DD demanding chocolate when she's on her period

Poor thing, I used to want to kill for chocolate around my period, when I was younger! Got such sugar cravings due to hormones. Poor girl show some sympathy, buying her a bar of chocolate won’t hurt 😢

I think it's the balance, not about it's your period so you neeeed this to survive but I know this is happening and it's not the best time so I'd like to do something nice for you?

I see it not as encouraging helplessness but as exploring little things that make her feel better so she can have some coping mechanisms in her arsenal for when things aren't perfect later in life.

So bloody true, this site sometimes is bonkers! Just get her some chocolate fgs.

Needing chocolate to help with a period is totally new to me (after nearly 40 years of having them). When did this become a thing?

I do like chocolate and eat it if i fancy it but I've never linked it to my cycle.

My mum made sure i had painkillers available and those did the trick for any discomfort. I was/am a very private person though and I would have hated reporting to my mum whenever I was bleeding out of my vagina. I agree periods are yuck and a nuisance but I never felt I needed "pampering". I'm sorry for those who have really debilitating periods but surely womem shouldn't become invalids for 25% of their lives. Men might take over control of the world or something ... oh wait ...

I'm now doubting myself because I have a nearly 11 year old daughter and her time will come and I'm wondering which approach is best. I'm wary that giving her the impression that you need treats and pampering to get through it will make her believe that it's worse than it is.

JEEEZ! How times have changed. I was thrown some sanitary towels and told to get on with it...

Daughters remember stuff like this when they’re older and in my experience really love the feeling of being giving some extra tlc when they need it. Periods can be v painful and a little bit of chocolate might really cheer her up and make her feel cared for. No need to ‘pamper’ but hugs, kindness, understanding and chocolate make life better.

Me too, chocolate treats, cosy movie night, and a hot water bottle. It's just nice things to do when somebody is feeling off, periods can be really painful, esp for young girls who aren't used to them. I used to be in bed for a day sometimes at that age. My dad would always go to the shop for me if i needed him to, even when there wasn't anything wrong with me! I obviously didn't tell him I was on my period; he probably guessed by my foul moods!

Depends. If she is struggling with pain etc. then I would definitely take care of her and yes, probably provide some chocolate because it's a legitimate craving (sugar, magnesium).

If the 'pampering' aspect is in any way related to this social media trend then it would be a hard no from me: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oAUVtnsThlQ

I mean.. I would buy some chocolate for the house she would be welcome to crack in to. But pampering?! No... I.. no...

Would make her a hot water bottle and some sympathy but that would be my lot.

As long, as it's not being kept from your DD for a serious reason, let her have some chocolate. Periods can be vile and I definitely wouldn't want to have one without chocolate and other treats

My dd doesn't like chocolate, but I've always run her a bath and made her a hot choc if she's had a rubbish day or she's feeling a bit washed out - for any reason. She's 14, what's wrong with looking after her a bit?

That said, if she's using it as an excuse to demands loads of other people's treats then maybe a monthly allowance for her to buy what she wants and she can put it away for when she wants it? Or if she already gets pocket money then budgeting these treats in should be encouraged.

I agree emotional eating isn't a good thing, but there's a balance. Over restriction can in some cases cause food issues. It did for dm who has struggled with weight all of her life, because it was restricted as a child. Once she had her own money and could eat what she liked, she did and sadly now has diabetes.

But that's not the case for everyone. There's always 'treat' food in my cupboards. We're all healthy and not overweight (4 adults). Not everyone has food issues.

She's 14 and she doesn't get enough pocket money to buy herself some chocolate?

Indeed. Here we are. Bet she’s glad she has you to defend her though.

On the other hand it's good to know if they are very painful etc that it isn't normal so she can start getting help

I'm sat with a heat pad, tens machine and morphine and wish I had made more of a fuss earlier in my life

I’m surprised at how periods have been made into something that needs special treatment .
Apart from informing my mother when I started my periods we never discussed it, there was no need… it never occurred to me that I might need chocolate. My friends were the same.

I find it quite sad a 14 year old has to demand chocolate. If I wanted chocolate at that age, I just helped myself! Unless there's some sort of back story, surely most parents don't withhold food from their teenagers!

I had completely debilitating periods as a teenager that usually required me to be off school. My mum was always at work when I was off but always made sure I had access to hot water bottles etc as needed! I can't imagine not wanting to look after your kids in that way.

I’m sure the poster you were responding to didn’t appreciate being called ‘ridiculous’ when answering the op either or needed the eye rolling, yet here we both are.

Op, I think your dd should be able to have chocolate on her period. I'm healthy, 21-22 bmi, a good diet, and have always eaten something indulgent on my period. These days it is usually a few squares of dark chocolate, got to replenish the iron somehow! 😂
In my teens I had money I'd saved from my pocket money, and would buy what I wanted with it on my way home; I wasn't greedy. I started working part time at 15, so I had my wages. Some independence is good op, maybe dd doesn't need to ask you? Would you trust her? Is she a healthy weight?

I wasn’t asking for, and do not need your advice, thank you.

I proactively make sure my dd has some if she wants it. She can self restrict and generally tries to eat well.
I don't restrict anything and have given them the back ground on vitamins.
I'm extremely surprised a 14 yo can't buy her own and can't get any at school.

I definitely crave chocolate so I don't see the harm in a usually good diet.

I’m sorry, you find taking care of your children when they’re not feeling great or need some extra TLC for a couple of days an ‘inconvenience’? When all it takes is a bar of chocolate? What viewpoints like yours cause is for girls to believe their feelings don’t matter and they must always seem fine unless absolutely dying, and that starts at home. It’s not a feminist agenda, men don’t think twice about meeting their needs when feeling anything from rotten to just a bit worn out. Women should be able to say ‘I want chocolate’ without having to justify it, make it into a taboo or suggest it’s some sort of crutch akin to addiction. I advise you have a snickers and chill.

YANBU!

It's a period. She's going to go through this for years. It's generally normal and part of life. No reason to make a fuss and bother, she needs to understand now it's not an illness.