To the guys in my life: I think you should know …
Times have seriously changed. While women have made great strides toward equal rights, there are still a few things that are still misunderstood about women. In keeping with our theme of the month, it’s time to set the record straight for gals of all ages. To the gents in our lives, don’t stress if you don’t totally understand – the key here is to respect our differences. But if you’re a brother, dad, boyfriend or friend and you’ve made it this far, we applaud you for giving it your best effort. Here’s 10 things we wish you knew.
Whispers in the locker room, awkward conversations with family members, and commercials with veiled messages for strange-looking products. We all knew it was coming. Did we feel prepared?
According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the average American girl will get her first period before her thirteenth birthday[1], with ages as young as eight and nine becoming more and more common.
Only two generations ago, our grandmothers could anticipate this life event arriving while they were applying for their driver’s license, or writing final exams.
As the discussion grows over the causes of premature menarche, the question remains: how do we support young girls and women as their periods begin earlier and earlier? READ MORE… »
Did you know that today, girls are hitting puberty at a younger age than ever before?
With the age of onset of puberty continuing to decline, many girls are starting this very confusing, hormonally charged phase of life extremely young. According to current research, 30% of girls will start puberty by the age of 8.
It is extremely important for parents to recognize these changes, even if they are subtle – and begin communicating regularly about puberty and menstruation. Even if they are not happening to YOUR daughter, there is a good chance they are happening to some of her elementary school classmates. The sooner you can begin the dialect, the easier the facts of life will be to understand for your daughter.
Puberty is a topic few parents feel ready to explore. Regardless of your comfort level, it is important that you learn and pass along the basics to your son or daughter before puberty begins. If your child has started school, then the information that follows is relevant now.
Ready . . . Set . . . Grow!
Puberty is the phase of development when a child’s body transitions into an adult body, including the attainment of reproductive capabilities. During puberty, children experience considerable change: physically, emotionally, cognitively and socially. This article focuses on the physical changes. READ MORE… »
The conversation started off exactly like the first time, but ended up going in a different, more detailed direction…
“Somefeen in your butt, Mommy.”
“We had this conversation before, honey. Do you remember? There is nothing in my butt. It’s in my vagina, and it’s called a tampon.”
A look of recognition came across her face, and she nodded as if to say she remembered. And then she was quiet for a moment. I thought I was getting off easy this time. But…
READ MORE… » 
Back to School
It seems like the need to be prepared for a new school year arrives a little earlier each summer. Before the first day arrives, there is much to do and many items to buy including:
- adjusting bedtimes and morning routines,
- purchasing school supplies, and
- choosing an outfit for the first day.
If you have a daughter in elementary school, there should be at least one more item on your list: puberty education. While many parents imagine several years between their daughters learning to tie their shoes and needing to try on a bra, that gap is often much shorter. READ MORE… »
Your daughter has started her period. Now, in the same place where the little girl with bows in her hair stood – is a pseudo woman. It can be bittersweet to realize just how fast your daughter is growing up. As a parent, it is extremely important to welcome the changes and to help your daughter transition into womanhood feeling accepted and loved.
It is also important to try and take a step back and realize what your daughter may be feeling. For so many girls, the onset of menstruation comes seemingly too early in life. Suddenly, they are dealing with extremely ‘adult’ things such as picking out bras and handling periods during a time in their life when they were perfectly comfortable dressing up Barbies and playing outside. In your daughter’s mind, the start of her periods alerts her to the fact that she is in fact growing up. And this realization can be both welcome and frightening for a young girl.