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Kits help parents tell girls about their first periods
By Kristi O'Harran
Herald Columnist Feb. 4, 2008
One of those "uncomfortable" discussions some parents have with their daughters is introducing the topic of monthly cycles.
Around age 9 or 10, girls need to understand how their bodies are changing.
Kathy
Pickus of Mukilteo, and her sister, Terri Goodwin of Seattle, created
The Dot Girls First Period Kit as a visual aid for one of the most
important sit downs of our lives: Where babies come from.
The
bag includes a 12-page booklet with answers to questions to read
together, a menstrual calendar, a gel-filled heat pack to ease cramps,
sanitary pads and hand wipes.
Some ibuprofen would have been nice too, but that's just me.
"These
kits help jump-start the dialogue about not only having a first period,
but about the differences between sex and love," said Pickus. "The kit
is designed to help tongue-tied moms and single dads explain things
more easily to their daughters."
The women said they had a wonderful mother, but there was never a menstrual talk.
Pickus started her period on a family trip to Montana.
"It
took me a full day to tell my mother, because I honestly thought I was
dying," Pickus said. "I was totally scared by what was happening."
Goodwin's period started a week after their brother died in a car accident.
"Our
mom bought her the necessary supplies, but was not in any shape to sit
down and talk to Terri about what was happening," Pickus said. "Terri
was surprised and scared."
As mothers, they wanted to create something to address the uncomfortable topic.
Pickus,
48, is the mother of Dylan, 16, and Aaron and Haley, both students at
the University of Washington. The Mariners fan and quilter graduated
from UCLA with a degree in business economics. Goodwin, 42, has two
young sons, is also a UCLA graduate and received a design degree.
Besides
helping parents open the door for discussion, Goodwin and Pickus also
hope the kits will lessen the anxiety girls feel about their first
period and turn it into a positive experience.
Fair warning from an informed parent eases the inevitable.
Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
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