‘Teaching’ 6 year old about periods

[Adviceplease82]

I am a single mum and it is just myself and my son who is 6.
we are due to go on holiday soon and I will be on my period for some of this time. On the first day of my period I do not want to swim. I am incredibly heavy and just do not want to.
My initial thought was to be open with my son as to why, however a friend made me think twice saying she hadn’t yet spoken to her 8 year old daughter about this subject.
I am really open with him in general and would do it in an age appropriate way (or try to)
my thinking was/ is that I don’t see any harm in him knowing this is something females go through and I don’t need to make a big deal about it.
or am I unreasonable and is it inappropriate for him to learn some basics at his age?

My boys knew about periods as toddlers as they thought I was going to die (I could never ever go to bathroom alone). I was just matter of fact explained very simply then when they asked questions as they got older answered them.
It's how a body works so kids should know. Don't have to mention sex or babies

Oh definitely be frank about it.
much better that way

My 9 yo son has always known about periods.
Now he's a little older he will even ask me if I need a hot water bottle/chocolate/cup of tea when it's the time of the month 💔🥲
Honestly, the sooner they know about what our bodies do, the better and earlier they'll understand.

Are you aware you can buy pills to delay your period?
I bought some from Superdrug online pharmacy when I was going on holiday.

Yeah, just be matter of fact about it.

Your friend is being odd. Girls can start their period from around 9 so it’s silly for her not to have talked about it yet. TBH she probably already knows from school/friends. My DDs school talked to them about it in PHSE.

She knew already as others have said - privacy was never really a thing when she was younger! I just explained in an age appropriate way. As she’s got older she’s asked more questions. I always just answer honestly.

Please talk to your daughters asap about them. The Samaritans began after a girl committed suicide because she didn't know what her period was.

Absolutely fine to explain it to him in an age appropriate way so he understands. It's a completely normal bodily function and nothing to be embarrassed about 😊 your friend needs to broach the subject with her 8 year old daughter soon as she really does need to prepare her!

Ha, dd was an early reader and I have had to explain periods repeatedly in public toilets when she asked about sanitary bins, charity posters about period poverty, God knows what else from the age of 3 or so.

No harm in telling him. Entirely your preference re swimming, tho these days a menstrual cup and period swimsuit can do a much better job than our old friend madame tampon.

I was forced into 'the conversation' with my son. Round at my SIL house before Christmas when he was 5, he went to the bathroom by himself (I should have been suspicious as he was taking a long time in there). He had opened the cabinet and found his 12 year old cousin's 'invisible' sanitary towels. He had opened about 6 of them, stuck them all over his body, then run back into the living room shouting TADAAAAAA I'M INVISIBLE.

I was mortified but it was so so so funny. Son is now 15 and still ever the joker.
Oh and I did replace the sanitary towels and apologised to my niece hahahaha

I think the sooner the better you explain it. Has he had any kind of sex ed/ anatomy lessons yet at school? There must be some good books for kids that age about this stuff. I could not believe it when my Mum said nobody told her about periods and even when she had them she didn't understand that they were to do with reproduction, I think she was about 18 when she fully found out. Total crazy stuff.

My son saw some blood in the toilet and came to let me know. Said I’m on my period and he said “ah makes sense.” No offer of chocolate but it was still nice to know I’d taught him well. He’s 12.

I’ve initiated conversations by talking about how big they are getting, how amazing it is they were once a tiny egg inside me, how my body made a cosy nest for them to grow, how it makes a nest every month then washes it away if it isn’t needed.

My kids including my son all knew about periods from as soon they could ask about why I was bleeding at like 3. I think your friend is being the weird one here and doing her mid a disservice.

This lol. My sister's boys 5 and 3 at the time would fight over who would go grab a lady stick or lady pad if my sister called needed supplies from the bathroom that didn't have.

That's what I thought I'd do. I wouldn't want to miss any of the holiday.

🤣 Mouse up the bum made me chuckle!