she'd rung to tell her.



This is why I won't be bothering informing anyone. And if anyone can explain my husbands bizarre family please tell us.:D

That is just plain weird, I agree!

tandraig wrote: »

my first period sticks in my mind! wasnt until i was nearly 13 i think - good thing as i had heard about it from girls at school! mum never mentioned it. i saw blood in my panties and told mum - she said 'well, you are a woman now' - gave me a sanitary belt and pad and pushed me in bathroom. then proceeded to embarass me by telling all my aunts and my nan!!! cringe even now when i think about it. and i had terrible periods! would be unable to work the first couple of days the pain was so bad. was told by mum and gp thats what they were like and i was making too much fuss. when i was 45 was diagnosed with endometriosis! thanks mum and gp............you taught me how to cope with pain - very useful now as i have degenerative disc disease and am in constant pain - instead of 5 days a month!

Poor you, that is so sad. Such a shame when teenagers aren't taken seriously.

milliemonster wrote: »

I remember noseying around my mums bedroom and finding some pads she had, there was an address that you could write off to on the back for samples and a booklet entitled 'A Time for Change' or something, in fact I think I still have them somewhere! so we wrote off and from then on I collected loads of these samples and booklets and so was well educated and prepared for when the time came, I couldn't wait!

I still remember the day clearly when it happened, I just went to the loo as normal and noticed! shouted my mum and she confirmed it, mumbled something about now I was grown up and had to be careful with boys (I was only 12 fgs!), I still remember asking her to not tell my dad, which of course she did but thankfully not in front of me, and also my much older sister, who had just had a baby herself and yes she told her in front of me and I was very embarrassed.

My dd is nearly 11 now and is developing a very womanly figure, sadly I lost my mum last year but I have read through this thread with interest and picked up a lot of tips, an earlier poster mentioned a book 'Are you there God, its me Margaret' and I had completely forgotten about this!, I read this when I was about 10 and it was fantastic, I have just found it on Amazon for £3.92 and bought it for my DD. I alredy get her her own deodorant, she is wearing a bra now and I think its only a matter of months before she will start, I'm pretty sure I will cry!!!!

I read that leaflet too, and the Judy Blume book!!! Gosh that brings back some memories...