Teaching my daughters about menstruation from a positive standpoint is an important goal of mine because I recognize the least resistance to a natural process, the easier the situation becomes.
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Period Memoirs
I have such a fond memory of my grandmother gifting me and my sisters this body book that was all about development for young girls. Every chance that I had, I was studying that book like it was my bible. It gave me such excitement looking forward to stepping into young womanhood. And believe it or not, I couldn’t wait to start my period.
Now that I have daughters (I have 3 daughters and 1 son) those feelings of excitement are resurfacing around this topic. I feel like we live in such a time of information. There are so many ideals surrounding periods that I intend to share and incorporate into teaching my daughters about menstruation from a positive standpoint.
Teaching My Daughters About Menstruation
Cycle Syncing
This is a major one. I so wish that I had known about cycle-syncing but I’m so glad that I am aware of it now. Essentially, the menstrual cycle does not only consist of 3-7 days. Now, we are on a cycle all throughout the month that mimics the seasons. There are actually 4 phases of our cycle. They consist of the menstrual, luteal, follicular and ovulatory phases. Certain bodily and mental changes coincide with each phase. It’s my desire to teach my girls to tune into their bodies and harness the power of each cycle to coincide the activities that they perform throughout the month.
When I was in school coming up, I always wished that I could stay home from school on my cycles. I really felt so uncomfortable going to school on my period. Anxiety around leaking or someone seeing my pad through my clothing was always at the forefront of my mind. I just wanted so bad to be in the comfort of my own home.
I always thought that I ever owned a physical business, I would set it up so that no women would be required to report to work on their cycle. That would be a dream, right?! Well, it’s my intention to provide a similar courtesy for my girls. They are currently homeschooled, but if they ever go to school outside of the home, I intend to advocate for that same purpose that they’ll be allowed to do their work from home during those times.
Herbs for Menstruation
Anytime I had PMS as a teen, I was always offered over the counter medicine for my ailments. I was not super health conscious back then but for some reason, I tried my best to not take any medications for the pain. Had I known about different herbal remedies for those cramps and queasiness, I would have been all over it.
I really don’t believe that we should just settle for struggling with PMS every month. I personally, have noticed positive changes to my cycle through the use of herbs. My girls will know all about ginger, chamomile, chasteberry and plenty of other herbal options that could assist them during menstruation.
Feminine Products
When I was younger, I only knew about pads and tampons. Unfortunately for me, I hated both of those options. Fast forward to now, there is a plethora of feminine care products that are available these days. There are menstrual cups, menstrual disk, period panties and more. Obviously, some of those may not be great for girls just starting out on their periods. But an option that I would’ve chosen as someone just starting out, would’ve been period panties. In fact, that’s my top choice even now. This is my go-to disposable brand.
I love that they’re an option for young girls who are just starting their period. I’ll be sharing all products options to help them feel the most comfortable during that time of the month.
Period Rituals
From my perspective, periods have gotten a bad rap many times in the past. As I stepped into more awareness as an adult, I’ve come up with different ways to increase my respect for my menstrual cycle. I like to paint my nails red during that time of the month.
Some people even use their blood to help nourish their houseplants. Some women will even use their blood to make art. I personally don’t do that but I will share the practices with my daughters. I think that creating beautiful rituals is a way to honor your period and help take out the ick that periods may sometimes receive.
Period Celebrations
Now for arguably the most fun part, I’m planning to have a period party for my daughters and their friends to help educate them on their periods. It’s going to be a whole production!
As we all know, our cycles are not just a one and done situation. We will experience periods for a great deal of our lives, so it’s only right that I get them excited about it and give them as much information as I possibly can on the topic. I want them to view their womanly body functions as an advantageous part of their experience. So I’m focusing on teaching the positive ways they can embrace menstruation. That’s all for now.
So, these are some of the ways I’m teaching my daughters about menstruation. How about you? Do you have any special period plans for yourself or your daughters. Share in the comments below.
XOXO,
Janeek
Next check out this post on How to Level Up as a Mom.
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