to want to buy my neice a 'welcome to womanhood' present...

[dandycandyjellybean]

...as she started her periods yesterday? Any suggestions, if nbu?

The Caitlin Moran 'How to be a woman' book

YABU

It just seems wierd to me

Really???!!??

Why don't you just skip the present and be the 'understanding' aunt - far more useful ....

YABU. Do you want the poor kid to be totally mortified?

My dd would have been MORTIFIED!

Sounds a bit 'ick' to me.

Although I must admit I, didn't have the sort of relationship with my aunt or anyone else that would have seen me tell them that my periods had started.

Will you buy your nephew something when he has his first wet dream?

Wouldn't it be a bit cringeworthy/embarrassing for her?

A family size bar of galaxy passed subtly to her might be more appreciated.

Surely its a private thing.

Never heard of such a thing.
I would have died of embarrassment if my Aunt had done this (or anyone else for that matter).

I think it's an awful idea. Sorry.

buy her a pressie, just don't tell her its a welcome to woman hood one, or take her out for a meal/manicure, just don't embarrass her.

my dd2 would be sooo mortified and downright miffed that I had told her aunt private stuff

ick, bit too Judy Blume for me. I mean would you give someone a gift after menopause "thanks for stopping by"

like this ... www.womanwisdom.com/w_coa-menarchekit.shtml

Well, apart from the fact that auntie strolling up with a Happy Period present will make her die a thousand deaths, how will it work exactly?

Congratulations. You will now suffer terrible cramps every four weeks, feel like ripping people's heads off one week in four, suffer quite a few unexpected period whoops bled all over my white trousers moments. Have a Girls Aloud CD and a whispa.

Bad idea, I think.

Sorry, but I think it's a dreadful idea.

Mortifying, embarrassing and completely unnecessary.

I would have been mortified at the time, but I think it depends on your neice.
Not all people are so embarrassed by this; I have a Dutch friend who told me that her family had a cake to celebrate when she got her period, and thought I was deeply screwed up to have been embarrassed. She seemed to think the cake was normal.

OH JAYSUS no!
My nan phoned my dad at work to tell him 'your daughter has become a woman'. Poor bloke came home with box of Milk Tray for me. Neither of us have been so embarrassed in our lives.

seriously??

Well I think its a lovely idea, how about an nice little bag for storing her "monthlies" in. Maybe Cath Kitson or Jack Wills? My DD would have loved that!

Awful idea, especially if she did not tell you herself. Plus she might still feel like a little girl and/or not appreciate aunts hovering round like a 1970's feminist going on about womanhood.

Isn't this a tradition in some African cultures though? Seem to remember reading about it in a novel aimed at teenagers and being completely fascinated with the idea.

No ideas for a present though.

Wow, am surprised by how many of you are freaked out by this, but take it on board, as I wanted opinions?

We do have a close relationship, and I hadn't intended to send her a bouquet of balloons with 'congrats' on yr first period enblazoned...
was thinking more of a large bar of choccie and a furry hot water bottle, no syrupy card or anything, she would know why. She lives a couple of hours away so it would have to be a sending gift.

mmm, maybe not?...