Menarche Ceremony

I think this is an overlooked rite of passage for too many girls. It's no reason to be embarrassed and we need to reclaim the power of it. When my daughters get their blood, I will give them a necklace of cowrie shells and tell them stories about being a woman. I will answer anything she wants to know and let her express how she feels. I will make sure she understands that she is sacred, her blood is sacred, and menarche/childbirth/menopause is nothing short of miraculous.

a menarche ceremony? Good heavens no!!
I was cripplingly embarrassed about the whole thing, i didnt' want to grow up, and, though i told my mother i didnt want her to tell my father for ages afterwards. She eventually did anyway. It was a secret and personal thing.
Here in the UK girls aren't competitive and proud of it like I hear they are in the US - one would never have told ones friends that you had started your period before you had!

I got my first period at school (of course) and had to go to the nurse's office. She gave me a mattress sized maxi that I was very self conscious of because I was wearing a short white w/black polka dots skirt. I did not tell my mother for two months and then she embarrassed the heck out of me with her coworkers(not in a nice way either), and I did not let on to my friends that it was my "first" period. All my friends started theirs the year before and I let them think I did also.

My daughter started her period almost two years ago. I tried to prepare her by mailing off for a teen kit with pamphlets and different kinds of feminine protection. She wanted no part of it. She did inform me that she started, but wanted no emotion from me and didn't want to discuss it or ask questions. I did want to do a "womans day" like Mrs. Huxtable wanted to do for Rudy on "The Cosby Show", but my daughter did not want to. She did share her story of a recent gym class and an embarrassing leak. I just listened and smiled and told her it has happened to all of us.

Well I got my period quite young, and was very much into climbing trees and being a tomboy. So I hated the idea and shortly after my boobs really hurt and kept banging into things. Had a few leaks and embarrassing moments so totally was against it and wanted to be a boy. Nowdays, 20 years later, have accepted the situation and have learned how to cope with it. My Mom's reaction was so awkward at the time, she told me all sorts of old wives tales, which I paid no attention too. Reason being is that had researched it rather than chatting to my Mom. If I have a daughter one day not sure how will approach it. Kids grow up so quickly anyhows.

Honestly i had no clue what it was untill Just now. Ha ha. I got mine in school, and I got home and called my mother and she decided to call all my aunts and brag about her little girl growing up. I wish I had though it would had made me feel more like it was a BIG thing. I remember How excited I was but i didnt really know what it was. I think I will do somthing special for my daughter...and I'll be sure she know what it is and give her some pointers. Maybe I'll even tell her how Annoying it will soon become. LoL

I believe I did have one...didnt know that it had a name. But I got mines in school and I came home and told my mother. I wasnt that much of a wreck but when I told my mother, she told me what to do and then she said that she was going to tell my father. I got upset and told her NO!! So Im not sure if she told him but a day later my father gave me a beautiful gold bracelet with charms on it...So I guess I had a tiny,secretive Menarche ceremony. I think that I will do the same for my daughter, but I wont tell her that I will let her father know, and he could surprise her with something nice also.