Parenting

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Are you there God? It's me...and My First Period Kit

I'm trying to imagine how a pre-pubescent girl would feel when her mom sits her down to watch a DVD about her period, hands over a girly purse for a maxipad and then gives her a little bracelet that celebrates her journey to womanhood. I mean, I'm a grown woman and I'm feeling slightly embarrassed just thinking this hypothetical situation.

Only this DVD, girly purse and bracelet? It's called the My First Period Kit and DVD. For real.

Complete with '70s-inspired images, the DVD has pediatrician Chrystal de Freitas telling a bunch of young girls that "Puberty is the time in your life in which your body is going to grow for the last time." Talk about setting false expectations.

The pad purse. Most gals try to find discrete ways of packing their pads. A bright pink (purple?) pouch with a big butterfly, notsomuch.

And then there's the rubber bracelet, a la Live Strong, and it's purple with a butterfly on it. You know, to symbolize a caterpillar blooming into something pretty (if I could I would include a little emoticon here of the green face getting sick).

Here's the thing. Talking to a young girl about getting her period can be a little embarrassing for a mom. And it's ten times more embarrassing for the girl. But I think this type of kit would only make it more cringeworthy, right?

Just hand the girl a copy of the classic, Are you there God? It's me, Margaret followed by saying, "Read it. When you get to the part about a pad belt? Disregard it." Easy peasy.

In all seriousness, I applaud any effort to try to make it easier for parents to talk to their daughters about topics that could be uncomfortable. But does it have to be so corny? And there's the single dads with daughters that this product isn't even addressing.

Who learned about periods from Judy Blume? Who had "the talk" with their mom? Or daughter? And who would use something called My First Period Kit?






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Comments 51-57 of 57
  • Jetski 28's Avatar
    Posted by Jetski 28 Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:41am PDT

    I think it is a great idea. Even with the butterfly puoch, which is what they would put in their purse.( just get them a larger purse ) I think it would also help to show that the period is not a bad thing but a sign of growing more mature. If your daughter is not a girly girl then maybe you could find a kit with a different design. Anything to help convey to our daughters that they are becoming a young lady not a child anymore and to help celebrate that instead of cry about it helps. But every child is different so you do what works best for your daughter.

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  • Denise's Avatar
    Posted by Denise Sat Jul 5, 2008 10:20pm PDT

    i dont think that i would have dove right into the idea of havinh the bright colored bag thing and a bracelet, but my mother did explain every thing to me and i was an expert on it by the time i was nine. I got mine on the exact gay that my brother turned 9. I was ten years old at the time and the only one in my class with this nast monthly disease that haunts my boyfriend, my brothers and all those within a 20 ft radius. But im sure many parents who gont know how to communicate with thier young girls would find this extremly helpful. Wtevr floats ya boat :)

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  • Melissa B's Avatar
    Posted by Melissa B Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:23am PDT

    Many thanks for this site. I have 2 nieces ages 8 & 9 and I have already been asked to help with the "talk" when the time comes for them.

    I have already had to explain to my 10 yr. old son about my kotex box in the bathroom and he was not ashamed. I think he trusts that I will tell him the truth. Today's TV is so mature and sex is on most channels and movies so you have to be ready to provide any answers to questions children ask and be truthful. Children are much more mature today.

    Thanks again for all the helpful comments and experiences.

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  • Julie's Avatar
    Posted by Julie Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:49pm PST

    It's really important that you make sure you talk to your daughter and get it through to her that it's normal and fine,nand if every other woman has suffered through it in the country, so can she. I'm 17 now, but when I had my first period at 13, my mom and I didn't really talk about. I hated that time of that month so strongly that I stopped eating and tried to stave it off. I look alot like Bella from Twilight, and I have the same skinny body, and I ended up developing anorexia, partially from not wanting my period. I got help and I'm healthy and safe now, but really stress how normal it is to your kids.

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  • Nicole's Avatar
    Posted by Nicole Sat Nov 29, 2008 6:07pm PST

    I have an 11 year old girl who does not yet have hers. When I was in school, all the girls in my health class recieved a little box/starter kit when we were learning about period. Personally, I thought it was cool. I was 12 or 13 and I had not started yet. I do not know if I liked it so much because of the purpose it served or because iy was something new, almost like a present. At that age, getting anything that resembled a present was great.

    What I have done is recruit my mom and sister to help me make what I am calling a, "Welcome to young ladyhood" basket. The difference between my basket and the alternate period starter kits is that I am not making the PERIOD the focal point. Being a young lady includes starting to shave, using deoderant, light makeup, etc. So my basket is including the It's me, Margaret book (tradition), teen pads, discreet carrying case, shampoos, bubble bath, deoderant, powders, lip gloss, pretty necklace, new cute/dark panties, and my mom said a cute heating pad. haha. May include a couple of pretty training bras. She spends a lot of time with her dad and I can't imagine having to ask dad to go get pads. She will be prepared. Anyway, when I give it to her, I am going to have a brief, painless discussion about things and leave the basket to her. Might give her a few hints as to how to be discreet and encourage her to call me with any questions.

    I feel like this basket will appeal to her because it will include many things she will like and keep her from feeling like I am cornering her and focusing on just her period. I am making them for friends, if interested, email me. nurse.nicole@yahoo.com

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  • Autumn's Avatar
    Posted by Autumn Thu Dec 4, 2008 9:17pm PST

    urg when i got mine the only people at home were my 2 older brothers....

    oh the embarrasment...misery awkwardness

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  • miss my family's Avatar
    Posted by miss my family Wed Sep 9, 2009 5:18pm PDT

    I hate judy blume books and wouldn't had one to my child. But I wouldn't hand her this stupid "kit" either. I was never horrified or humiliated I didn't even find it an entrance into woman hood it was just life. I had 4 older sisters and a my middle sister had a friend who practically lived with us so I knew all about it. You don't need a dvd or a book. Just tell them what the need to know. It's not really humiliating whats humiliating is getting undressed in front of someone. Not having a period. In fact I talked (and still do) openly to my mom and dad about my period and never found it weird.

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