Does your son know what a period is?

[TheSippyCupSociety]

hey all

just curious here (no judgement either side) but I was never told when I was growing up to expect a period and the same happened to my mum when she was little. So it came as a surprise and I learnt about it and dealt with it myself. I also never had the conversation with my dad. I am now raising two girls and a son and it’s made me wonder how many people don’t talk to their children about it and how many do - but particularly sons (my son is the eldest so around the time we’d have these conversations where as my girls are toddlers).

if your son was with his friends say at the park and one of the girls started her period and was upset or worried, would your son understand enough to be able to support her? Even if it’s just giving her a jumper to tie round her waist if she has leaked?

also if you have a son and didn’t want to talk to him about it I’d love to know why?

as I said absolutely no judgment here either side!

I have two sons, they are two years apart, and then I had our daughter when the boys were 10 and 12. So I was the only girl in a house full of boys for a long time. I talked to the boys about periods from a young age. I didn't want to raise men who were squeamish about something that happens to roughly half the population.

Yes, my sons know. They don't have sisters but I've always been open with them. They're grown now, and DS1 has mentioned buying period products for his girlfriend. He's quite comfortable with it, unlike his dad, my DH, who was mortified when I asked him to do the same many years ago, despite having sisters. He still got them though, I just had to tell him exactly what to get.

@Dogsaresomucheasier
Your post reminds me of another some time ago on MN where a guy posted a comment like
’its not like you’ve got three holes down there’

whereupon all the MNs on the thread realised Are you a bloke!! I vaguely recall he was married too 🤯

I saw a debate once online between two WOMEN, and one of them insisted that a woman's urethra was inside her vagina. Initially the conversation went that maybe she was referring to the entire area as vagina rather than just the actual hole, for lack of a better word. But no, she thought women urinated from a hole inside their vagina. Certainly there are more men who don't understand how women's bodies work but I think there are plenty of people of both sexes who don't know.

I was once being intimate with a man and my period was getting ready to start a day or two later, and I had experienced some spotting. He got blood on him and then proceeded to take a full-on silkwood shower. That was the point that I decided that if I ever had sons that they would not be squeamish about..

Absolutely they understand what it is. I actually find school education to be very good at this these days too. I will tell them when I have mine, not every single time but I don’t shy away from “I’m just extra tired/emotional/have cramps/etc. because it’s my period”

They might be a bit embarrassed if confronted with it in the wild but I think that is normal for young teens (two DS, 11 & 13) and I wouldn’t hold it against them. Not unless they made the girl feel bad or “gross” about saying she had a period.

No, but only because he’s just been born 😂

My brother did from a young age though, I remember him bringing me some chocolate when he was about 10 (so I would have been late teens) because he’d just learnt about periods at school and seen sanpro in the bathroom so used his pocket money to get me some chocolate ‘just in case’ 🥹 he’s 24 now and still just as kind and thoughtful as he was as a kid.

My ds is 16 and knows what a period is. I will say though I have extremely easy periods...no pain and doesn't stop me doing anything so he hasn't ever seen me struggle at all with it. He knows what it is but it isn't something that's on his radar particularly.

Yes I have an 8 year old who knows grown up ladies have a little bleed once a month and need to put sanitary pads in knickers.. that's as much as I've told him so far. I've sat with him and unwrapped a sanitary towel and explained why they're in the bathroom for me.

It is usually covered in year 5 PHSE/ RSE. year 5 is age 9 to 10

Periods are normalised in this house (mother of 2 girls) My eldest is 21 and things seem to be open & awareness within wider friendships.

My mum was rubbish at anything like this. My Dad had to have the conversation she couldn’t bring herself to even say the word period. I remember saying to my Dad it’s ok I know - I had a best friend who started in primary school and her Mum explained it to us. He was very relieved and I made the decision not to bring my own children up quite the same!

I remember an ex from a very long time ago - he was an only child and lived in quite a closed family. He honestly didn’t have a clue (I must have been 16/17?) I remember having to explain that it wasn’t like having a wee and he didn’t even know it would be red. Hopefully he went on to be a decent partner to someone!

DS3 does as he is a nonstop question asker. I use washable pads so he sees them drying or me changing them in public toilets. He will quite happily ask if I'm having my period, am I poorly and do I need a cuddle to feel better when he sees them. He is aware that nanny doesn't have periods because her body is older and his sister doesn't because she is still a girl.

The once he was chatting away full volume about my period in a public toilet. When we were washing hands the lady next cubicle came out. Double took at him and said she thought he was older by how much he knew.

My dad freaked out when I leaked as a teenager the once. I vowed to bring up any son of mine to not make another girl feel the way I did that night.

Far too late when many little girls have started already.

Four year old boy yes, one year old no 😂 my mum was such a prude and never discussed them with her girls never mind her boy, determined to not make my children ashamed of bodily functions or unable to cope with their wife/gf/friend etc having them

I knew a trainee nurse that only found out in her second year!

I like this. I really want my son to understand what a woman goes through and to understand how difficult it can be and I think it’s really important to be open .

(I am overwhelmed with how many responses are on this thread sorry I can’t reply to you all!)❤️

I love this 🙌

Why do they teach boys and girls separate? Do they learn the same information separately or do they learn different information? Or is it to just avoid teenage sillyness in class?

It’s not about looking to a boy, I would imagine a young girl would be very embarrassed however I would rather my son offer support rather then be a boy who makes fun of her if you see where I’m coming from (I’m talking about a girl in his friendship group not a random girl).

I don’t know why your getting weird vibes - sounds more like a you problem. I have been busy with the kids all evening so no idea what thread your referring too but if you don’t like it you don’t need to be here

This exactly.

This 👏 this is the kind of children I hope I am raising!

I love this!

How did he respond to this? Was it very normal for him or was he awkward?

I am definitely the most awkward person ever so I would want to do this in a way that is very normal and not make it a “big thing”

Made sure our kids were just gradually made aware from very small. It was never a secret plus our boy had two older sisters. Why would your children of either sex not be aware of this from the start? Periods aren't dirty or shameful.

Going back to the 1980's Scotland in my school,Primary 6 (10/11 years old). We were split into boys/girls and watched the relevant puberty video. We then as a whole group, watched both videos together.

I remember the boys were so mature and fascinated by the period video but we were all roflmao at the cartoon penis getting an erection on the boys video.

At the Q&A session where obviously no normal 80's kid would dare ask anything, l remember wee Gary saying "But Mrs Brown, you won't have periods as you are too old now aren't you?". Thinking back Mrs Brown was probably on 30 then 🤣.

My sons are very aware. I've always been open and honest with them, they have sisters. I have difficult periods sometimes, so they know I'm feeling bad because it's that time. It's important that they know. They might one day have wives, daughters, etc. It's a basic and natural thing.

Yes, I informed both my sons in matter of fact ways as they were growing up.
DS2's GF's mum mentioned to me that he was lovely to GF when she had bad period pains and that he was the sort of boy she wanted for her DD. That was good to hear.
They both know I've passed menopause.