Menarche Ceremony

I didn't have a menarche ceremony, but I wish I did!! My mom never explained what a period was to me, so the ceremony really would've helped. If I have a daughter, I plan on explaining everything to her before hand and letting her decide if she wants one or not. I don't want her to feel uncomfortable.

There was a huge fuss made by my mother when I started my period, and I wish there hadn't been!!! It was horribly scarring for me. To start out with, my mother made me show her the stain on my underwear to prove that I had started. She then told ALL of my family members. My birthday was a few days after, and my relatives bought me Mydol, pads, tampons and such. Not exactly what a 12 year old wants to unwrap on her birthday in front of friends and family!!!

Being Native American there had to be a feast, and there were many restrictions placed upon me in the first year. One of which was that I wasn't supposed to touch any living animals, which was extremely difficult as I had pets, and have been an animal lover ever since I can remember. There was a lot more to it, but that is all par with the way I was brought up.

The whole experience for me was deeply humiliating, and even 15 years later still makes me angry. Menarche is a very personal and vulnerable time in a young woman's life, and though it needs to be acknowledged, it should be treated with the utmost discretion! I see no reason why it should be brought to the attention of everyone, except maybe the mother, just to let the girl know what to expect. If I ever have a daughter, I will maybe do a little ceremony with me and her alone, but that is it!!!

I will love to give my daughter a menarche ceremony but as my mom didn't do this for me, I don't have a clue about what I should do. I'm here for ideas.

I had never heard of a menarche ceremony until I started reading this blog, and I think I've have died of shame if my mother had given me one because I hate to be the center of the attention and I don't think she gave any of my sisters (I got 4) one. In my family, getting your period is the most natural thing for a woman, important but nothing to get all fuzzed about it. I got mine at home (thank God) I called my mom and she gave me a pad, it was like "you got it, nice, let me know if you have any cramps", I guess she was excited but she controled herself. I'm glad it happened that way.

I did not have a ceremony. It didn't mean that my mother did not view this as a special event. I personally would have been embarrased. I never found this to be a life altering event. I've had cramps, etc for years now! Getting my period did not make me feel like a 'woman' since I was all of 11 years. If I have a daughter, I would not celebrate it.

I was 13 y/o when I had my first period. My mother was the type who felt periods were not to be discussed and in a way were something to be ashamed of. Somehow, my older sister encouraged her to be more sensitive with me and my period. I didn't have a ceremony, but my mother did take me out for a "special" lunch at Luby's. Somehow, bringing my little brother along spoiled the feeling it was special.