Getting the Puberty Conversation Started with Your Daughter

One day my daughter was starting school in Jr. Kindergarten, and the next thing I know she was blossoming into a tween! How the years go so fast is beyond me! I could tell her body was already going through physical and emotional changes associated with puberty. If you have a tween/teen, you know what I am talking about: the mood swings, the need to purchase a bra, the insecurity about her appearance, and more. Eventually, with these changes, will come many questions from your daughter. I think as a parent it’s important not to rely on what they were taught in school about puberty and really have the talk with her. Even if she would say, “I know Mom”, I would ask her to tell me what she understood. Also listening to her concerns is extremely crucial, keeping the lines of communications open as well as letting her know that you are there for her.

For us, talking about being a woman would often happen at bedtime when she was relaxed in her bed and be more open to discuss puberty. She would have all of my attention and the same with me, just the two of us with no distractions. It’s a good idea to start the conversation at an early age like eight or nine years old, so your daughter won’t be frightened if she gets her first period earlier than anticipated.  Most periods will start between the ages of ten and thirteen years old. One of my daughter’s friends was only nine years old when she had a first period, while my daughter was fourteen when she experienced hers.

To make her feel at ease, our first conversation was more about how it was when I had my first period and sharing my feelings and experiences with her. I was honest in my approach, and even mentioned that she might have some pain in the lower abdominal area and showed her. I didn’t want her to start panicking if she was not at home when it happened, so she would know that these symptoms were quite normal and that there was nothing to worry about.

The second conversation was more on the physical and emotional changes she would be experiencing:

• the pubic hair growing in places she would not ever image,
• her breasts developing,
• the need for a bra,
• how she could be cranky at times,
• not all girls will develop these changes at the same age

Throughout the years, we have had many more talks and still do to this day (she is now nineteen years old).  It’s nice to know that she values my opinion and trusts my judgement. For tips on how to talk to your daughter about puberty, you can visit Always Changing website sponsored by P&G, the experts in feminine care with Always & Tampax.

And when the day came, my daughter’s first period happened at school in grade 9 and she had an Always pad in her school bag. She knew what to expect and was prepared for it. Congratulations, you are now officially a woman! A celebration is in order!

Although this post has been generously sponsored by Always, the opinions and language are all my own, and in no way do they reflect Always.

Tags: Always, featured, Getting the Puberty Conversation Started with Your Daughter, P&G, periods, Puberty, Talking to your daughter, Tampax, teen girl

Category: Family, Mother-Daughter