The "facts of life" talk Today, I tried to talk to my daughter about periods. She's 8. It was that time of the month for me, and I was trying to explain why I wasn't feeling well today. I tried to explain it, but it went about ten feet over her head. I thought we'd mastered biological vocabulary in toddlerhood, but she asked me "mom, what's a va****"? (I'm blocking things out to not attract illicit activity) I tried to tell her. I don't think anything really absorbed anything. It was all so complicated for her. I think it's going to be a long journey to the big day when I explain how babies are made. She asked me about that the other day. Man, if she doesn't even get periods, the s** thing is going to take a lot of explaining. So, in sum, if you're thinking of telling your girls the facts of life, be prepared for the fact that she may not get it on the first try. I would otherwise have avoided the whole thing, except that I'm worried that one day she'll get her period early and she'll freak. Otherwise, I wouldn't care to bring it up. Heck, it was hard for me to hear, as a kid, so I can't imagine what it would be like for someone on the spectrum. I would take it really slow. Good luck! HarrietOooh, yes.  Mine is nine and when  Itry, she goes into "LALALALA cannot HEAR you!" mode.  Start slow.  I began describing breast development and for some reason, she listened.  It is less threatening.  Then you go to hair ... THEN periods.  But it will take several discussions over several months.  And I think it is GREAT you are planning ahead -- no freaking out! Good Luck to you mom's with girls.  A couple years ago, I started talking with my then 9 year old NT daughter about the facts of life, and she was completely grossed out!  They talked about it in school the next year, which helped to convince her that I wasn't making stuff up.  I started slow, and just talked about a few things at a time and kept it simple, so that she wouldn't be overwhelmed.  So, even NT girls don't want to hear about it, and don't always get it right away either.  Mom told me about the same time maybe a year older.   I have to admit I cried a bit and it was ahrd to comprehend. Not to mention I was already developing faster than other kids.  Remain open and give it time. We were sort of forced to start into this (with a discussion of body parts... Tori had a screaming anxiety attack once she figured out brother had equipment she didn't have... she thought she was broken).  Everyday its something new.  "How come big girls have ...?" or "When will I get ...?" We haven't had the discussion of babies, etc..  I'm dreading it. You know, I didn't really think to guage her reaction about hearing about genitalia. But when she was a toddler, I just used the real words. I didn't think it would be that big a deal. My fear is when I tell her about babies, she'll obsess about it, and---  I don't want to go there. Oh man, if I'd seen blood at the age of 4, I would have totally freaked out! I talked to my best friend and she told me how she had to get her daughter, also in the 4th grade (as is my daughter), a training bra even though she in no way needs it because "all the other girls are wearing one." My daughter has no interest in that one--yet WNYgirl40227.2456828704That is so freaky! Reminds me of the first time Francesca peed on the toilet. She peed a whole pile of blood. She's 4 years old. I freaked! I didn't think it was her period. I took her to emergency. Turns out it was a scratch. I think she was scratching it with long nails. I didn't think to investigate down there. Oh my gosh, I just had to tell my daughter last night exactly what puberty in boys was all about. When she was 7, she came to me with some blood in her underwear. I couldn't believe she would have started already. While I was on-hold with our doctor (luckily, it was the one day she had night hours), I started looking and cleaning things up. I was able to see a very tiny tear., She admitted to me she'd been scratching because it was itchy. When my doc came back on the phone I told her what I'd discovered, she prescribed some cream, and problem solved. But while on hold and examining her, I felt like I had to tell her about period and all that. I didn't think it registered with her then, but can share it all now. The whole baby thing came early when I was preggers with CJ. At that time she just wanted to know how I would get the baby out. She was 3 going on 4. I told her I would push it out between my legs. That satisfied her. Today, she knows the whole man and woman, wait for marriage, what goes in where and what happens to make the baby thing. Its nothing she proclaims to the world, just if I ask her something about it, she can respond. She knows its not something you share with classmates, ESPECIALLY Catholic School! As for proper names, we always used "privates," until we had to specfically label "don't play with your v***** / p****."
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