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I remember my mom having the first talk with me around 9. I knew about sex and periods. Just general things. There were other talks as things came up. My mom had also purchased a book gear towards girls my age (11 ish) all about periods and different body changes (even how it's normal to have nipples that are brown not pink or have little hairs or what have you). All my friends had their periods before me so by the time I got mine at 13 I was so excited and happy. My mom liked/s pads so I used those the first few times but I asked to try tampons and she gave me some, showed me how to use them and gave me panty liners just in case.

I didn't know much about ovulation timing or cervical mucus until a year or so ago but I always had a general grasp on my period and it's timing and never worried (about pregnancy or just something being wrong) unless my period was more than 6 days late. I feel like my mom did a pretty good job educating me and letting me learn on my own.

My mom was always open and upfront with me. I knew exactly what periods were long before mine started, and was educated on pads, tampons, and cups way back then. My mom bought a pack of pads and a little gift to give me when it started, and it was all very normal and not awkward.
I appreciated her approach and will do the same with my daughter.

I didn't have much sex ed before my period started. Obviously I knew what it was but that's all. And I didn't tell my mom when I started. She probably didn't find out for 2 years after. I babysat a ton and bought my own pads.

I'd like my daughter and any future daughters to feel like they are able to come to me when they start.

I'd had plenty of sex education, starting in 4th grade. But I was still confused when I started because it wasn't what I was expecting. I told my mom I wasn't sure what was going on and she told me that was my period and said congratulations. And I said I didn't really get that because periods seemed like a pain in the ass (I probably didn't say ass) and she said she didn't get it either but that's what you're supposed to say.

I was 13, so I had a few years of sex ed already, and several of my friends had already gotten theirs, so no surprises there. The first time I got it, we were busy moving (like the movers were literally unloading the truck in our new house) and my mom was too much of a busy stress basket, so I didn't tell her for about 8-10 months. I had 2 older sisters so I was able to use the communal pads in the bathroom without anybody noticing. I hope my daughter feels like she is able to talk to me about those types of things, because it stinks not having that kind of relationship with your mom.

@HabesBabe: What if she had a pool party to go to? She has to miss out because she's not allowed to use tampons?

I got mine quite young (grade 5) so I was 10. Pool birthday parties were a big thing. I wouldn't have been able to go to a lot of them if my mom hadn't told me about tampons.

My mom bought be tons of little books and pamphlets and left them all on my bed when I was in 5th grade, haha. They were super informative though.

@HabesBabe: @.twist.: I got my period at 13 and was not allowed to wear tampons unless I was swimming. I'm actually grateful for it, because I'm really sensitive to TSS and if I wear them for any length of time, I start showing skin symptoms for it.

For H, I want to be open and honest about it. For a long time, I thought I was broken because sex ed doesn't talk about how every cycle is different, they just tell you about the standard 28-day cycle. I don't want her to be scared, and I want to tell her about all her options (pads, tampons, cups, etc.) I'll probably discourage her from using tampons regularly because I'm so sensitive to them, but she will have the option and I hope she knows she can come to me with any questions.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: haha! I remember having a loooot of trouble the first few times (and it was also to go swimming!). I remember having to use a mirror because I didn't really know where to put it! haha. omg.

@.twist.: oh gaahhhhhhh cardboard. Just the memory of that feeling makes me shudder. Thankfully there are plastic applicators! I remember using OB in high school and HATING it because you would have to get all up in there with your hands.

@Snowdrop: Yep - I went to Catholic school, too, and we had really comprehensive sex-ed. I honestly think it can vary quite a bit from school to school, so I guess I was lucky.

I didn't start my period until I was 13, so pretty much all my friends had theirs already by then. So I knew about it from school, friends and my mom. She was a pretty open book and though she didn't always approach me to "talk" she always answered my questions.

Sex ed is a whole life, ongoing thing in my house. My 3 year old is already quite familiar with the fact that I bleed every month (ARE YOU BLEEDING AGAIN MAMA? In the restroom at Ikea, oy). So that isn't any kind of mystery to her - she knows that she'll start bleeding when she's a much bigger girl.

She's also asked how the baby got inside my tummy, and I told her that I had an egg inside my belly, and that daddy had a seed, and that he put the seed inside of me, and so on. When she asked how, I told her that we'd had sex, and left it at that. I've got an entire other answer prepared for that (sex is a fun thing for adults to do, etc), but she changed to subject to Curious George, and I was spared.

It feels so weird to talk about this stuff with my daughter, but it feels far less weird than perpetuating some lie or half truth about the way that her body works. I have to remind myself that the discomfort is all external.

I'm confused as to why people are anti-tampon for their LOs (with the exception to the predisposition to TSS). It's not like it's sexual. They don't hurt if inserted properly. I'm failing to understand the hesitation behind it.

@Ra: Well, personally, I, too, had TSS, and I got it without misusing the tampon. So, that's one issue.

I don't think it's sexual at all. Maybe some people do?

Unless you're using a tampon made of organic materials, you're exposing the vaginal walls to a lot of chemicals. I've had some major (avoidable) health issues in my life related to toxins, and if I can help my daughter avoid that, I will.

Like some previous posters, I would be open to the idea of a Diva Cup or something like that.

ETA: I do still use tampons, and they're just normal ones. I've wanted to try a menstrual cup, but haven't. So, until I'm in that place to give my DD guidance, I'm not sure what I'll do.

I know that I tried using a tampon when I got my first period at 11, and I was like, woah, no way! It just wasn't even possible. I didn't try again for several years, and I think this is a fairly common experience.

I knew it was a period, that it was caused by an egg being released and not fertilized. Didn't know too much else. I did NOT realize that it was a once-a-month(ish) thing! I thought once I got my period I would bleed all the time. Kind of relieved when I realized that wasn't true!

My mom took me out for a "women only" dinner to celebrate my womanhood, and I remember finding the whole thing absolutely mortifying.

I don't think I used tampons until 8th grade (I was about 10 when I got my period), because I just wasn't ready. My mom didn't even offer it as an option to me at that point. I was probably 12 or 13 when I started using tampons.

@Ra: For me it is about a ten year old forgetting they have a tampon in or not washing hands properly etc. I wouldn't want them missing out on things because of their period though so I'd probably end up giving them for swimming, constantly reminding them to change etc. Think I'd be better with a mooncup etc but they would probably struggle to use that so young. Seems strange to me as most of my friends and I were teenagers when we got our periods!