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

[dandycandyjellybean]

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

I am so glad that I am not the niece-sorry- but an absolutely dire, cringeworthy idea. I would want the floor to swallow me up at that age.

did you not read my last post batupmenightie?

Inelegant is an understatement Bats - talking of bats, I've now got batwings, or flabby arms anyway. They appeared overnight at the same time as the turkey-neck.
Which you can't really hide if you want to stay cool ... a polo neck long-sleeved top isn't good when you are overheating!

I don't think that you can really buy shoes for other people as the fit is quite important.

Digggers = I think you've converted me!!!

Has anyone ever lost a moon cup up there?

Skipped all the other replies so sorry if this coming too late but.........

OMG NO!!!!!!!!!

As the mother of a 14 year old who started a year ago I can pretty much guarantee that if you do you will be relegated to "Mad Aunt X" status. "You know her, she was the one that bought me an ornament when I got the curse"

NO NO NO :o

And this is why I should read a full thread before doing anything!

Its nice that you have that relationship and if she is happy (probably thinking "YAY! pressies!") then go ahead. Your OP did sound a bit "Pink Party" and that would not be at all cool.

My DD got treated by me when she started but would have been mortified if my mum or sister had made an issue of it as she isnt very close to them, but as your DN is clearly v close then that changes it. :) (and sorry for jumping in without the facts)

beyond limits of the living dead - that's fantastic! honestly, they are so much cleaner, easier, cheaper, comfier. I really can't believe that not everyone uses one!

Crosshair - in a slightly embaressing admission, I did once forget to take my mooncup out at the end of my period twas a couple of days I think. Eeeek. But luckily with a mooncup it's not dangerous to be a forgetful idiot and won't give you TSS, it's just not the best idea. doh.

Why do you even know as aunt? I would have been mortified and wouldn't have wanted anyone at all drawing attention to it.

Sounds like a most excellent gift, OP, and a very healthy family :)

Ick.
I think the present idea is quite sweet, given that you're close and she tol you. I personally hate the stereotypical image you're pushing of 'you are a woman so have chocolate' you're perpetuating, but that might be my issue. The suggestion of a funky tampon bag would be more my thing.

What made me 'ick' was all this 'welcome to womanhood' crap. You are NOT a woman because you start to bleed periodically. She is a child. Becoming a woman is about age and experience, not just the fact you can now theoretically get pregnant. I started my periods aged 10, at primary school - not uncommon. I wasn't entering 'womenhood'. I find it really distasteful to use a marker of potential fertility in a CHILD as a celebration of womanhood. Very very ick.

Present - sweet. Blowing period out of all proportion with this womanhood nonsense - freaky.

Im quite amazed (because I ceased to be shockedyears ago) that this sort of thing is phoned/texted/facebooked round the family/hawked round the internet for strangers amusement .

Total lack of privacy and thoroughly, well, I'm wordless. really. For which you will all be grateful.

And as for the fecking mooncup brigade.

The niece rang the op and told her.

I think its a nice idea, get her some nice smellies and or some make up, I would have appreciated that aged ??? 12?

I agree that it was the "Welcome to Womanhood" thing that was the main ICK factor!

I should say though that girls seem to be alot more "so what?" about it than I and my friends were. DD was uber cool about it and so are her friends. DD showed her BF the free towel tin/holder thingy I got with her supplies and the next time the BF came round she asked me if I could get her one too! I would have rather died than discuss "that" with my friends mum, I barely mentioned it to my own!

yasbu, please do not buy her a "welcome to womanhood" present she would be bloody mortified. What the f are you thinking? jesus christ

'welcome to womanhood' makes me cringe.

I think it's lovely that she told you. I'd feel comfortable acknowledging that with a small card telling her that you're pleased she was able to tell you and that your door is always open if she wants to chat about stuff.

For a present, I don't think I'd get something specific for periods - but maybe some nice slippers or something?

Will her own Mum be quite open with her about everything or do you think she's leaning towards you for advice?

I'm quite hoping my nieces will share this news with me. Sure, it's all just a normal part of growing up, but it IS a big deal as well. It's nice if girls have an adult they can talk to and sometimes it can be easier to talk to someone you don't live with (maybe by phone or email).

I have a feeling that OP is in the US. I believe this is a bit of a custom there?
We still don't mention 'the visit from Aunt Flo' in this country as we might swoon in our very tight whalebone corsets.
You are a nice Aunt with a kind heart - and a very balanced niece to boot.
Tally Ho!

Digggers can you feel it when its in? Sorry to hijack btw OP :)

YANBU! Im so surprised at these responses - 7 pages of the majority of posters saying it is a horrible/embarrassing idea. We're in the minority OP but I think your suggeston is a lovely idea. In our family a quiet fuss (...) was made when we got our first period. OUr mum told our dad when he got home from work and he was so pleased - I don't remember him saying anything, just the look of pride and happiness on his face: both my parents were delighted. It was very positive for me for it to be viewed like this and (brace yourself) I really loved the whole having periods thing and burst into tears in the street when the GP phoned me to tell me that the results of my blood tests were that my menopause was done and dusted (I thought I was just creeping into the perimenopause). It's still a sensitive subject so don't be horrid.

I'm just so surprised that endless posters view having periods as a totally negative thing. my name is not pollyanna
ps I used to use a mooncup and fully appreciate digggers' carried-away post

I think it's sweet...and everyone who is trumpeting on about ick wording is a tad repressed mate...big woop...

OP you sound like you have an open, loving and close healthy family...no ideas for gift how about having lunch together?

I have two teenage dds who would both have found the idea of a phone call, gift etc positvely revolting and highly embarrassing. They would have been mortified.

And how old is she? DD1 didn't get a pair of high heels until aged 16, for her prom. DD2 is 14 and doesn't wear heels. Sorry but I think it is weird on so many levels.

And the idea of a dad feeling so 'proud' because his daughter has started her period sounds v odd indeed to me tbh.

Not read the whole thread, so apologies if I've missed anything/repeated too much of what others have said.

Gift might be a bit much, maybe a girly pamper evening not so much as a celebration more because they are always good fun