To have explained periods to my 10 year old daughter?

[youdialwetile]

My daughter was at a friend's birthday today and I just got a text from birthday girl's mum with a heads up that periods came up in conversation. All very friendly - said my DD and one guest said they had read the same book about it - the other 2 girls want to borrow the book. I replied that I'd be happy to drop it off. Then other book-reading guest's mum replied that yes, her DD had the book "but has not read THAT chapter" and if her DD knows about periods it's news to her with sad face emoji. Now I feel I'm branded the weirdly irresponsible parent exposing kids to inappropriate information. I'm in the USA which I think makes a difference - but British. Do I reply or ignore? It's a group text for the 5 mums with girls at the party plus host. They are all 10 years old.

Maybe throw a first moon party?

I wish my mother had explained it to me at 9 or 10. I started my period at 11 and didn’t know what was going on. You did the right thing OP. The other mothers are setting their daughters up for a horrible shock.

if my daughter dosnt know by the time shes 10 i would feel i have failed her. she already has some idea (shes 4 i cant pee in peace) so she knows its normal for girls, ill explain to her properly sooner or later. i knew all about them as long as i can remember....but i have sisters who are 2, 5 and 7 years older than me and it was them who explained all to me. we were also taught about periods, pads and tampons in school when i was about 8...should have seen my mums face, looked like she had seen a ghost, some people are just prudes and wait to explain until the situation arises.

I teach YR5 and we have to teach the children (boys and girls) about periods. YANBU. I feel sorry for those girls who suddenly get their period and have no idea what is going on....

It’s biology, it’s like older people go grey... it’s the stuff of life.

Not RTFT just the OP.

My DD started hers at just turned 10.

Of course they need to know at this age!

Am a bit ? at how the daughter has the book but the mum knows she hasn't read "that" chapter. If her mum has told her not to read "that" chapter then it's the first one she'll have read!

Just wanted to update. No responses from the other mums - I might see them tomorrow (last day of school). For those asking where in the US i am living - I'm in one of the most liberal parts of the country! No teaching about this AT ALL in school and TBH I don't think I was taught anything in the UK until secondary school. I was finishing primary right around the time of the teachers strikes though, so my last year at primary was disrupted by that - may be those lessons were low priority? Anyway my DD is well prepared and I'm happy she is.

I started my periods when I was nearly 11. Apart from the odd snippet of information I'd heard from other girls I was pretty clueless as my Mother hadn't discussed it with me. I was pretty mortified when it happened. I was scared and totally unprepared. I was so embarrassed that I didn't tell anyone and spent the next week in horrible pain with folded up loo roll down my knickers. It felt like such a taboo subject to me that I was too embarrassed to go into a shop to buy pads. I found my older sisters supply and started helping myself to hers. She obviously realised what was going on and started discreetly leaving me a pack in my knicker drawer every month. Very sweet of her but it sort of added to my embarrassment. My mother was the kindest, loveliest woman but obviously found the subject too uncomfortable to discuss with me and was probably hoping that I'd find out through friends or that it would be covered at school before I actually started.
10 is definitely not too young to discuss periods. Girls need to know that there is nothing shameful or dirty about it

Happy my daughter would expire with mortification if I had held her a full moon party

My mother hadn't known about periods when she started and made damn sure I knew; I had supplies for school for about two years before I needed them. However, I still didn't know what it was when I started because I didn't start with blood but a huge mass of brown mucus and severe pain - I don't think the pain was mentioned. I remember she hugged me as I howled my eyes out and fixed me up with that dreadful belt and towels about an inch thick. I was so glad when I discovered Dr White's stick ons.

I started mine at nine.
My daughter was 10.
Is that really usual in USA?

Genuinely shocked by the original post - how do 10 year olds not know this?! I'm sure I knew by way before 10 but I guess if it's not discussed at school or home some girls might not. I know 4 year old girls and boys who have some idea, from seeing mums changing pads etc. Anyway, yanbu, these parents are failing their daughters by not preparing them.... Glad your daughter knows op. Not read the full thread but hopefully you have pointed out to the other mother's that their daughters need to know?! If they can't even discuss periods, how the hell will they manage to talk about sex, contraception etc.

I'm surprised by the number of instances of periods starting at 10 or younger. I would have thought 13 was about the usual age.

I was 11 dd 10. Think that's the early side of normal. Neither of us particularly tall or large either

I think it may be a cultural difference their op but tbh I think even 10 is a bit late periods can start for 8 years old

I'd started by that age. Of course yanbu

My 8 yr old and 4 yr old both know the basics.

My daughter started hers at 10. So I kind of had to explain
My 10 year old son has also asked what tampons are for - I told him

They need to know. It’s fine