To think 'first blood in your knickers' and a drawing of children's underwear with blood spots

[OneOfThoseOldFashionedWomen]

Is closer to red flags than it is to child safeguarding?

Honestly - the poem is about patent struggles and as a mum of a pre teen my anxiety around her starting her period is real !

Typical NSPCC

Millions spent on crass adverts and still as much child abuse as ever.

Yep. I don’t donate to them anymore.

Just revolting. Society has gone to the sewers.

What exactly is pervy about acknowledging that a childs first period is a parenting moment that holds a lot of significance for people.

Why is it revolting? Have you seen it/ read the poem? Agree with pp that it shows the struggles of parenthood. I related anyway.

What exactly is pervy about acknowledging that a childs first period is a parenting moment that holds a lot of significance for people.

Significance? Weird.

Sounds like one of the mums who declare ‘you’re a woman now’. Only when girls are starting their periods at 8/9, that’s fucked up.

I don’t see a problem with the add. I think it’s a reasonably moving, though not exactly genre breaking poem that speaks to the journey of parenting in a way a lot of people will recognise.

I’m not a great fan of the NSPCC, though. so won’t be “reaching out” to them on the basis of it.

It is significant tho isn’t it? First period. Obviously we didn’t hold a ceremony but it’s certainly a milestone.

Wow that poem

Millions spent on crass adverts and still as much child abuse as ever.

It's not crass. It's one line in a moving poem about children growing up. Periods are a sign that they are growing up. Don't understand what people are upset about.

And to blame the NSPCC for the increase in child abuse is ignorant. They're campaigning, they're providing educational resources, they're reporting on the figures rising! The cost of living crisis, the housing crisis, COVID, the deep cuts in to public services over the past decade... All make much more sense as causes.

If the advert mentioned some of the more personal changes that happen to boys, along with a picture of their ‘stained’ boxers, more people would see how ‘off’ this advert is. But talking about ‘first blood in girls knickers’ with a drawing of their underwear is just fine with people. 🙄

It is significant tho isn’t it? First period. Obviously we didn’t hold a ceremony but it’s certainly a milestone.

A milestone. 🙄 A shit one! At best it’s a inconvenience to girls, some who are very young, at worst it’s the start of pain, headaches, regular stomach ache, worrying about leaks at school where there are rules about not using the toilet etc. And many girls and some women find it a barrier to doing sports and other activities.

Of course we try to reassure our daughters that it’ll all be fine and it gets easier and they get to watch shit adverts of women carrying on with life in their white trousers cycling and roller blading.🙄

And now we have this shit advert too. They need to spend their money better.

I thought the poem was fine, though I am struggling to see the relevance of a poem about parenting to the NSPCC’s supposed mission to prevent cruelty to children.

Lostinpoetry certainly not insignificant from your description. It can be all those those things.

I don’t object to the ad. I liked the poem.

You’re missing the point. Why not just say ‘first period’ if they wanted to mention it. There’s no equally descriptive right of passage for boys in the advert, no picture of boys stained pants. I wonder why? Would it be because it’s inappropriate for an NSPCC advert maybe? 🙃

Anyway, I stopped donating years after another misjudged marketing decision so I’m not going to give them any more attention.

Lets hope they actually improve on protecting children and stop making shit adverts.

*rite 😴

What was the point of it?

It's also nonsense "you don't get instructions for new human beings"

Hm, yes you do. The rest of it was a series of clichés trying and failing to be profound.

I am baffled as to how this helps to protect vulnerable children. As a piece of art I found it moving, because my dd is slowly reaching the empty nest age. It belongs in a theatre, images optional, not as an NSPCC ad.

I feel people have missed the point of the advert, which suggests it's not a good advert.

This parenting campaign is intended to prevent cruelty to children by encouraging parents to reach out when overwhelmed. By doing that, they are less likely to reach a crisis point where they neglect or abuse their child due to being so overwhelmed. It's a real problem. Timely support can and does prevent a downward spiral, but it is hard for external people to know when to support unless parents move out.

However, the advert isn't clear to the audience, which means it isn't a good advert. I don't personally see anything wrong with the line and cartoon image, and do not think it is sexist either, but again, it is distracting from the message of the advert, so seems an odd choice to include.

@Thisismynewusernamedoyoulikeit

I imagine most people understand what the advert is supposed to do. It’s far too abstract and is asking us to interpret meaning. Overwhelmed parents simply don’t have the head space for that. The personal message I got is that I’m going to find it hard when my 15 yo flys the nest (which I already know).

Actually fair enough @LostInPoetry it prob would’ve been better to say first period.

it did take me a moment to link why the nspcc were doing the ad until I saw ‘nspcc parenting’ underneath.

I think it’s the illustration that makes it uncomfortable viewing for me.

This is how I understood it. NSPCC just highlighting that they are there for parents who are struggling, as much as children who are abused.

I hadn't heard the poem before, and I loved it. I don't se what's wrong with "first blood in you knickers" - periods are a thing, a thing that young girls and their parents (mums!)!gave to learn to manage. I agree that maybe there should have been a verse for boys, but it's the story if one woman reflecting on her experiences of parenting one child. As the mother of dd(12) and ds(15 ) it really resonated.

Oh my days! Having a child who is menstruating is a significant parenting moment. You have to make sure they know how to look after themselves and can plan for school, going out playing, sports etc.

We absolutely should be encouraging MORE discussion around periods. It is normal. All girls will have them. All of their Mums will have had them It shouldn't be something shameful or akin to skid marks in boxers ffs 🙄

I found it very confusing and also thought are they trying to say something else about the blood.