Talking to Mom
Your period is lasting forever! Seriously, you’ve had to wear protection every day for a month and you’re a little freaked out about it. Or maybe you feel like you have to pee 24/7—even when you just went 5 minutes ago. If either of these things happened to you, or you’ve had other problems with your menstrual cycle , it’s time to talk to mom.
Talking to your mom about periods and other personal female problems can feel a little embarrassing, especially if you aren’t used to talking about such things. But your mom is a good place to start for a lot of reasons. Here are some ways to "break the ice" when talking to mom about periods and personal issues:
Keep it casual. Maybe the idea of a big sit-down with your mom seems intimidating. So, try opening the conversation casually by saying something like, "Hey mom, has your period ever lasted a really long time?" This opens the door to discussion.
Write it down. If it’s hard for you to start a face-to-face discussion, leave your mom a note where only she’d find it. You could say something like, "Mom, I’m having a lot of pain with my periods lately. Can we talk about this tonight?" That way, she’ll initiate a conversation with you and you won’t have to worry about bringing it up.
Be direct. You could take a straight-up approach and just tell her your feelings . Start by saying something like, "This is uncomfortable for me, but I need to talk to you about my period." That way, you and your mom can get to the root of your problem right away.
Whether or not anything is wrong, keep your mom up on your concerns and problems with your body. Even when things are normal, she might be able to give you tips on how to deal with cramps or other helpful advice. Chances are she had similar questions when she was young and will be glad you asked her. But remember, if you don’t feel comfortable talking to your mom, be sure to ask another female relative or trusted adult for help if you think you have a problem
Relating to Mom!
When you were a little kid, you shared everything with your mom, you were just like mom. She knew what you did and what you thought from the moment you woke up to the moment you went to sleep. But lately, there’s more stuff you want to keep private. You may have questions you feel she can’t answer , and you may feel less just like mom than you were before. Then again, maybe you and your mom are closer than ever and there’s nothing you can’t talk about.
Whatever your relationship is like, there’s one thing for sure. You and your mom have a lot in common. Just being a female puts you in a special category with all other women.
When you have questions, you probably turn more to your friends and other great resources (like Ask KAli!) than to your mom. Here’s a big secret: no matter how alike or different you are from each other, your mom was a girl once, too! You have questions just like mom. She went through what you’re going through now.
This Mother’s Day, you could do the usual cards, flowers, or breakfast in bed, but consider trying something new. Get in some mother-daughter bonding. Spend time together and you’ll discover you have a lot more in common than you thought! You may not need your mom to pick out your clothes or wipe your nose anymore, but now she can be there for you in many new ways that are just as helpful.
Girl stuff:
Feminine products you and your mom have in common Since some tampons were introduced in 1936, chances are your mom and even your moms’ mom heard about them, tried them, and may still use them today. Pads have been around since the beginning of last century (around 1900), so your mom and grandma knew about those too. Deodorant was invented in the late 1800s (thank goodness!), and guess what? Chances are your mom learned about it from her mom. In terms of getting rid of all that leg and armpit hair, Gillette invented the first razor created just for women in the early 1900s. When Gillette Daisy, the first disposable women’s razor came out in 1975, your mom was introduced to a whole new way of taking it all off. What does this mean to you? Well, with all the same trusted brands and new and improved versions of these products, your mom is practically an expert on the topic of what to use and how to use it.
Hey, Mom! Let’s talk.
Your mom may have decades of experience with the neat and not-so-neat joys of being a woman, but there’s one area that may be new to her. Even if you’re ready to talk to your mom about growing up, she may not know how to bring it up and talk about it with you. Well, now that you’re becoming a woman just like mom, take charge of the situation and begin the conversation yourself! Not sure how? Here are some key conversation starters:
~Mom, your legs look so nice and smooth. I think I’m ready to shave mine, too. Can you show me how?
~How old were you when you first got your period?
~Your deodorant smells nice. Can I get one for myself?
~Can we go to the drugstore together? I’d like your advice on some girl stuff.
~Mom, when you were in Junior High (or High School), did you ever feel out of place (or different, or however you’re feeling now)?
Wondering when's a good time to start talking about being just like mom? Bring it up when you’re in the middle of doing something together—in the car, out in the yard, walking around the mall, or washing dishes. Keep it casual, not too serious. Talking with your mom about growing up and becoming a woman can be comfortable and easy. You’ll learn a lot and it’ll bring you closer together. Then, the next time you talk with your friends, you’ll have the real scoop to share
Talking to your mom about periods and other personal female problems can feel a little embarrassing, especially if you aren’t used to talking about such things. But your mom is a good place to start for a lot of reasons. Here are some ways to "break the ice" when talking to mom about periods and personal issues:
Keep it casual. Maybe the idea of a big sit-down with your mom seems intimidating. So, try opening the conversation casually by saying something like, "Hey mom, has your period ever lasted a really long time?" This opens the door to discussion.
Write it down. If it’s hard for you to start a face-to-face discussion, leave your mom a note where only she’d find it. You could say something like, "Mom, I’m having a lot of pain with my periods lately. Can we talk about this tonight?" That way, she’ll initiate a conversation with you and you won’t have to worry about bringing it up.
Be direct. You could take a straight-up approach and just tell her your feelings . Start by saying something like, "This is uncomfortable for me, but I need to talk to you about my period." That way, you and your mom can get to the root of your problem right away.
Whether or not anything is wrong, keep your mom up on your concerns and problems with your body. Even when things are normal, she might be able to give you tips on how to deal with cramps or other helpful advice. Chances are she had similar questions when she was young and will be glad you asked her. But remember, if you don’t feel comfortable talking to your mom, be sure to ask another female relative or trusted adult for help if you think you have a problem
Relating to Mom!
When you were a little kid, you shared everything with your mom, you were just like mom. She knew what you did and what you thought from the moment you woke up to the moment you went to sleep. But lately, there’s more stuff you want to keep private. You may have questions you feel she can’t answer , and you may feel less just like mom than you were before. Then again, maybe you and your mom are closer than ever and there’s nothing you can’t talk about.
Whatever your relationship is like, there’s one thing for sure. You and your mom have a lot in common. Just being a female puts you in a special category with all other women.
When you have questions, you probably turn more to your friends and other great resources (like Ask KAli!) than to your mom. Here’s a big secret: no matter how alike or different you are from each other, your mom was a girl once, too! You have questions just like mom. She went through what you’re going through now.
This Mother’s Day, you could do the usual cards, flowers, or breakfast in bed, but consider trying something new. Get in some mother-daughter bonding. Spend time together and you’ll discover you have a lot more in common than you thought! You may not need your mom to pick out your clothes or wipe your nose anymore, but now she can be there for you in many new ways that are just as helpful.
Girl stuff:
Feminine products you and your mom have in common Since some tampons were introduced in 1936, chances are your mom and even your moms’ mom heard about them, tried them, and may still use them today. Pads have been around since the beginning of last century (around 1900), so your mom and grandma knew about those too. Deodorant was invented in the late 1800s (thank goodness!), and guess what? Chances are your mom learned about it from her mom. In terms of getting rid of all that leg and armpit hair, Gillette invented the first razor created just for women in the early 1900s. When Gillette Daisy, the first disposable women’s razor came out in 1975, your mom was introduced to a whole new way of taking it all off. What does this mean to you? Well, with all the same trusted brands and new and improved versions of these products, your mom is practically an expert on the topic of what to use and how to use it.
Hey, Mom! Let’s talk.
Your mom may have decades of experience with the neat and not-so-neat joys of being a woman, but there’s one area that may be new to her. Even if you’re ready to talk to your mom about growing up, she may not know how to bring it up and talk about it with you. Well, now that you’re becoming a woman just like mom, take charge of the situation and begin the conversation yourself! Not sure how? Here are some key conversation starters:
~Mom, your legs look so nice and smooth. I think I’m ready to shave mine, too. Can you show me how?
~How old were you when you first got your period?
~Your deodorant smells nice. Can I get one for myself?
~Can we go to the drugstore together? I’d like your advice on some girl stuff.
~Mom, when you were in Junior High (or High School), did you ever feel out of place (or different, or however you’re feeling now)?
Wondering when's a good time to start talking about being just like mom? Bring it up when you’re in the middle of doing something together—in the car, out in the yard, walking around the mall, or washing dishes. Keep it casual, not too serious. Talking with your mom about growing up and becoming a woman can be comfortable and easy. You’ll learn a lot and it’ll bring you closer together. Then, the next time you talk with your friends, you’ll have the real scoop to share