How to say nice things about menstruation...

[Flowerface]

So I read that one is meant to be all positive and celebratory about periods and I am at a loss as to what to say in this vein!! I found the whole experience horrendous, not because of anything my Mum said or did but because it was agonisingly painful, messy and embarrassing. How can I present the whole thing in a positive light to my DDs? They are too young to care at the moment, and I haven't had a period for them to notice for yonks (three children, BF, Mirena coil). But I want to get my story straight for when the time comes...

[PurpleTreeFrog]

Just to add to that, I went on a family holiday to Florida when I was about 12 and everyone could tell that I'd come on my period as I suddenly stopped using the pool... I wasn't expecting my period then, so I didn't pack any sanitary pads for the trip, I had to ask my stepmum to help me find some at the 'weird' American supermarket. It was mortifying as I was really only comfortable talking about it to my own mum, no-one else. So I would also want to encourage my daughter to be prepared for it at any time, especially as they can be so irregular at the beginning.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Mine were horrific as a teen so I'm finding it difficult to get right with DD too, I don't want to worry her but I don't want to make too light of it either. I also don't really want to go down the indulgence route too much either, pain killers and a bit of chocolate yes, but definitely life goes on as usual with it.

Also, while I concede that they are mot horrific for everyone, I think unpleasant most of the time is a fair description, even when mine are at their mildest there is nothing pleasant about them whatsoever. The curse is about right. I won't be saying any of this to her but it's definitely been my experience.

[Flowerface]

Okay, great, this is a relief! I was worried that I would be burdening them with negative views that impeded their flowering as women. Or something similar. I read an article in The Mother magazine, you see.

[roundandroundthehouses]

Mehh, the only thing that impeded my flowering as a women were the fecking periods .

[Killairno]

I think my mum made an effort NOT to be negative about it rather than to be too actively positive and that's the tack I will take too.

She hated it being called "the curse" and similar.
I think saying it's a sign your body is healthy and growing up and that is a good thing and then practical advice about any pains or leaking or embarrassment.

[PeasOnEarth]

dimots GPs definitely do prescribe the pill for teenagers with periods that are limiting them in the ways you went through, either pop or low dose cocp. They tend to want to discuss not just risks but also that it isn't to encourage underage sexual behaviour that the teenager might not be emotionally be ready for, and might otherwise have said no to. I'm sorry you had such an awful time.

[toastandmarmaladewithacupoftea]

I'm not sure about 'celebratory', but at about the time I was going to start, my mum started buying packets of pads with different pretty coloured wraps and telling me where she kept them and that I could help myself when I needed them - in a confiding 'women-together' kind of way. I was a bit embarrassed but actually it was a really nice, positive thing to do.

I had horrific, painful periods too. My mum hadn't, so didn't really know how to help me. If my DD has, I'll make sure we go to the gp and keep going back until it's under control!