Tonight my 9 year old DD pointed out that she has a slight budding of one breast. She asked if you can start puberty young. I reassured her and said that it was completely normal and meant that her body was growing up. She said she didn't want to grow up (normally she insists she is grown up!) and again I just comforted her but didn't make a big deal out of it.
I feel overwhelmingly sad. I don't want her to grow up and feel she is so little still. I feel puberty is just too much right now. It is only just a slight growth, but I can't remember how long these things take!! I don't really remember puberty for me, just that I did get my period young (circa 11?) And was physically very mature quite early (breasts, very curvy). I got a lot of male attention from a lot of older boys and men and was harassed and even sexually assaulted (but all done 'in just!) too many times to count through my mid teens to adulthood. And yet, at the time, I saw it as a rite of passage. Now I know how wrong it all was and I just don't want her to go through the same! Even though I was not 'bothered' by it when I went through it.
As for periods, I have had a horrific time of them since I was 16 - hospitalised, surgeries, years of pain, passing out etc and then many many more serious things all related to my periods.
I just want to cry. Please can someone tell me that despite one breast that may have started to bud, she still has a few years to go before getting periods and developing?