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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Negative mindset - puberty

2 replies

Radio4andChocolate · 18/07/2019 22:34

Hoping for some advice. This is going to be quite long, apologies. The most relevant bit is at the end, if you want to skip.

DD (9) is stuck in a very negative mindset. She has been referred to CAMHS as school think she has some form of depression. She seems to enjoy life in the moment when something entertaining is happening, but will always find something to criticise. She dislikes her teacher every year (different teacher every year). Always has something negative to say about other children in the class. Complains that school is boring. Out of school too. Complains about each of the extra-curricular activities (she does 3, once a week each). You get the idea.

I try talking positively to her, show her the good things in her life. Read a couple of books with her about positive mindset. Correct behaviour (she is often engaged in low level disruption in school). Get her to repeat positive statements. Constantly offer praise and support.

Anyway, although I would welcome advice on how to break this cycle, I really came on here for something specific: she is not coping well with puberty. She has breast buds, very smelly underarms, a bit of fuzzy pubic hair ... and she hates all of it. She can't stand the thought of having to deal with periods, wear a bra, generally have a woman's body. Again, I've been very positive and encouraging about it. We've had lots of talks about what to expect. I've recently ordered a book to talk through together. But really it's not a question of her knowing what to expect, she's clued up enough on the physical changes (and hormones etc.), it's her attitude to it.

The problem is not just emotional. She doesn't wash properly - I'm constantly having to nag her to wash under her arms, and she can go into the bathroom 5 or 6 times and then come out obviously still unwashed. But she won't let me come in and supervise/do it for her. She has frequent showers but doesn't actually wash in them (no idea what she actually does, maybe masturbates, maybe just messes around). She is also chronically messy, e.g. shoving clean clothes in a corner or the wardrobe instead of hanging them up, shoving dirty socks and underwear down the side of the bed, sneaking chocolates she shouldn't have and hiding the wrappers in her room.

I'm quite concerned that if this doesn't get sorted before her periods start she'll not be able to take care of herself.

I don't want to give the impression everything about our relationship is bad. She is a lovely girl, has many good qualities, and we generally get on well. But I am very worried about these issues, especially with regards to her physical care.

TIA for any suggestions! And congratulations if you managed to read all this.

OP posts:
mcmen71 · 18/07/2019 23:32

Hi OP is she an only child. She probably likes one to one attention if she is an only child she will get this at home and probably thinks she should get one to one attention at school.
All wee girls hate the start off puberty and some are too embarrassed to talk about it. I am very open with my 2 dd about this but they did not start this young.

Do you get her to put deodorant under her arms.
Hope her Cahms appointment goes well.

Radio4andChocolate · 19/07/2019 06:20

Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, she's an only child. And I'm a single parent, so she is used to a lot of individual attention. I do think this is definitely part of the problem, you're right that a lot of her behaviour at school is attention seeking. No idea how to solve it though. Sad

're. Deodorant, it's similar to showers - I have bought her some, showed her how to use it, and remind her two or three times each morning to put it on. She claims that she does, but it's hit and miss whether she actually does.

Thanks for the reassurance that it's normal to dislike puberty. She's in complete denial about it, even openly states that she doesn't have breast buds, isn't in puberty etc. when it's quite obvious.

OP posts:
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