by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: June 09, 2009

If you have daughters, there will come a day when they will begin their menstrual cycles. For some girls, this can be a terribly stressful situation, while for others, it is the very pinnacle of excitement. I have had three daughters enter this phase of life and each of them had an entirely different reaction to the event. One was so thrilled that she announced it during our Superbowl party. One was so scared that she didn't even tell me for months. The other one was just blas' about the whole thing and mentioned it as casually as if she was telling me she had homework to do.

The differences in their responses has some to do with their general personalities, but there is also the fact that by the time that last one started her period, she was fairly prepared and educated, having seen her sisters go through it all before. The greatest thing that you can do to ensure that your daughter responds in the best way possible to the arrival of this change in her own body is to talk about it before it happens, so that she knows, at least to some extent, what is going to be coming. Hopefully, this will take away any fears that she has and give her the information that she will need to handle it well.

First, you should sit down with her and explain the physical and hormonal changes that her body will soon be undergoing. Talk to her about why it happens and put a positive spin on it regarding the maturity that it signifies. Talk about the approximate age that it is usually expected, but be sure to let her know that this is not the same for everyone and there is no right or wrong time to start. Her body is her own and it knows when it's time. Some girls can feel like they are starting too late, especially once their girlfriends have all began theirs and they haven't yet. There are many good books on the market today that can help you along if you aren't quite sure how to explain everything.

The symptoms that a young lady is about to start her period will vary from person to person, but you should let her know about some of the most obvious. Cramping, bloated abdomen, mood swings, and even headaches are fairly common, although some people will have no symptoms at all. Talking about the symptoms that come along with good old Aunt Flow will let her know that what she is feeling isn't abnormal. Have her begin to carry a pantyliner with her in her purse in case she starts completely unaware and away from home. This could save her a good deal of embarrassment, if she catches it in time.

Proper hygiene will be a must when a girl begins to menstruate, but there are some girls who don't really understand that. Discuss with her the options, such as maxipads or tampons and decide together which one she will prefer. If she is choosing to use tampons, it is important to discuss Toxic Shock Syndrome and how to properly insert the tampon itself. This may seem obvious to old hands at it, but trust me, it's not. I was not told and inserted the entire thing, applicator and all. I had to suffer the embarrassment of having my mom help me with removal after! No matter which she chooses, you must also talk to her about how to dispose of the item after use.

A girl that is informed about what to expect and how to deal with it when it happens will probably have a much easier time of it than one who is caught unaware. Preparing your daughter for her menstrual period will be very helpful to her. When it happens, be supportive and understanding and smile, your baby is growing up!

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