Does your son know what a period is?

Yes, I've explained to my 3 year old DS that women lose blood every month and that it is normal and healthy. He has been in toilet cubicles with me when it's been that time of the month for me, and nobody else with us to leave him with, and I try to be as discreet as I can but he has seen me change my sanitary items and I explain that it's like a nappy for the blood.

My son is 14, I have never hidden my periods from him, and they were explained simply to him, when younger.

Yes he's 11

There are certain classes I’ve been known to show this to.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tciKSzVZro4

There have been a couple of occasions when a once obnoxious year 8 has miraculously, sheepishly come up to me with period/contraception/pregnancy questions as a year 11/sixth former where it becomes clear they have become a caring, responsible boyfriend. It is one of the greatest joys of my job to feel I may have had a hand in that.

My mother wasn't loving and nurturing either. If she were still alive she'd be 105, so I'm not young (71). My mother and I loathed each other and I left home at 16. Nevertheless she did give me sanitary towels, so that's one thing she did right.

I've been open with my two sons about it, so they're aware. Whether they'd be helpful and supportive...not so sure, but don't they'd be wierded out by it!

My two year old knows that I sometimes need 'nappies' (and will gleefully point out sanitary pads in the supermarket by shouting mummy "nappies!''). I'll make sure they understand properly as they get older.

I feel quite strongly that periods should be normalised for both boys and girls. The angst that so many girls and even women feel around being on their periods is completely unfair for a normal part of life.

Probably not but he has been told many times and we are a very open family but he has SN.

My mother didn't talk to me about periods either, I learnt about them from my friends. My mother was emotionally and physically abusive and disinterested in me from the age of 11/12. When she found out my periods had started, she handed me an opened plastic bag of thick sanitary towels which had sat in a cupboard for years (she'd had a hysterectomy), then she left the room. My only income was a paper round and I used the money to buy my own towels although at first I didn't have a clue as to whether I should be buying "light", "medium" etc. I never asked her questions because I would have been berated for not (magically) knowing the answer. Some mothers aren't loving and nurturing and I've been no contact with mine for 30 years (I'm 62).

Both of mine know all about periods since I'm vocal about them since they were small. They used my tampons as Nerf ammunitions once and did experiment with putting them in water to see how they swell. My 11 year old even bought me chocolate " so you have it for your period". They will absolutely be lovely with future girl friends about this because they see it as something natural. I even had to tell them that some people are not so open about it so mind who you talk to when my youngest asked our neighbour if she had her period when she declined going swimming with us once😳.

I wasn't told and when we had the talk in school, the class teacher refused to let us out for it. I had no clue what was happening when it came.

So yes all my kids were told the score and sent to the shop for sanitary stuff. My youngest always knows when it's here because I share chocolate with him.

Two sons, 6 and 8. They know about periods but probably both a bit vague about the detail. The older one obviously understands/remembers better than the younger one but I explained to both what they are

Yes! He’s 13 and has just gone to the shops with his dad - they have a list anyway cos dh is doing a roast and I asked them to put tampons on it 😂
Ds has 2 older sisters and has known about periods for a long time. He’s very caring, asked me this morning if I needed anything and has been in a few times to lay and watch telly with me because in addition to being on my period (which usually is fine) I’m bedridden with a grotty lurgy.
So important that they are aware of these things and that they’re not just kept as ‘women’s troubles’.
I will add, he wouldn’t usually be especially aware when I’m on my period, it’s not an announcement I make and I’ve suffered from PCOS for longer than he’s been alive so they’re not been very regular but he does know what they are and why we have them.

Yes-from very young. And I would expect my son to be practical and helpful in the circumstances you describe.

No kids but I was one of 2 girls in my year whose mother didn't tell them about periods until very late on. I remember one of the girls at school vaguely saying something in the playground but I thought it sounded too weird to be true. We had a letter sent home that we were getting "the talk" and before that my mother told me, through tears, what was going to happen. It was very awkward.

I think it's great that parents these days are much more open about these things.

I’ll be teaching my Y6s about this in a couple of weeks, and we have taught it for several years.

This is great advice!

I have 3 sons and have always had open conversations with them and from the age they could show care they have and as teenagers would often pop to the shop if I needed tampons without hesitation. They understand if I'm not feeling great and as little ones would often say.... Come on mum we have pms with you let's share ice-cream 🤣 it's a part of life and one that I wanted them to understand. My mum wasn't open with me and I started in primary school and was terrified. I was adamant I'd always strive for an open relationship with my own children

I've heard of grown men not knowing those things. It's shocking.

My son is 15 and has known about periods for some time. Pretty sure he would help a girl if she needed to go buy something or a jumper to cover up etc.

Since my dc followed me around all over the house as toddlers they very quickly learned. My ex had to ask me about them though when we got together, boys school, only child.
In this day and age I'd expect it to be known about, there's adverts on the tv etc

My 5yo DS does
My mum never spoke about them with me, when I started mine age 11 I thought I was dying

Of course. I mean, he was coming to the loo with me and seeing me change a tampon when he was too young to be left outside a cubicle, and then had a mixed sex fruendships group throughout primary school, so it would be very odd if he didn’t see it as a normal part of women’s lives.

Yes, he is six and has known for some years.

There are some lovely stories about kind, thoughtful and well informed boys on this thread. Wonderful to read.