Dd's periods started today

[vachebleu]

My 11yo daughter had her first (kind of) period today. Poor baby was sooo upset and it took me all my strength not to sob with her while I was trying to be reassuring :(

On the plus side once she'd calmed down (cuddles and ice cream) we did have a good sensible chat about periods. She asked some sensible questions which she'd previously been avoiding. I also made sure dh was in the room when we had our chat so she knows it's ok to talk to Dad about this kind of stiff.

So on the whole I guess we're Ok, but I'm sad and unsettled that she's had to go through this at such a young age.

[Angie1978]

I remember starting my periods at 11 and the long teary conversations I has with aunts and cousins(my mom had died shortly before)

Dd will need handholding but so will you, your little girl had now started the road to becoming a young lady.

Feel proud she can speak to you and dh (very important IMO that's he is open and unembarrassed) about anything

[LastingLight]

My 11 year old hasn't started yet and I'm dreading it. She is so scatterbrained and don't-care about personal hygiene, I don't know how she is going to cope. And my DH will run a mile if I tried to involve him, kudos to yours!

[BigArea]

I think you've done really well. And FWIW I don't actually think she's especially young for it. I started when I was 11 (26 yrs ago) and have read that children are reaching puberty earlier and earlier.

I've read a few bits and pieces about celebrating rather than commiserating a girls first period - so a special meal out, a gift, a pretty makeup bag to keep all her bits and pieces in in her school bag (towels, disposal bags, wet wipes, painkillers). I like this idea and plan to try to do something like it for DD eventually.

Congrats to your DD on becoming a young woman

[HolyDrinker]

You sound like you handled it really well. I remember sobbing when I had mine and my mum shouted at me to pull myself together, then she told extended family (with whom we were on holiday at the time) that I'd started my period AND that I'd cried about it. It still upsets me now to think about it.

Hopefully your sensible chat and cuddles will make your DD feel more comfortable about the whole messy business.

[piratecat]

oh bless, i understand the surprise and unsettlement. dd was 9 and 8 months, a few yrs back when she started.

It's a a huge change, change allround. It will soon become the norm.

take care both of you xxxx

[piratecat]

yes meant to add, I was 11 when i started.