Re: Parenthood--starting periods

[Guest guest]

My 13 yo aspie/ocd daughter started her period at age

12. But I didn’t see that day as pivotal. Actually the

changes started long before because puberty sets in long before the period

starts--- with the mood swings, defiance, anger, wanting not to be controlled. On

paper this all sounds like normal teen stuff, but was different with my aspie daughter

than my non-aspie daughter. It was more intense and difficult because

logic doesn’t work with aspie, actually nothing works in the heat of the

moment. It has taken time, the introduction of Prozac and therapy to work

out how the two of us can get along. There are mountains of threads

on this group discussing this very topic. And since you don’t know

how yours daughter will behave, you can take that as it comes.

If you refer to the actual coping with menustration, my

experience was quite positive. If my daughter wants something, she handles

things very well. And in this case she took it as a sign of growing up,

which she wants very much. Long before her period began, i gave her books

that I had purchased for my older daughter which discusses her developing

body. American girl has a great series, I think “the care and

keeping of you” might be one that discusses periods but it may be a different

one. My daughter read everything I gave her about the

subject. We also went over the process of how to use the sanitary napkins

and dispose of them. I even had her try one on to experience the

feel. She has sensory issues and I was concerned about how she would

handle it but she did so beautifully. After she started her period, she noticed

that girls at school use tampons and she thought she would like to try

them. I cringed at the thought and told her we would ask the pediatrician

at our next visit. I told her I didn’t know if this could be

hurtful in any way to her body and the doctor would know. the doctor told

us it was safe if used properly. I took some time to pick myself up off

the floor and wrap my mind around the idea and eventually purchased a box of

slim tampons for her. we read all the directions and I shared my

experience with her. she tried to use them a couple times without success

so continues to use pads. I have to say I was a bit relieved by this, but

I think this is just my old fashioned thinking because logically I know

how much more comfortable a tampon is when compared to a pad. Hope I haven’t

grossed anybody out here. I don’t know where else you can talk

about such things in mixed company….this group is awesome.

Good luck,

melody