Monthly Archives: March 2012

Period Fact #8 – What is that in her underwear?

The 8th post in our series about periods explains one of the early signs that your daughter might be experiencing closer to starting her period. She may notice a clear or milky-white fluid as a wet spot in her underwear. This is formally called vaginal discharge. The mucus is a normal part of the menstrual cycle and may appear up to six months before her first period. After that she may notice it before each period starts.

You can remind your daughter that this is her body’s natural way of cleansing itself and that it’s perfectly normal. If the discharge is dark in color or has a strong odor talk to your doctor as this can be a sign of infection.

Encourage your daughter to carry pantiliners with her. Keep a box stashed in the bathroom at home so she can stock up at any time. Pantiliners come in many different shapes and sizes, there are even ones to fit into thong underwear! Many are also folded in their own disposable wrapper. These individually wrapped liners are small enough to slip into even the smallest purse or back pack pocket.

Now might also be a good time to go with your daughter on a field trip to the local drug store. Take a walk down the feminine care aisle and talk about all the choices. Looking at the different size pads and when to use them – light days, heavy days, night time – will help your daughter gain confidence in managing her period. Several companies, like Kotex, are also reaching out to the tween market with colorful packaging which helps tweens be more comfortable about their periods.

There are also many different types of tampons and your daughter may have many questions about when and how to use a tampon. You may not want to have this conversation in the drug store aisle, however, it it good information for your daughter to have before she starts her period.

First Period stories from Women Everywhere.

Tween girls can be a little dramatic about their first periods. Each girl might think she is the only one that has ever experienced this life changing event. However, we all know, it happens to every girl every where and no book helps understand this more than My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff.

My Little Red Book is a collection of first period stories gathered from women of all ages the world over. Some of the women are famous, like Cecily von Ziegesar, the author of The It Girl and Gossip Girls book series, and Erica Jong, author of the best-selling novel Fear of Flying. However, many of the stories are from women just like you and me who had an experience that they vividly remember.

My favorite story is by Aliza Shvarts, a Yale graduate and conceptual artist. Her first period started while she was in seventh grade and she remembers the class watching a movie about the Ming Period in Chinese history. She had pain in her lower abdomen and decided it was either appendicitis or her period. Aliza talks about how she handled her period and the talk she had with her mother when she got home.

Many of the stories are from women who grew up in other countries and it is interesting to read about how menstruation is treated by different cultures. Once again we realize though that no matter what, each girl has the same first experience of seeing something in her underwear. Many who contributed stories to the book knew what that stain meant and many did not.

This would be a great book for you and your daughter to read together. I think it would be fun to take turns reading the stories out loud to each other and then discussing each one. And then take some time to explore the website. Rachel provides information on contributing to organizations that provide feminine hygiene supplies to girls in poor countries. This is one of many reasons that keeps girls home from school as they don’t have supplies each month for their period and therefore don’t leave the house.

Your daughter will definitely gain a greater appreciation for the common female experience of first periods when she is done reading this book.

Period Fact #7 – What to do about cramps?

Our Friday period fact series continues with information about cramps. Not every girl will suffer from cramps, but for those that do, it can be a bothersome nuisance and interfere with everyday activities.

Cramps are another period symptom. During menstruation the uterus contracts or tightens to slough off the endometrium, the mucous membrane that lines the uterus. For some girls this can feel uncomfortable, even painful.

As much as possible, your daughter should stick to her regular activities and healthy habits during her period which can help her avoid cramps.

Most advice for general well being such as eating sensibly, exercising and getting the right amount of sleep also applies during menstruation. Now is the time to encourage your daughter to establish a special routine during her period that can relieve discomfort and improve her overall attitude about menstruation.

Stretching is a great way to keep muscles limber and relaxed. Sit on the floor with a straight back then bend your knees so that the souls of your feet touch, now gently pull your feet inward. Or, while standing with legs shoulder width apart, gently lunge from side to side. Both of these stretches will help to limber up the pelvic region. Add some deep breathing to increase the amount of oxygen reaching the muscles.

Start a monthly ritual of sitting down for a shared pot of tea. Earl Grey tea and Chamomile are known for their relaxing and mood lifting properties. Offer an empathetic ear if your daughter needs to gripe about her period.

Re-heatable rice bags, hot water bottles and heating pads can work wonders to ease cramps. Apply a few drops of essential oil of lavender to the rice bag for added pain relieving benefits.

If your daughter’s cramps are so bad that she has to miss school or regular activities, it would be time to take her to a doctor. He/she can help determine what may be causing the cramps and prescribe remedies.

Parenting is like Spring Gardening

Today is the first day of spring, although in the Pacific Northwest, we still seem to be struggling with winter. There are daffodils sprouting in the garden and so we will celebrate spring anyway. March 20^th is also my oldest son’s birthday. Aaron is now 26 years old, hard to believe that time has gone by so quickly. I still remember being beyond nervous bringing him home as his Dad and I took on becoming parents of this precious little boy.

Now that I’m a wise mom of three adult children I thought I would take some time to reflect on what I have learned as a parent.

The #1 thing I have learned is that parenting changes as your children grow up. The start of parenting is the grudge work of diaper changing and midnight feedings. And it’s also the wait for the first smile, the first roll over, and the first step.

It continues to the first day of school, helping with homework, attending concerts in the school gym and before you know it, the first high school formal dance. How different kids look in dress up clothes, you realize they are speeding towards adulthood.

Now that the kids are adults, parenting turns to advising on money management, health insurance, and sharing in the joys of their relationships. Through it all, I feel blessed that my kids still turn to me for advice. I hope that never changes.

The 2^nd thing I have learned is to let go. This was particularly hard with Aaron, the oldest. I am also the oldest of my siblings and Aaron and I have similar temperaments. I had to learn to trust his judgment over mine and then happily watch as his self-confidence rose when he made the right decisions. Now he has the tools to be successful as he moves forward in life.

The 3^rd thing I have learned is to enjoy the moment. Kids grow up so fast, it’s hard to remember day to day happenings, so enjoy the day as it happens. Now that the kids have left home, we don’t see the day to day happenings as much so we rely on phone and email. No matter how you do it, staying in touch is important.

Parenting is like spring gardening, the most important thing is to enjoy your children as they grow!

Menstrual Periods – Five Common Myths to Overcome

Girls tend to have some preconceived notions about periods. Some they hear from friends and some they hear from the media. When you talk to your daughter about starting her first menstrual period, ask her what she’s heard. Together you can sort through fact and fiction.

Here are five common myths you’re daughter might have heard and how you can help her learn the truth. Knowing these facts will help your daughter be comfortable with starting her period.

1. If I stay skinny, I won’t get my period. Being underweight can delay the start of menstruation and can have an impact once periods start. Being underweight is not a healthy state to be in, regardless of how models are portrayed in the media. Support your daughter in having a healthy diet and a healthy weight. Positive body image will last a lifetime.

2. People can tell when I’m on my period because it smells. Proper hygiene methods are key here. Regularly changing pads will help alleviate odors. By itself, menstrual blood does not cause an odor.

3. The sanitary pads will show through my clothes. Help your daughter overcome this fear by buying different size pads and trying them out before she starts her first period. She can try different clothes while standing in front of a mirror to reassure herself that feminine hygiene pads will not show through clothes.

4. If I use a tampon, I’m no longer a virgin. The definition of a virgin is a woman who has not had sex. Tampons do not play a part in virginity.

5. Girls can’t get pregnant if they have sex during their period. There is a remote possibility of getting pregnant during a period. Your daughter should know that birth control should be used every time she has sex, even during her period. Read more at KidsHealth.org.

Period Fact #6 – Will her period hurt?

Welcome back to our Friday series on Period Facts. Today’s topic is ‘Will Her Period Hurt?’ Periods themselves shouldn’t hurt. Some girls experience cramping during their periods which happens when the uterus contracts or tightens as it is working to flush the lining of the uterus. Bloating caused from extra fluid in the abdomen may also cause discomfort.

Cramping usually happens in the abdomen or the area below the belly button. If your daughter has burning, itching or sharp pain around her vagina then it is probably best to discuss her concerns with a doctor.

Congratulations on 100 Years of Girl Scouting!

Cookies Anyone?

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA and we would like to add our congratulations to the chorus honoring the anniversary. Dot Girl had the honor of exhibiting at the 2011 National Girl Scout Convention in Houston, Texas this past November. All told, approximately 12,000 Scouts, Troop Leaders and volunteer board members walked through the doors of the Houston Convention Center. We have never seen such a sight. Every girl was having fun, and every leader was looking for tools and information to improve the scouting experience for their troops.

Most of us come into contact with Girl Scouts during their annual cookie sales. Some of us are lucky to have Scouts who sell to us every year while many more of us will see Troops standing in front of local grocery stores. But Girl Scouts is much more than cookie sales. Juliette ‘Daisy’ Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts of the USA believed ‘that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually’.

Today Girl Scouts offers ‘Journeys’ in everything from science, performing arts, to issues involving the planet’s resources, the list goes on allowing every girl to find the Journey that fits her. The goal is simple, to develop young women who will know how to work with others, have strong confidence in their own skills and be ready to lead whether in business, politics or their own communities. We applaud this goal and wish the Girl Scouts of the USA another 100 years of growth and success.

Period Fact #5 – When will my daughter get her first period?

The fifth question in our series on period facts is ‘When you daughter get her first period?’. It may be frustrating for your daughter to know that no one can tell exactly when a girl will have her first period. During puberty a girl’s body will go through some typical stages of development but each girl is unique and the changes will happen at different times. Usually a period will come about 2 to 2 1/2 years after breasts first start growing. An indicator may also be when other female relatives started their periods.

Help put Dot Girl ‘On The Shelf’ at Walmart!

Dot Girl Products is excited to announce our entry into the Get on the Shelf contest at Walmart. Please help us in this endeavor by voting for the kit here. Voting starts today and lasts through Tuesday, April 3, 2012. We encourage you to vote every day and help Dot Girl with the opportunity to help girls across the United States on to the road of happy periods!

Dot Girl Supports the Born This Way Foundation

We are inspired, very inspired by the Born This Way Foundation, founded by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia. Their goal to help build a braver, kinder society is exactly what we need in these scary times, whether it be school kids being bullies or radio commentators insulting others for expressing opinions contrary to their own. We encourage all of you to visit the Born This Way Foundation website to find out how you might contribute to this movement by spreading the word, telling your story or donating to the Foundation. Let’s make this a better world for our children and ourselves.