Tell me about periods

[Ifyoubuildit]

I have a 12 yo step-dd. She's gone from being a a lovely, gentle, kind girl to a precocious, angry, moody person in the last few months. All seems ok at school etc so we're wondering if it might be hormones?

What are the signs that periods are on their way? She's been developing physically for a while now but no periods yet, it would be helpful to know the clues.

Thanks all!

I was hormonal for several months before I started my period, it was actually a relief when I started as my hormones settled a little, are you sure she hasn't start her period and just not said anything?

I didn't tell my mum I had started my periods till she asked, I just went out and bought pads etc xxx

I think we'd know, or if not us her Mum would certainly know and I know she'd tell us.

I'm glad you said that Shiv, we've heard that from one other person. We're really hoping it's hormones as she's not a very nice person at the moment. She normally loves playing with her little siblings but keeps snapping and shouting at them and going into mega strops with her Dad. It really isn't like her.

Do you remember early adolescence yourself? Stepping slightly back from periods, it's a really tough time for them. They and all their schoolmates are changing - sometimes very quickly and they can be super uncomfortable with their new bodies and acutely self conscious at all times. Or they feel they are the biggest/smallest/first to change/last to change etc etc. I think it can be pretty poignant for them feeling their own changes and watching younger siblings having a less complicated time

DD had breast development and started her periods about 21 months after I first realized she had a little pubic hair - read somewhere it's 12-24 months after pubic hair starts. Luckily mine has never been really moody, but she would have days of being very low about three months before her periods. She's cry for no reason, just want to be cuddled - all this stopped when she started.

All you can do is make it clear you're there for her (whatever she wants to tell you) and get her prepared for it whenever.

'developing physically for a while now' creeeeeppppp

die-4urkidz
Why the creeeeep

My DD started last month and the major sign was the mahoosive growth spurt of the preceding year! She also had all other physical signs - boobs, hair, etc. She was just over 13.