Unsecure chicken perches

[chickencam]

My YD has just started her periods. I have kept her off school for the past couple of days, to give her a chance to adjust to what to expect etc. I was wondering if anyone else has experience of a daughter who started at primary school and any tips to make it easier for her.

 

The school has one loo in the yr 6 area with a disposal bin. They have said to send a note into her teacher explaining what has happened, so that they willl understand if she wants to go into the toilets to change for PE etc. She is worried that her teacher is a man, but I have told her not to worry because he is a married man with children and it won't be a problem.

 

I am a bit worried because her older sister had very heavy periods from the word go, although she was over a year older when she started. my ED has been really lovely with her, and I have been reasuring and low key about it, but that doesn't stop me worrying about the practicalities.

 

She has a had an odd couple of days what with this and the worry about her school offer coming out, which fortunately was what she wanted. She only turned 11 in mid November, it's a lot to cope with for her.

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

The first one's a bit of a shock isn't it, but we do get used to it. I hope she's adjusting well.

 

I'd be inclined to carry on as normal, and not have too much time off school so it is seen as something normal rather than as an illness or something to panic over.

 

The biggest worry at school for many kids is 'getting caught out'. Would the teacher or the admin office keep some sanitary protection on hand just in case that happens?

 

The other school problem is cramps. Are they allowed mild pain killers at school? Exercise helps, if she can bear to do PE. Aside from that, she will probably be fine.

 

A good pad regularly changed (I wish they'd had wings in my time!) should prevent any embarrassment.

 

 

GREAT news about her chosen school btw.

[chickencam]

Thanks for that

 

I don't think we would have kept her off if it hadn't coincided with the school offers and she has a bit of a cold, so is pretty tired etc. She will be going tomorrow.

[Alis girls]

My friend whos a teacher said its quite common now and that they had to allocate a loo with disposal facilities for those few girls to use. There are more than you think and I bet shes not the only one. good that school are so understanding

[Falkor]

I was an early starter @ 11 (oooh seems so long ago now) but my I am pleased to say my school was great. My teacher was a chap too and he was lovely about it and we had a little cupboard in that loo for pads etc to be stored in.

 

I danced five times a week too so was scared silly of wearing my pale pink leotard that first time but my dance teachers were great too and they let us all keep our sweat trousers on for the week so I wouldn`t stand out

 

My mum was super

 

It wa quite a good experience for me actually.

 

It is only now, at the age of 28, that I forget I have shoved a Tampax up my sleeve on the way to the loo and stop off to chat to a colleague and get asked what the lump on my arms is!

[freddie]

funny this has come up now, as a few of us are facing the same issues, at the same time, same yr.

We've put together a spare set of nix, some wipes, a couple of pads etc, in a small bag in her PE kit bag, to be there should she need it, this was done after some furtive discussion amongst 4 novice parents!

It seems sad that girls seem to start so young, and we didnt, but it's life, and we have to embrace it.

I'm sure yr DD hasnt ben adversly affected for missing a few days of school; far from it; she 's been learning life skills, and PSE..

glad DD and you have got the offer in place, well done!

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

It is only now, at the age of 28, that I forget I have shoved a Tampax up my sleeve on the way to the loo and stop off to chat to a colleague and get asked what the lump on my arms is!

 

 

Do you remember that sanitary product ad that used to be in girls' mags like Just Seventeen where they had two raised arms (as if a girl was asking to go to the loo) where one had a huge applicator tampon with the ends poking out of her hands, and the other one had a non-applicator tampon hidden in her fist?! As if you'd wave 'that' hand in the air! I'm glad modern ads don't try too induce such shame, and that schools are so much better about the whole thing these days. The 80s were terrible days! Bodyform ads for all their giggle-worthy roller-skating dog walking were at least a bit more positive!

[EmmaJC]

A good pad regularly changed (I wish they'd had wings in my time!) should prevent any embarrassment.

 

Couldn't agree more with this. I started very early (9) and I remember so well how awful it was to have those awful thick pads without wings which never stay in place.

 

Basically get her good pads with wings and see if the school will let her wear trousers. Keep an eye on her cycle too and make sure you send her to school with spare pads and pants, my mother never told me periods were regular so I was always caught out until I had the science lesson when I was 13 or so which explained everything. Boy was she in trouble!

[Egg Lou]

funny this has come up now, as a few of us are facing the same issues, at the same time, same yr.

We've put together a spare set of nix, some wipes, a couple of pads etc, in a small bag in her PE kit bag, to be there should she need it, this was done after some furtive discussion amongst 4 novice parents!

It seems sad that girls seem to start so young, and we didnt, but it's life, and we have to embrace it.

I'm sure yr DD hasnt ben adversly affected for missing a few days of school; far from it; she 's been learning life skills, and PSE..

glad DD and you have got the offer in place, well done!

 

I sent my DD off with a small discrete bag with a slim pads, a couple of individually wrapped wipes ( you get these with some pads packs now), couple of disposal bags and a spare pair of knickers.. she coped fine dispite some earlier worries

[chickencam]

Thanks for the advice. My ED has sorted her out with what to take and how to be discreet. I love the fact that she has had her sister to turn too, I'm a bit jealous actually.It's funny it has really united them, they are 5 years apart in age and have always bickered, but it is nice to see this loving supportive side to their relationship

 

We are very open as a family, so it seems pretty normal too her. We had to laugh when they were talking about it yesterday and their brother asked a question which showed that he thought ST's were like a plaster and he didn't know how we knew when to change them. I am afraid to say we did have a bit of a laugh at him, but he is learning too and it will do him good in the future when he gets a girlfriend

[Seagazer]

I'm glad she's coping with it all. My DD started just before she was 11, we just made sure she always had some towels in her bag at all times and because she used to have painful periods she would have some tablets in her bag too in case she needed to take any.

 

I also am glad that towels have moved on (no pun intended) now, they used to be an absolute nightmare before wings.

[bluekarin]

My ED was just over 12 when she started and I think I was about 13. She's having a bit of a hard time with it as hers, like mine, are heavy. I think also she just can't be bothered to go to the loo I remember my mums "talk" about all things birds and bees consisted of 'have these (handed me a pack of yea olde Bodyform pads without wings) you'll need them one day'. And the day came that I needed them, and she's only gone and taken them out of my wardrobe

 

I echo everyone else's comments about taking in spares, noting dates so you are prepared even if she isn't. That also helps knowing its pmt making her grumpy and not her just being a pain

[patsylabrador]

I used to help with a scout group and I remember one young girl coming in one evening, so excited about her first period. She was always an upbeat little thing and just told everyone. We thought we should give her a being jolly badge!

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

A badge! Brilliant!

[Chicken Licken]

I work with older children with learning difficulties and we always suggest a little makeup bag/ pencil case with some pads, panty liners and a spare pair of knickers in, just to keep in the school bag and not look out of the ordinary, and be there in case of emergencies. We do of course keep spares tucked away.

I'm sure thay your daughter will not be the only one and she will take it all in her stride, especially as her friends develop as well.

[Falkor]

I work with older children with learning difficulties and we always suggest a little makeup bag/ pencil case with some pads, panty liners and a spare pair of knickers in, just to keep in the school bag and not look out of the ordinary, and be there in case of emergencies. We do of course keep spares tucked away.

I'm sure thay your daughter will not be the only one and she will take it all in her stride, especially as her friends develop as well.

 

I still do this now and I left school a long time ago

[Chicken Licken]

I also 'practice what I preach' on this one!! Nothing worse than being caught out and having to raid the spares we keep for the kids

[Chickvic]

My DD (12) started in December (and hasn't really stopped yet ) She was fine and quite pleased with herself, we also talk openly about it and has seen my ST's in the bathroom etc. When we went for her sex education talk at primary school, they actually commented on the fact that the year 6 that had just left there was only about 6 girls (out of 30) who hadn't started their periods. Just wish my DD's would settle down

[whoopsie]

Periods are so annoying until they settle down. I vivdly remember 'flooding' at school and having to walk to the nurse's room covered in blood to wait for my mother to come and get me - all because I couldn't ask the teacher to let me go to the loo! I used to have to wear maternity pads I was so heavy (damned uncomfortable).

 

I am really glad your daughter's school are so understanding.

[chickencam]

My ED has suffered a lot with heavy painful and irregular periods, I hope that YD will have a better time of it

 

I was just turned 12 when I started, ED was 12 and a half. I have been expecting this with YD for a while, she looks so much older than most of the girls in her year apart from her main friend. i think this is why the 2 of them have teamed up over the last year or so. her friend has always been head and shoulders taller than my YD and the other girls, but now they are a very similar height etc.

 

When we went to secondary school open evenings in the autumn, she was taller than most of the yr7's

[Cinnamon]

PM sent

[Paola]

Periods are so annoying until they settle down. I vivdly remember 'flooding' at school and having to walk to the nurse's room covered in blood to wait for my mother to come and get me - all because I couldn't ask the teacher to let me go to the loo! I used to have to wear maternity pads I was so heavy (damned uncomfortable).

 

I am really glad your daughter's school are so understanding.

 

What an awful experience for you

 

My DD1 will be turning 11 in May and has not started her periods yet so I have been taking plenty of notes on all of your wonderful advice

[ladyjulian]

I started aged 9, there was no provision at all for me at school & I had to go to the adjoining secondary school loos if I needed to change, which would inevitably result in an angry teenager or teacher shouting at me for being in the secondary school (strictly out of bounds to the lower school) because none of the junior school teachers had thought to mention it to the secondary lot. It also made me late coming back from break, and one teacher used to take a particular pleasure in asking me where I'd been when she knew perfectly well.

 

I'm really chuffed to see on this thread that it looks like schools are better about it now. I wouldn't wish that experience on any other child.

[chickencam]

What a terrible way to be treated by a fellow female, was she never young herself

 

Fortunately a lot of girls start at primary schools these days so they have had to get their act together.

[FoxFighters]

HELLLLLP!!!

 

I don't want periods

 

Holly x