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

[dandycandyjellybean]

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

My niece is very open about periods and when she starts Im sure she will tell me. I dont think I will buy her anything though. Im always buying her stuff!! if she tells me we will talk about it in a light hearted way but I wouldnt feel right buying her anything for it. Its not like it can be avoided!!

what a ghastly idea.its menstruation not some bizzare woo-hoo womanly ways rubbish

all those who are freaking out and 'eeww'ing i think your all bonkers! what on earth is wrong with celebrating / acknowledging this child becoming a woman? I just dont get why women dont honour their period, its great! it means we can have children, its cleansing, it is totally natural and something all women have all over the world. It connects us with all other women, and especially those in our family. You dont have to make a huge song and dance about it, just a welcome to the club as it were.

I think its a lovely idea. I think a hot water bottle, some chocolate and a nice bag to keep her sanitary towels etc is great. Especially if she isnt embarrised by it, she wouldnt have told you if she was.
you sound like a fab aunty!

To be honest, my niece will probably start in the next year. I reckon she will be 11. Are they women at that age? The lovely thing about this generation is that they dont get embarrassed the way we did but, I just wouldnt make a point of buying my own niece something special. I would also be nervous that her mum would be put out by it. Isnt that her job?

Only last week she told me that she would probably get hairs when she is 13/14. I did have to explain that it would be sooner than that and she changed the conversation very quickly!

my DD has a full fanjo of hair and she is 9!

bigging up and psychobabble menstruation as if its big wooo-manhood is quite bizzare.and imposing adult lentil munching upon a teen is all about you, your interpretation of its significance

I think the caring auntie bit is lovely...a great thought...however, IME many (although admittedly no all) teenage girls really do NOT want to discuss this with you and would rather you waited to be asked for advice at some point but otherwise don't mention it. They will have had all the prep they need at school. I remember two of my mother's friends separately saying something to me when I got my first period. Nearly died at the thought that "everyone" seemed to know. If you want to buy her something, just do it...but don't lay on the significance with a trowel.

the cake, the cake

can't wait for dd to wake up so I can show that to her

Bless her Mumcentreplus. Well my niece doesnt seem to think this will be happening to her anytime soon. She seems to think the period will come first. I didnt argue, its not my place.

I didnt even tell my mother I started my periods until I was about 3 months down the line Im so glad its much more out in the open now.

i bought my daughter a new outfit - i told her a few years before that when she got her period i would get her a new outfit to celebrate

this is becuaes my mother failed to tell me about periods - we wern/;t in the dark agess or anything ffs, i was born in the 70's! so consequently i woke up one morning thinking i was dying.

~I think its a nice gesture, but really contigent on the kind of relationship you have with her AND her mum

a little something from claires - a bracelet/necklace

The girl phoned her aunt to let her know...so she not embarrassed...should she be?...clearly more sensible than the average teenager perhaps...

yes wee gift etc but no womanhood guff
claire's is a nice suggestion and age appropriate

oh sorry, highly excellent present buying option.... please be my aunty op

Deffo no womanhood guff.
She will die of embarrassment.
Auntie....know your place!

As an aunt with none of my own, Im increasingly aware of overstepping the mark as far as my sister, their mother, is concerned. I wouldnt make such a big deal about it tbh. Just talk about it like its an everyday thing is what I would do. I spoil mine so much that I wouldnt make a point of buying anything special for a first period. It is really cool that they can talk about it. I remember my own aunts giving me a knowing look. It was mortifying.

No scott its not, its just acknowledging a right of passage, not a lentil in sight. i dont consider an 11yr old to be a woman in the adult sense, but it is the first real initiation into womanhood. It seems Very strange to me that you feel so strongly. And it is highly Significant.

op stuff like chocs is kind,go for that

initiation into womanhood my god i bet you go to vulva awareness classes or something like that

Yes actually i do! Your so insightful. I. Also run how to have a happy cunt workshops and edit lentil munchers weekly. Oh and i wear purple tye dye and dont shave my legs ether... Getting the picture?

no not really.but as you are,carry on

My goddaughter rang me to tell me she'd started- she'd been fretting it'd never happen (she's 12.9).

I did a bit of 'omg, what happened to that little squishy baby you once were', so that she could roll her eyes at me, segued into the fact she'd felt pants today, and finshed with plans to pick her up in the morning as I'm going shopping, and she fancies a couple of hours out.

I think it's enough to acknowledge it - she wanted me to know, I was quite laid back about it, but very touched that she rang to tell me.

I'll pick her up tomorrow morning, we'll potter about for a bit, and finish with cake somewhere, at which point I'll get into a 'blimey, you're almost grown up' type conversation with her.

She'll feel very special, as she's one of three girls so 1-2-1 attention not to be taken for granted. I wouldn't buy her a special present to celebrate, but I will almost certainly treat her tomorrow, because I'm feeling all soft about her - it just won;t be a 'special' present that she'll remember, it'll just be something that's nice tomorrow.

nothing wrong with being vulva aware...although I have told both my DDs 8 & 9 they have a vulva and where it is situated they continue to call it their 'Fanny Fox'...Fan-Fan or bullseye...

my sister gave me a little hamper when i 1st started my periods, did not undersatnd any of it but now i do.

bar a choclate hot water bottle 2 parecentamol pack of towels ^ wetwipes and most impotant a note to excuss me from swimming.

apart from the note, i still get everything in that haper to help me though that dreaded time of the month

Is anyone reading my replies at all? Here is my last again.

Thank you Thatlldopig, you recognised my feelings exactly.

Ok, I just got off the phone speaking to her; I asked if she minded if I marked this rite of passage with a pressie, and no she didn't. She said she and her Mum were eating chocolate and watching Bridges of Madison County, which was a great 'cure' - I'm using her words.

Got her shoe size from my sister and I'm going to buy her a really funky pair of high heels, her first, and I shall include 3 large bars of choccie and a funky hottie - so there. Can we have a blowing a raspberry emoticon? .

I get that most of you are completely 'ewwwed' out or freaked out or just plain but having checked with her she is fine about it and awaits her pressie with baited breath. She has no political/social/emotional freakeries about it, and is chuffed not psyched out. Now, please, please, please can we draw a line under this?

I think it's a lovely idea. she told you herself so it's not like she'll be embarrassed that you know. My mum took me out for dinner when I started. Its nice to mark it as something positive and a sign that your niece is growing up rather than something negative to be embarrassed about.