Warning! Puberty alert!

Tak

A long time ago…
MLPTP Supporter
Joined
Dec 26, 2015
Messages
10,483
So... my 8 year old started puberty. Just the beginnings. I'm terrified. She's changing so much. I don't want it to traumatize her the way it did me. She knows what's coming because we've been talking about it, slowly adding more detail, since she was 5.
 
Good luck! I was an early bloomer but my mom told me much of what to expect so I never felt uncomfortable, just hassled by the changes I was having to deal with that none of my friends were yet. Talking to her and informing her of what to expect is the best you can do, I can't imagine what it would've been like if my mom didn't warn me, I probably would've been scared. One thing I'll never forget though that is kinda funny now but when I was a kid it made me feel silly was, as a small child for some reason my mom brought me up to use a code word for my lady parts. I guess for an 8 year old it's inappropriate to go around calling it what it's called so it's name was Molly LOL Why Molly, I don't know, don't even know where that came from but to this day I still remember going to the elementary school nurse and how confused she looked when I used the word "Molly" LOL it made me feel even more awkward. So my advice, inform her of what to expect and of the correct names for parts and who it is appropriate to talk to about them!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tak
Thanks @Gingerbread she knows who she's allowed to talk to freely. Me, grandma, her aunt, my two cousins that are basically her aunts, too, her therapist, her doctor, and my only friend. She knows all the proper names (when she was 4 she bent over naked in front of a mirror after her bath and said really loud and excited "I can see my China!") She enunciates really well now, but we still laugh about it. I did tell her that at school she should refer to them as her girl or lady parts, so as not to offend.

All my mom did was give me a book. Which explained all that happens to boys, too. It had detailed illustrations and I never had a good speaking relationship with my mom, so asking her only made it worse.

It really helps to learn what others have gone through.
 
I bought my daughter a good book called The Care and Keeping of You 2: For Older Girls. It helps explain changes she might feel too embarrassed to discuss otherwise with me. I treated bra shopping like it was just another piece of clothing. Don't mke a big deal out of it is my advice.
 
I bought my daughter a good book called The Care and Keeping of You 2: For Older Girls. It helps explain changes she might feel too embarrassed to discuss otherwise with me. I treated bra shopping like it was just another piece of clothing. Don't mke a big deal out of it is my advice.

Thanks! @Leave a Whisper That's what I've been doing by talking freely about all of it with her for so long. I'll see if she's interested in a book about it.
 
Wow I don't think I really started this that young. Bra shopping for me was mom went to the store by herself and bought a few things. She came home with them and I let her know which ones I was willing to wear and which ones I hated. In 7th grade is when I remember I really got total grief from my mother about deodorant. She embarrassed the heck out of me. The thing to remember is even though bodies are growing up minds are still young in many ways. Girls will forget to put on deoderant many times and I think its just wrong to make a big deal out of it. Their peers will let them know they smell awful. They will also see their peers using these products with joy and it helped me more than mother running along behind me saying, "let me smell your pit." Good grief. She was possessed.

Eventually they get into a routine but when they are first starting out it is an adjustment. It takes time. Some girls embrace it and love it all. I was not that kind of child. I hated it all so, I wasn't interested. My youngest niece is the same way lol. What you don't tell them the school will and this bugs me. I would rather my child hear things from me first. As far as words for things go, I don't really remember how that all went for me. When I was growing up you just didn't talk about things like this much. The adults didn't talk to the kids at all. I learned a lot from teen novels and friends. I think it's wonderful you are talking with your child.
 
@tulagirl I can sooo relate to embarrassing family members during puberty.

One set tried to make a big, fun deal out of training bra shopping. My mother made me try a bra on and didn't even let me go into the changing rooms, not to mention I wasn't allowed to shave my armpits for a while. Plus when I started my period she tossed a pack of pads at me and said, don't get pregnant. I was like, eleven or twelve! Such an embarrassing and confusing time.


I think your handling it great @Tak
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tak
Thanks @Leave a Whisper My main goal is to come through it with her knowing that I will always be here for her and that she can tell me anything. No judgement.

My family was finishing dinner once and I said that I didn't need a bra because I didn't have any books. (I was in denial because I was a dancer and ballerinas can't have large chests) My little brother said that yes I did and lifted my shirt all the way up in front of my dad, grandparents, and everyone else. (It was thanksgiving) So mortifying. I didn't leave my room the rest of the day.
 
Thanks @Leave a Whisper My main goal is to come through it with her knowing that I will always be here for her and that she can tell me anything. No judgement.

My family was finishing dinner once and I said that I didn't need a bra because I didn't have any books. (I was in denial because I was a dancer and ballerinas can't have large chests) My little brother said that yes I did and lifted my shirt all the way up in front of my dad, grandparents, and everyone else. (It was thanksgiving) So mortifying. I didn't leave my room the rest of the day.

Ohh maaan! :sadpony:
 
I found out about the evil once a month thing at school when they did the body and boys went to one room and the girls to the other. I did not really GET IT till I got home pull out the encyclopedia Britannica and look up things on female times and development and the S book for the mating thing.

I did not fancy either but I got suck with the evil female thing until my glorious Histo a few years ago. But I never got the talk with my mom or dad. I just red the Encyclopedia and other then the female evil thing I knew then and there the other thing was something I did not want to go through.

As for bra's My mom forced me to wear them I hate Bra's So finally I said that it and went out and got some tight compression type shirts and started wearing them. My mom said I your not going to falter your self with a flat chest. I was like I am not trying to I am trying to get through the day at school and be left alone and not bullied.

To this day I either bind or wear compression shirts. I don't like that part of my body and I hope to get that surgery where they remove them.
Don't want to be a boy but I don't like my chest and I already have the other issue taken care of.

I admire you for talking and being open @Tak and seeing how this goes.
 
Back
Top