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?

I’ve honestly never understood the point of NSPCC. Safeguarding and child protection are statutory functions carried out by local authorities. By law. By qualified social workers. Who are vetted and inspected by external bodies. What role would a charity serve in all that? Am I missing something?

@OneOfThoseOldFashionedWomen agree first period would’ve been better. Less ambiguous. A female poet too.
It possibly wouldn’t have been so two dimensional.
I still like it but probably because of my life stage.

And probably because the mother has a pace that reflects the speed of growing up and motherhood for me.

I'm not sure why posters think that those who find this poem somewhat problematic are easily offended or 'looking for offence'.

It doesn't offend me, at all. I find the language used, written my a man, relating to a young adolescent female troubling. Particularly the word knickers. Pants would have been a better word, it's much more neutral (yes, and I know, before a million people tell me, knickers is a perfectly neutral term for women's underwear), but, in this context it does feel really prurient, the way language is used is really important and this just feels a bit 'off'.

I understand that many posters don't agree with me, and I'm absolutely of the belief that there should be no shame attached to perfectly normal bodily processes, I'm very open with my own children, we discuss everything, they come to me with many 'embarrassing' teen problems.

And of course I think that men can seek to have understanding about the female experience, and that open discourse is to be encouraged.

I think all of these things.

I also think the the language of that poem, as written by a man, is extremely questionable.

Are posters really saying that they wouldn't raise an eyebrow if a female poet wrote a poem about her adolescent son referencing 'the first semen stains on your briefs'?

but- it's not a man writing about his daughter is it, or talking to his mates about his daughter's knickers
it's written in the voice of the mother using her language and portraying her experiences and feelings
there isn't a girl out there somewhere thinking 'OMG, what has Dad done now, I'll never be able to show my face at school now'

Well, I looked up Darren, and he's a father of three. So he's;

Writing about his daughter and wife.

Or;

Having a fantastical imagining about his imaginary daughter and wife.

And it's a poem, poetry is very different from prose, poetry is very much about the distillation of the human experience and every single word matters, poetry is incredibly personal to the writer, particularly because of it's brevity and constraint.

I'd say it's not the form for an essay that should be entitled;

'Wot I imagine women feelz like'.

But the poem isn't discussing or even mentioning periods.

If anything it is hiding it and using a euphemism instead.

But I'm the idiot?

How is it only about mothering a daughter, other than the line about nipples and cabbage leaves it can apply go either parent and men can be involved in the cracked nipples and cabbage stage, my ex brought me lettuce by accident once. It made me laugh through the pain. It was a lovely moment that also involved him.

It’s not hiding it. It’s a snap shot of live style poem, so nothing is in-depth.

Watched it with my 5 year old son. At the end he told me he'd always hold my hand and never let go. 😭
It's from one parent's perspective about her daughter. Maybe they'll do one about a son at some point. At least it isn't 'gemndet neutral.'

It's a poem - they use poetic ways of describing things to fit with the meter and rhyme. First period wouldn't flow so well as a line (pin not intended!).

First blood in your knickers

First period pants

First monthly cycle

First sanitary towel

First menstrual cramps

OK I'm not a poet, I'm sure a poet could come up with something better.

Yes, it's a poem, written by a white man.

It's interesting that his creative partner said these words;

'I’ve worked in the creative world for almost two decades and have met some amazing people and seen some brilliant work. But I’ve also met some toxic people and, more often these days, seen a lot of uninspiring work too. When the work is stale, you just know it’s come from an industry that is suffering, is still unequal, and doesn’t have enough people in it'

She's a black woman.

And T’Nia Miller speaks the words. Who is also a black woman.

Kevin Yeates, Head of Brand and Content at the NSPCC, explains: “The NSPCC is best known for its vital work to prevent child abuse and neglect – but it does so much more to support families to keep children safe and well.”He continued: “This powerful new ad campaign will hopefully make parents feel less alone and more inclined to reach out to the NSPCC for help with the everyday anxieties and challenges that they face while bringing up their children

I bet you can't guess who Kevin Yeats is??

What?

Hes a white bloke?

No fucking way!

Mind! Blown!

And don't worry about Darren Smith's creative soul being bruised.

He's an ad-man, not a poet.

His job is to try to sell you something.

It seems he's quite successful.