When a girl is quickly changing into a young woman, often terror strikes the hearts and minds of parents. Fear of the unknown, rapidly changing emotions, and physical development can be overwhelming.
Lots of you have asked all kinds of questions about how to breach the subject of explaining a menstrual cycle to your daughters. I’ll share with you what I tell my girls.
First, there is no reason to tell them EVERYTHING during this discussion. As far as sex education goes, my kids are on a “need to know” basis. There is a lot about sex THEY DO NOT NEED TO KNOW. But when it comes to bodily fluids, especially blood pouring out of their bodies, I figure they pretty much NEED TO KNOW WHY.
First, I spared this conversation until IT ACTUALLY BEGAN. I know, right now many of you are horrified thinking my poor daughter must have been beside herself when she began her first cycle, embarrassed, and completely freaked out. Well, she wasn’t. I have the luxury of being beside her nearly 24 hours a day, so all she had to do was walk in my room and tell me.
(Side note, if your child is attending school, my pediatrician said there are guidelines for determining approximately when the cycles will begin based on breast development and hair…according to him it is about two years from the onset of such signs)
I explained the menstrual cycle in terms of God’s design. I told her that her body was preparing for the day when she would begin her own family. That each month, just like the moon cycle and the tidal cycles her womb’s lining would wax and wane in preparation for the hope of beginning a new life. If no new baby was growing inside her womb, then her body would shed that lining each month. I explained that it was natural to feel sad or easily upset at that time each month, as her emotions, though many times unexplainable, would be expressing sadness or loss. (This was not however, free license to have wild mood swings…self control is still expected.)
So there you go. A quick little foray into discussing upcoming changes in your children’s bodies. I know there are many different ways to have this talk and all kinds of books with tips. I love placing it within God’s design and teaching her it was each month the possibility of a blessing, not a curse.
[bctt tweet=”How to Teach Them About Their Changing Bodies “]
colleentress says
Great post, Lyette.
Lisa says
You said two things that have caused me to see things in a more positive way that I want to express to my girls. The first was about the emotions that sometimes arise during the cycle…emotions of sadness….the woman’s body was created to produce life, a gift from God. A woman’s body reacts with sadness when there is no life within it. The second thing you said was that each month was a possibility of a blessing, not a curse. That’s just a beautiful way to look at it. Thank you!!!!
Lyette Reback says
So glad yu were blessed! Thanks for the encouragement!!!
Rachel says
Good info–thank you!