sanitary pads, periods and our children... - Page 2

[Alkenny]

I grew up in an open household, and I've done the same with my kids. Niether one of them are freaked out about things. (When DD had a slumber party a couple of weeks ago, the subject came up and DS was chiming right in with the girls...one of them that's a little "uptight" was freaking out because we were chatting in front of a boy, but he could have cared less :LOL )

[midstreammama]

You know this thread just made me realize something...

The reason I don't let my children in the bathroom with me while AF is here is not because of privacy..it's because I am afraid they will ask.

I am pretty sure I know what to say without scaring them to death, but I was just scared.

SOmehow, this thread helped me...I think I will not hide it anymore. Not like I will make them come or invite them in but most of the time, they are begging to come in banging on the door anyways.

Well, thank you for starting this thread for me op, I am not scared anymore. Must've not been too scared if that is all that took to rid me of that feeling. Maybe it is just that they are getting big and I don't want to acknowledge that? Wow, talk about hitting deep. Lol.

Thank you op, I know exactly how to handle it now.

[Raynbow]

You know, my mom said the same thing to me when Sebastian saw that at about the same age. I just made it very clear to him that mommy wasn't hurt and that this is natural and normal - and he's now 12 and probably has more understanding of reproduction and how our bodies work then most 12 yr olds do.

Then again, I'm very open with my kids... I don't hide my body nor its normal functions. Though now that I have a preteen, I get a grossed out, "MoooOOOOOMMMMmmm!" every time I fart... *sigh*

[RedPony]

My poor mom hasn't been alone in the bathroom for the past 40 years. :LOL I saw it all, menstrual pads, poo, pee, smells... it was never a big deal for me. The way my mom tells it, she simply answered whatever questions we asked with the truth, no more no less. If we wanted more information, she gave it to us!

I can honestly say I never wanted to play with a pad. : I also wasn't too clear about my own period when it started, but I think that had more to do with me than it did with her. All I had to do was ask the right questions!

[zinemama]

I've been very open about this, too. I had to be, since ds1 and now ds2 have been following me into the bathroom their whole lives. Ds likes to fetch my tampons for me and open the pads, too.

I told him, "Every month my uterus grows a nice soft lining of blood, like a little nest, in case a baby starts growing there. And if no baby starts that month, the blood comes out from my vagina, and I use these pads and tampons to soak it up". He understood this perfectly at age three and is all ho-hum about it at 5.

[rebeccalizzie]

zinemama, I just wanted to say that I *love* that explanation! It never really occurred to me, but I've never actually discussed my period with DD, and she's 9 so I *really* need to talk to her about it! :

I'm going to bring up the topic and use your explanation--I've always been very private in the bathroom, so she hasn't seen anything that I would have been able to use as a jumping off point.

Thanks!

[cmb123]

Originally Posted by meemee

now i was laughing about that to another mom this morning. and she made me feel like i was scaring my child for life for letting her see and know so much.

I think the damage is done by NOT sharing what is normal and natural. Most of the hang-ups we have come from people being ashamed and uneducated about their bodies. Your friend sounds no different. Sad for her.

[AngelBee]

My children all know what a menstrual cycle is. They have seen it in the bathroom with me. I am honest with all questions that they ask.

Dd sometimes even wears mama cloth!

[lilyka]

I don't mind them seeing the pads and stuff. I do try not to insert things while they are watching. Not because I will think it will scar them for life but mostly because i don't want them trying to cram stuff up there while they are playing period (it could happen) r

i wanked intopt he bathroom the other day to see a pad sculpture on my bathroom floor (40 pads stuck to gether in a large tower ) Perhaps that one could stand to see how they are supposed to be used a little more.