Oh God... does it begin?

[SwearingBy]

DD is 8, turning 9 early next year. She has been the stroppiest of stroppets for about a fortnight. She has one clearly developing boob. She is on the 99.6th centile for height.

Today I noticed her pants had reddish brown staining - just a tiny bit, but enough to make me look twice as it was clearly dried liquid. I asked her and she said she'd had a tummy ache all day, and a runny bum this morning; when I picked the pants up there was no whiff of poop...

Does it begin now? Neither she nor I are prepared for this!! I hoped to have a chat with her once she turned 9 so she would understand periods a bit more in advance, but I might have failed her already...

Periods followed not long after my boobs developing as I recall, I was also a similar age 9ish maybe 10 but it varies greatly, it's not too late, talk about it now and provide her with all the necessities, she'll probably want a really good long hug too

She's quite nonchalant about it but I don't think she knows what it is. I wonder if she's rationalised it as a bit of staining after an upset tum...

We did spend the entire evening together and she seemed to enjoy the constant company. Not an inch of strop in sight!

And thank you for replying, Rojelio - it's reassuring that I might not be in for "but why didn't you TELL me, mum?"

No probs, I remember thinking it was diarrhoea I'd never had that before either but had heard my mum talk about it and as it was brownish I thought it must be!
When I showed my mum she explained what it really was, I then had a good cry and hug but I've never felt she should have told me as such I think it just surprised us both

My gran told me she thought she'd paper cut herself on the loo paper!

My DD developed v early and just had one incident of spotting (that I know about) but didn’t start her periods until she was 12.

That's interesting to know, BigFatBloomers - like a practice run!!

9 is young but not uncommon. I was 10, as was my dd. Luckily I'd managed to talk her years before about periods (anticipating her following me).

My dd grew really tall very quickly, over about 8 months.

When she started her first period, I was actually out with a friend and she was home with her dad. She took a photo of her knickers and a tissue on her phone and texted it to me asking if it was her period. I said yes and told her where the sanitary pads were. She calmly did it, then lay on the sofa for a bit. I was so proud of her relaxed approach. I'm so glad we'd discussed it.

Don't panic op. Start talking now. Don't be freaked out. Just think how much sooner this will be normal for her. By the time my dd went to Secondary she was an old hat!

Thanks! It seems to have stopped do maybe I was wrong or it was spotting.

Does she like reading? Are you there, God, it's me, Margaret by Judy Blume (not religious) is a very good novel about a girl who wants to start her periods.

Reluctant reader, sadly for me. Will keep it handy though - I remember loving that book!

You could read it to her and answer the questions about periods as they come up in the book?

My daughter is 9.5 and periods are definitely imminent hope she'll get to double figures. They're so young.

I know, fantango Apparently body weight can impact it - if a girl is heavy for her height periods can start early... but DD is a skinny minny!

@SwearingBy my daughter is a skinny rake but tall - 50th centile for weight and 95th for height!