Page 9 | To think “period cookies” is ridiculous…

smallstitch · 2025-06-11T07:50:00+00:00

Just seen a post on local fb page asking if any bakers can make some “period cookies” with a photo from Instagram. Various iced cookies - some depicting pants with pink gusset, others are sanitary pads, and some say “welcome to the big girls club”. Is it me or has society lost the plot?

Words · 11/06/2025 14:44

Good God.
Do boys get testicle cookies and inspirational writings when their balls drop?

SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit · 11/06/2025 14:47

@ginasevern exactly. They're celebrating the fact that they can marry them off. Maybe not now, but that would be the origin of such dubious celebrations.
It would not have been to make the girl feel special or to "demystify" menstruation.

noworklifebalance · 11/06/2025 14:55

Soal · 11/06/2025 08:58

Loads of different cultures through history have celebrated menarche in different ways and there is nothing vulgar about it as there is absolutely nothing vulgar about periods. @Coffeeishot lots of people DO do this though, may not be your way but I don't think it's so obviously weird. Shame to pass on this attitude to daughters.

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Not read the full thread.

Periods are not vulgar. Commercialisation and inevitable social media crap that will come with it is vulgar. Then there will be the social pressure on girls, parents to buy ever increasing crap to mark the occasion.

No need to celebrate it if it is a normal bodily function and development, which it is. We don’t celebrate other bodily functions, a boy’s first wet dream etc.

Cultures throughout history celebrated menarche because it means the girl is ready for sex/marriage.

ruethewhirl · 11/06/2025 15:06

Thindog · 11/06/2025 12:42

I’d buy her a cake with, “Only 4 decades till the menopause,” iced across it.

splutter 😂

neverbeenskiing · 11/06/2025 15:12

I don't have an issue with the "vulgarity" aspect that some posters are concerned about, but I do despair at the increasing need to turn everything that happens in a child or young person's life into an "event".

Social media is full of it. Nursery graduations complete with caps, gowns and fake diplomas. People doing special valentines day breakfasts with pics of the table strewn with flowers, decorations and gifts for children who are way too young to have any concept of romantic love, whis is what Valentines Day is meant to represent. Easter baskets stuffed full of toys and gifts because a chocolate egg doesn't cut it anymore. The Year 6 leavers disco has become a prom requiring expensive dresses, professional hair and make up and the hiring of limousines. Every holiday, every milestone, everything must be made into a big occasion, more often than not for a social media photo opportunity, including womens natural bodily functions.

How disappointing the reality of adult life is going to be for some of these children.

walktheplank · 11/06/2025 15:51

LaMarschallin · 11/06/2025 09:21

Trying now to remember which book I read that had a scene when the daughter has her first period and the mother celebrates it by gently slapping her face "as the French do" - so should be popular on MN. Then cooks her DD's favourite meal to celebrate. This is pasta in a tomato sauce and the daughter is put right off said meal because of the connection.

SquashedMallow

But somethings really don't need to be "celebrated" - just normalised. And in 2025, I honestly really do think menstruating is talked about openly and completely normalised to discuss. You don't need to display it on a bunch of cakes. Come on ? Let's get some dignity back.

My thoughts exactly.

I remember that book! I think it was called 'Just for the Summer', and I'm pretty sure the author was Judy Astley.

noworklifebalance · 11/06/2025 15:59

neverbeenskiing · 11/06/2025 15:12

I don't have an issue with the "vulgarity" aspect that some posters are concerned about, but I do despair at the increasing need to turn everything that happens in a child or young person's life into an "event".

Social media is full of it. Nursery graduations complete with caps, gowns and fake diplomas. People doing special valentines day breakfasts with pics of the table strewn with flowers, decorations and gifts for children who are way too young to have any concept of romantic love, whis is what Valentines Day is meant to represent. Easter baskets stuffed full of toys and gifts because a chocolate egg doesn't cut it anymore. The Year 6 leavers disco has become a prom requiring expensive dresses, professional hair and make up and the hiring of limousines. Every holiday, every milestone, everything must be made into a big occasion, more often than not for a social media photo opportunity, including womens natural bodily functions.

How disappointing the reality of adult life is going to be for some of these children.

There is another thread started by a teacher who was emailed by a parent because their daughter was not given flowers at the end of a class assembly for their “performance”. I think that was a new hell introduced by social media

LaMarschallin · 11/06/2025 21:33

walktheplank · 11/06/2025 15:51

I remember that book! I think it was called 'Just for the Summer', and I'm pretty sure the author was Judy Astley.

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That must be it - I definitely have that book so must rootle it out to read it again.
Thank you

Calliopespa · 11/06/2025 22:07

MugsyBalonz · 11/06/2025 14:32

It seems to be a thing at DDs school that a lot of the girls are excited about getting their first period. DDs friend group each took in treats to share with each other to mark their first period. DD got to do it twice, took in a box of mini flapjacks to share the first time before they got stopped (medical reasons) and then took a box of mini doughnuts when they started again.

I think it's good they're now more open and matter-of-fact about periods. I remember when I was her age that pads and tampons had to be carried around discreetly, slipped up your sleeve for going to the toilet, and there was a prevailing etiquette of keeping your period hidden. Even adverts for period products very rarely featured the actual product itself and, if they did, it was only shown in a scientific way when they'd pour clear or blue water onto it to show it's absorbance. There's an interesting paper on it by Rebecca Ginsburg called "'Don't tell, dear': The material culture of tampons and napkins" for anyone interested (very niche, I know, but it talks about how menstrual taboos force women to comply with them and perpetuate the objectification of women).

Cookies are a harmless thing but it does help challenge the taboos around periods and that can only be a good thing.

I still don’t carry my tampon on display. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t feel that’s a problem.

Re the cookies, how about a jam centre donut. 😀

pipthomson · 11/06/2025 22:19

Maybe it’s a grand plan to bring another celebration which requires more consumerism
I am a bit fed up with this constant anniversarising
Home wedding away wedding home and away stag dos big push the boat out parties 16 18 and 21 big anniversaries at every minor milestone
we all seem to be getting sucked in and maybe it de-values genuine special occasions although it has probably never been so good for the catering industry
maybe I sound like a killjoy but I think it’s all OTT and a bit showy/vulgar like trying to paper over the cracks of what we’re missing in terms of human connectedness
most of us are forced to participate to some extent !

WinSomeandLoseSome · 11/06/2025 23:00

Coffeeishot · 11/06/2025 09:27

Definitely a thing

Oh my god - the tampons 😂 who would want to eat those.

LaMarschallin · 12/06/2025 00:05

WinSomeandLoseSome · 11/06/2025 23:00

Oh my god - the tampons 😂 who would want to eat those.

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Vampires

Badhunny · 12/06/2025 14:55

InterestedDad37 · 11/06/2025 10:50

Seems as silly as a "my first wet dream" cake for an adolescent boy 🤔😀🎂💦
Having said that, I once made an embryo cake for my sister in law when she was pregnant 🤔😀 It still gets talked about 😂

And you’re a man in your 60s you say. I think this is why you’re still single.

InterestedDad37 · 12/06/2025 15:48

Badhunny · 12/06/2025 14:55

And you’re a man in your 60s you say. I think this is why you’re still single.

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😂😂

CowboyJoanna · 12/06/2025 15:51

Sounds like normalisation of autogynephilia, most likely demand for these is from trans identified men who get sexually excited imagining themselves on fake periods

FreezeDriedStrawberries · 13/06/2025 00:05

CowboyJoanna · 12/06/2025 15:51

Sounds like normalisation of autogynephilia, most likely demand for these is from trans identified men who get sexually excited imagining themselves on fake periods

Jeez, please
Get help 😬
There's always one to try and turn every single thread on here into a trans thread,, it's ridiculous!
It's a thing for girls having their first period, as a celebration, some mums seem to go for that.
Daft imo but each to their own
Seriously though, trans paranoia /phobia is a sickness brain rot.

LadySuzanne · 13/08/2025 12:54

neverbeenskiing · 11/06/2025 15:12

I don't have an issue with the "vulgarity" aspect that some posters are concerned about, but I do despair at the increasing need to turn everything that happens in a child or young person's life into an "event".

Social media is full of it. Nursery graduations complete with caps, gowns and fake diplomas. People doing special valentines day breakfasts with pics of the table strewn with flowers, decorations and gifts for children who are way too young to have any concept of romantic love, whis is what Valentines Day is meant to represent. Easter baskets stuffed full of toys and gifts because a chocolate egg doesn't cut it anymore. The Year 6 leavers disco has become a prom requiring expensive dresses, professional hair and make up and the hiring of limousines. Every holiday, every milestone, everything must be made into a big occasion, more often than not for a social media photo opportunity, including womens natural bodily functions.

How disappointing the reality of adult life is going to be for some of these children.

A photographer on my local FB group is currently advertising "Back to school" digital photo shoots.

When did "Back to school" photos of kids become a thing?

shellyleppard · 13/08/2025 15:57

@LadySuzanne I always did my own back to school photos of my sons.... usually in front of the fireplace with lovely nee uniform....

pipthomson · 13/08/2025 19:43

Maybe it’s all a ploy to force the public to participate or risk missing out on life -
affirming events which all have to be documented on social media forcing more consumerism
and more tax revenue for the government