Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a gift to get my daughter for her first period. I want it to be a special celebratory moment for her and not a horrible, scary, shameful time. She's 12 and it can come tomorrow or in 2-3 years. It wouldn't hurt to have a gift just ready and waiting. Any ideas? Her interests are video games. LOL! So nothing related to what she likes is very helpful.

Give her the gift of privacy by not making it a "special celebratory moment" with her mom.

This.

There was a Cosby Show episode about this, no joke. Clare made it a tradition for the daughters.

I don't have a daughter, but if I did I would just approach is a normal way. There is shame about it in some cultures. I wouldn't celebrate it either. Maybe look at options together like period underwear, pads v. tampons etc. Research PMS issues and remedies together? Just make it an easy thing to talk about.

Good luck.

I’m not horrified like some posters and I think it sounds nice. I think it depends on your kid’s personality and you know best how she’d respond. I also think age is a big factor. A 10 year old getting her first period is going to have different feelings, none of which are celebratory, because she’s still kind of a little kid and it’s scary and weird and embarrassing and it’s likely she’s the first of her friends. The idea of womanhood isn’t even on her radar. A 14 year old might (might!) be more excited about growing up, catching up to her friends, and be more familiar with the whole idea so it’s less awkward and scary. I can see some mom-daughter celebration or a gift being more appropriate there.

Either way, dads should never ever be involved in any way ever. My close friend told me when she got her period she told her mom and then they got in the car to visit her dad at his accounting office so that she could give him the big news and then the whole family went to dinner to celebrate. She didn’t think it was weird. I still can’t believe it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom got me flowers when I got my first period and I was touched and have a special memory about it.

I think flowers would be lovely and special. why not?

Np. How is getting your period an accomplishment? I dont understand the celebratory aspect. It is just a bodily function that annoys you for years. Yeah?

My husband once gave me flowers because I had the flu. He wanted to cheer me up. Getting the flu was really not an accomplishment.

You are comparing apples and oranges! I can see how flowers would cheer you while you are sick but not for my period.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a gift to get my daughter for her first period. I want it to be a special celebratory moment for her and not a horrible, scary, shameful time. She's 12 and it can come tomorrow or in 2-3 years. It wouldn't hurt to have a gift just ready and waiting. Any ideas? Her interests are video games. LOL! So nothing related to what she likes is very helpful.

Give her the gift of privacy by not making it a "special celebratory moment" with her mom.

+1000 poor kid

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I need to start thinking about this too, and see lots of comments here and elsewhere about “period underwear”. I’ve never used it so if anyone who has can let me know what is the best type to get to have on hand for a preteen?

LOL "period underwear" is the old, ratty pair with the stains on them you wear in case you have a leak.

Period underwear is absorbent leakproof underwear deigned to absorb upwards of 8 tsp of liquid. Some wear just the underwear. Some like it as back up to a pad, tampon or cup.

Do you have any experience with it and a brand to recommend? Obviously this is what I was talking about, not ratty old crap...

Thinx is one brand. I just couldn’t see my 10 yo using tampons or pads (I had a feeling they wouldn’t be taken care of in a hygienic manner when used) and I got her a ton of Thinx and they are great. She just chucks them in her dirty clothes when she’s done because they’re black and you can’t see any stains they make. They are a touch thicker than normal underwear but she has never complained about that. They don’t have girls sizes but an XS has been fine.

I can't see this either, but I am not sure I can see her rinsing her undies out either?
Does she wash them? Or you put them all in the same wash?
There is NO WAY I am setting myself up to be washing out the blood of my teen who is able to do it herself.

She just chucks them in the washer with everything else that isn’t white. Never had a problem.

Weird

OP, when I came up for bed recently, my 12 year old had left a note for me saying she thought she had gotten her period (spoiler alert: she had). I bought her a bracelet she'd had her eye on and wrote her a note saying that as she was entering adulthood, I wanted to share more grown up things with her that I also enjoyed, like a nice piece of jewelry. She was thrilled. No one announced it to anyone else, I didn't go blasting it to her father or brother, etc. She already knows where the feminine hygiene products are in our house and is not embarrassed to discuss her period with me (I'm teaching her how to track it on a period app too).

Anonymous wrote:That’s too weird, OP. She may not see it the way you do. It’s personal. Your gift should be you being there for her and talking to her, reassuring her, but not making a huge deal of it.

Agreed. This entire idea is so terribly provincial.
OP, are you expecting a party for your upcoming menopause?

Amazonprime basket she can check out whatever products she wants in there no questions from you.

I was so nervous when I got my first, before chocolate. But mustered the courage to be happy and tell, and “show” my mom lol

I’d read the room, if she is in a celebratory mood I think a private dinner is nice.

I think it depends on the child. I was 12 and would have been horrified. I didn’t want to discuss it, celebrate it or have my dad aware of what was going on.

Be sure she’s ok with this type of thing. You seem like a really kind and caring mom.

Anonymous wrote:Here are some ideas, OP - https://m.mabelandmoxie.com/Creative+Ways+To+Turn+Your+Daughter's+First+Period+Into+A+Joyful+Experience


1. Get them personalized jewelry:
2. Prepare a special dinner:
3. Have family and friends send cards and messages of love and wisdom:
4. Buy her a fun first period gift set:

Messages from family and friends?! I can’t even imagine how embarrassed my daughter would have been.

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a gift to get my daughter for her first period. I want it to be a special celebratory moment for her and not a horrible, scary, shameful time. She's 12 and it can come tomorrow or in 2-3 years. It wouldn't hurt to have a gift just ready and waiting. Any ideas? Her interests are video games. LOL! So nothing related to what she likes is very helpful.

Give her the gift of privacy by not making it a "special celebratory moment" with her mom.

Here are some ideas, OP - https://m.mabelandmoxie.com/Creative+Ways+To+Turn+Your+Daughter's+First+Period+Into+A+Joyful+Experience


1. Get them personalized jewelry:
2. Prepare a special dinner:
3. Have family and friends send cards and messages of love and wisdom:
4. Buy her a fun first period gift set: