IT’S THAT time
HOW TO DE-ESCALATE THOSE MONTHLY CODE-RED SITUATIONS
There is nothing worse than being unprepared for your period starting – if they have no idea what is going on it can actually be pretty traumatising for some girls when bleeding begins.
The average age for the beginning of menstruation is 12 (although some girls start at 10) and while many young women of that age are pretty savvy about the changes their bodies are going to go through, it can still be quite overwhelming. Here’s how to make this tricky time a little easier for your daughter.
Make sure you talk about what is to come. No doubt there will be some chatter about periods among their peers, but you don’t know how accurate information from their friends is going to be. If menstruation isn’t a commonly discussed subject in your home, make the time for an informal chat. Demystify the topic by mentioning it when you’re at the supermarket buying your sanitary products.
Watch the language you use. Moaning about your periods may make her more fearful about how it will be for her.
Prepare a period kit. Buy a small pouch with a zip and pop in a couple of teen-sized sanitary pads, a clean pair of underwear and a plastic bag. That way she’ll be prepared if her first period comes on when she’s out and about.
This can alleviate any fears she has about being caught short. Show her how to attach the pad to her underwear.
Let her know what is normal, such as cramps, bloating and acne, but don’t go on about it. This can set her up to fear getting her period.
Tell her not to be worried about approaching a trusted adult for help if she runs into problems and you are not around. For example, discuss a teacher she could go to if she has issues at school.
If she’s worried about playing a sport, doing gymnastics or dancing when she has her period, reassure her that is unlikely to cause problems. If your daughter is physically active, it may be easier to go straight to using tampons.
Leakage is usually the number-one fear of girls when they start having periods.
Make sure they know about changing pads or tampons regularly and they have an adequate supply.
Encourage your daughter to talk about periods with her friends and to make sure they have each other’s backs in case of mishaps.
Have a quiet word with the males in your household so they know what your daughter is likely to be going through soon. Hopefully her dad will know to be sensitive, but older brothers may need to try to be thoughtful.
Point out that all women have periods. Pop stars and ballerinas have periods – it’s just a normal part of life.