Told in a note.

I was lucky enough to get my first period on the very last day of 8th grade. (I didn't experience much embarrassment, and didn't have to go back to school the next day.) All I knew was that my stomach hurt, and I couldn't eat my lunch. I laid down in the nurse's office for a while. When asked if I was feeling better, I of course said no. Then the nurses proceeded to ask a few questions, and they figured it out. At that age I knew what a period was, and much more. My elementary school had already did the whole puberty education of all "of age" girls. However, my mom didn't talk to me about it much.

So, they gave me a pad to wear, and I eventually went to my last class. I felt like I was walking funny the rest of the day. When my mom got home from work she started to wash the dishes. When I got the courage...I walked up to her and said, "I have something to tell you!" However, my courage ended there. So, I ran and wrote it on paper and folded it.

With wet hands, she unfolded it, and read. She gave a pleasant reaction, but I had expected more. I had been waiting for my period for ages (You know, the usual...I want to grow up NOW!), and it seemed like a pretty anti-climatic ending. She said she figured that's what I was going to tell her.

I wish that my mom had talked to me more about it and all things puberty related. Even now, I'm seventeen and going through the usual problems. I could use a bit of help. However, I still struggle to find that courage.

My advice is to talk to your daughters about ALL of it, and often. Form a close relationship early, because it's a lot harder to get them to listen and to talk when hormones have taken them over.