Oh My God! Is anyone around? DD started her period this morning.....

[TopBitch]

I really didn't expect for her to start it so soon, she's only just turned 12. How do I explain it to her? She is severly brain damaged and I'm not really sure how to go about this.

I'm really I wish this bloody nuisance could have waited.

Stay calm! Just tell her it's part of growing up for girls and show her what needs doing. Take her out for lunch to celebrate .

I'm trying to stay calm, but it's not easy.

I've been dreading this for years...

dd started getting tummy aches and got worried. so i went in and had a chat with her nurse. dd found it really helpful.
how much does yours understand.
(if you want to talk of board email me [email protected] as I can't say much on here)

She has a lot of problems understanding things 2shoes. I haven't mentioned anything about periods to her before now and I'm really finding it hard to cope right now.

She started crying, Fio.
She didn't understand why or what was happening and I had no idea what to do either.

She has enough difficulties as it is and now this bloody, bloody damn thing!

{{{{hugs}}}} to you TB. I can imagine its distressing, I think I'll feel the same when its time for DD3 to start. Its just not the same as with a daughter who's NT. Last year when DD1 started (12, NT), I let her have the day off school and we went for lunch and out shopping. But with a girl with SN it brings up so many issues about the future. Just thinking about it for DD3 who's only 7 now upsets me.
Your DD is turning from a girl with SN to a woman with SN - feel proud of yourself that you're doing your best for her xx

Oh, I'm not enjoying this I tried my best to explain everything to my DD. She didn't understand. I mentioned that Barbie has her period, DD will be like hr idol Barbie. That didn't work either. What now?

Headgirl, I get terrified when I think about DD's future. I wish time would stop, sometimes. I have no idea what will happen to her and it scares the shit out of me.

I can understand how you're feeling. But my DD1 (as I said 12, NT) was unsettled when she started last year, and she knew all about periods and what it meant. Your girl has only just heard of them today, its going to take time. But I'm sure it will become normal to her.
Then perhaps you'll have the problems that my friend who DD aged 14 with Downs has - that of although she's not too bothered about her periods, she can't understand why you don't speak loudly about it. In public

When I worked with a large group of teens with PMLD we were very basic

"This is part of growing up. This means you are becoming a woman not a girl any more. There are lots of good things about being a woman (list a few particularly relevant on individual child - later bedtimes? more choice of music? different clothes? whatever you fancy). Sometimes this can hurt, is it sore? Sometimes it makes you feel sad or strange. Sometimes chocolate makes it better."

Rightly or wrongly I tied it into adulthood and womanhood and left out the whole baby issue. Did have a couple of girls who really couldn't handle it and so had contraceptive pill without a break but generally kept on top with painkillers and other meds.

Nineyears - chocolate makes EVERYTHING better.

lol at sometimes chocolate makes it better

DP came home with a new DVD and some chocolate. I had a very happy DD

Do you have access to clinical psychology? They did a lot of work with my friend's dd- involving social stories, my friend having to show her dd when she was 'on' - red food dye and pads etc.

It really worked though and she didn't bat an eyelid when she started.