Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Celebration when a daughter started their periods?

101 replies

tatt · 02/09/2008 13:16

most cultures would have some ceremony - just wondered if anyone had done anything different/special for their child?

OP posts:
SummatAnNowt · 02/09/2008 17:25

I think it would've been fun to have a womanly bonding moment with my mum at that time!

It's definitely social conditioning to find talking about periods "embarrassing".

Milliways · 02/09/2008 17:26

In Argentina they throw a huge party

HolidaysQueen · 02/09/2008 17:32

My mum made me a cuppa, gave me a big hug, had a nice chat and then made me my favourite dinner. It was like a nice girlie secret between the two of us - dad and bro weren't told (although I guess she told dad later) - and I liked that it was our womanly thing together. I wouldn't have wanted anything more 'formal' or celebratory (mainly as my bro was 8 at the time and was a nightmare) but was glad she did something nice for me.

pointydog · 02/09/2008 17:33

To op, no - nothing. Never crossed my mind.

AuntieMaggie · 02/09/2008 17:35

why would you want to celebrate the start of periods?

msdemeanor · 02/09/2008 17:37

Yes, periods are bloody awful

Mercy · 02/09/2008 17:39

I'm going through the menopause atm - when it's all over, that's a reason to celebrate imo.

zippitippitoes · 02/09/2008 17:42

the cringe is making it into some kind of pseudo event..hippy like girly girly mum and daughter bonding and shrieking

imagine cards in clintons im surprised they dont have them as they have them for every darn other thing

pointydog · 02/09/2008 17:52

Plus the British culture doesn't have a ceremony. Any made-up ceremony at this stage in the game will just be naff.

There's something to be said for British reserve.

Slubberdegullion · 02/09/2008 17:57

My parents took me out to dinner, which was all very nice and lovely until my mother thought it would be a good idea to tell the waiter that her little girl "became a woman today".

What he thought that meant I do not know, I never made eye contact with another person for the rest of the evening.

Later that night I murdered my mother. Death by sanitary towel suffocation.

msdemeanor · 02/09/2008 18:04

Love the Clintons cards thing!

Yesterday you were a girl, but now you're on the rag
Your belly hurts, your tampon leaks
It really is a fag
And just remember, this bloody mess
Will happen 12 times a year
So let's celebrate my darling, let's all have a beer!

(sure others will do better - like to set the bar low....ahem)

msdemeanor · 02/09/2008 18:05

And on the front:
Congratulations! It's Mooncup Time!

(specially for mumsnetters)

msdemeanor · 02/09/2008 18:09

Congratulations on your period! It's given us all a thrill.
We're so pleased you're fertile, we'll put you on the pill.
We'll raise a cup to you, now your monthlies are here
A cup that's useful and eco-friendly, it's the mooncup of good cheer!

zippitippitoes · 02/09/2008 18:16

or any good card shop

lol msdemeanour

msdemeanor · 02/09/2008 18:18

We're happy that you're bleeding, we really think it's great
That you are now a woman and can get pregnant on a date

43Today · 02/09/2008 18:22

I was over the moon when I started my periods. Really wanted to share my feelings with someone but my mum was far too buttoned up and could hardly bear to look me in the face as she pointed me in the direction of the sanitary towels.

The only person I could tell was my little sister who at 9 was totally uninterested and had no concept of the excitement of 'becoming a woman' at the age of 11!!!

I hope I will manage to pass on to my daughter some of the wonder of knowing that one's body has the potential to nurture another human being inside it.. I agree that always focussing on the negative side of periods seems to be part of our culture and a real shame. Admittedly they can cause us pain and inconvenience, but not everyone experiences them that way and to start off with a positive attitude and then deal with any problems as they arise seems to be a more sensible approach.

I will probably take my daughter out for a girly day and make her feel special - if she tells me that is!

PrimulaVeris · 02/09/2008 18:29

Am expecting DD to shed blood any week soon

"Darling DD, here is msd's bleedin' card, and a bleedin' necklace, to go with your bleedin' coming of age. I'll get on the phone to all your aunts, uncles oh and especially your big teenage boy cousin right now shall I?"

When I've got that out of the way, I'll start preparing a suprpise for DH and ds to celebrate the future coming (ahem) of ds' first wet dream...

laweaselmys · 02/09/2008 18:37

My mother tried to get me to celebrate the start of my period. The fact that I hadn't even told her I'd started (eventually I told my sister, because I felt I should but I knew what to do and I didn't see any reason for a fuss) ought to have been a damn good indication IMO that it was something I considered private and none of her business.

I know that other girls reacted totally differently and would love the chance to have dinner with their mum and be all grown up and womanly. If you want to do something seriously play it by ear on what THEY want, not what attitude you would prefer to instill in them.

AbbeyA · 02/09/2008 19:05

I think that British reserve is a good thing! I absolutely can't stand any hippy type bonding sessions!

mrswotzisnotin · 02/09/2008 19:25

Iklboo
that is the funniest thing I have read on MN in ages (head, loops, ears, sent walking home)
Thanks for sharing. How things change.

Tortington · 02/09/2008 19:28

i bought my daughter a new outfit - top to toe = congratulations on becomming a woman

a little better than waking up thinking your dying - being told the >> "S.T.'s" are behind the boiler, wear navy knickers with PE you will be fine" finite tone indicated nothing more would be talked about.

branflake81 · 02/09/2008 19:36

When I started my periods at 13 I wasn't fussed about the period itself but more about telling my mum when I got home because I knew how much fuss she would make. The idea of a celebration is just hideous! (or it would have been to me).

Remotew · 02/09/2008 20:05

I took my daughter out for a meal. I told the waiter what we were celebrating. No of course I didn't, just said to her we will go out for a treat at the weekend. It wasn't really a celebration as such.

Nothing wrong with marking the occassion but keep it low key.

BoredyHouse · 02/09/2008 20:06

lol at MsDemeanor's rhymes

Remotew · 02/09/2008 20:18

Also you can take the lead from your daughters. If they are embarrased and don't want to tell their mothers then perhaps the talk prior to the event, which I hope all mothers will have had, has been handled wrong.

I can remember a chat I had with DD as all the signs were there early when I explained that it was nothing to be ashamed about and if she wanted we could go out to mark the occasion. She was all for it, probably imagining a fat slab of chocolate fudge cake for pud. So that's what we did. We don't need much of an excuse to go for a meal, I admit.

Swipe left for the next trending thread