Why don't some mothers tell their daughters about periods?

Question

I have seen several questions from  girls, who want to know how to ask their mother's about 1st bras, buying sanitary protection etc. Some of these girls have already had a period, and are scared to tell their mother.
 I can understand that girls might be embarrassed about the subject.  I know when I was a pre-teen, I would not have talked about it to friends, even if my mum hadn't said not to. Some might say she shouldn't have told me that - but she did it to protect me from bullying. I was still at primary school and in those days the girls' toilets did not have bins. 
But at least I had no hesitation about telling mum when I started, as she told me I would, and what I would have to do to keep clean.  She had been in her late teens when she started, but was observant enough to notice that I matured at a younger age.
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A friend of mine was not so lucky.  At about age 10 she noticed a pack of pads in the bathroom . When she asked what they were, her Mum said 'I'll tell you later."  'Later', was a few years later was when my terrified friend thought she had a serious injury that caused internal bleeding!
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MOTHERS!   The majority of you expect your offspring to live past childhood don't you? For girls this will mean  breast development and getting periods! Why do some of you not notice your daughters are approaching adolescence, and prepare them?  When a little girl plays dress up and tries your bra on,  tell them 'When you think  you are big enough for your own bra let me know."    By the time they get their first bra, they should know about periods.
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Do some mothers  feel it is a rite of passage, for their daughters  to 'pluck up courage' to tell mum they have started?

pinker80 · Accepted Answer

i don't recall my mother talking to me about periods and bras and stuff until i needed them way back when i was a kid, i was 9 or 10 in school and all the kids at that age except those whose parents hadn't allowed it got taught about reproduction and puberty plus we got pamphlets about it and the girls got pad samples. i think that took the pressure off my mum when i came to needing a bra i didn't know how to bring it up so i showed her a page about bras from a magazine she noticed i needed one we talked about them, when we were in a shop that had bras she whipped out a tape measure measured me up and got some. when it came to my period i was freaked out and would have been too scared to say anything if i hadn't have had evidence to wave in her face she knew what happened and got me pads and told me everything i needed to know.
so i can see why girls come on here looking for advice on how to bring it up from people that have already gone through it it's not easy and it's embarrassing to talk about personal things with a parent

? · Answer

My Mum made sure that I knew. She told me  about periods,pregnancy, when I meet the right one, all that. I think that she wanted me to know more than she did. When she first got married,her mother took her aside and told her "Be careful". Mum didn't know what Nana meant until 11 months later when my eldest brother was born!
I wasn't very well -being under a cloud of medication  when I was growing up- so  I was probably more naiive than most girls of the same age,so Mum would have felt it all the more urgent that I know.But she told me that if I had any questions  I was to ask her.
A lot of girls these days (and when I was a teenager,in the 1970's) worry about their weight.  At about thirteen I mentioned  to Mum that I was plump. She said "Yes. I  need to lose a few pounds too." and produced a diet on which we lost a pound each week.It was a sensible eating plan,not one of your crash or fad diets. 
I think that not telling your daughters is a mistake,but mothers sometimes do not have enough time to notice that their daughter is growing and developing. That 'the talk' is necessary and that some advice needs to be given and explanations made.These days a lot of mothers are in the workforce to  help provide for their families. One income is no longer enough to support a family.

Sharkey · Answer

I completely agree with you. I look at some of these questions from young girls and I think that's something you should ask your mother not a bunch of strangers on the internet. I don't understand why some mothers ignore this part of life. They went through it themselves at one point. I believe weak parenting is the cause behind our girls getting pregnant at younger and younger ages. They don't understand their bodies or the consequences that come with being a mature adult. I had gotten my period at a very young age (8) and I was already fully aware what it was and how to take care of the situation. My mother made sure of it and when my daughter comes of age herself I will make sure she is prepared as well.

Jeanne · Answer

I agree w/you 100%,  I have 2 grown dghtrs and they tell me EVERYTHING....sometimes  I wish they would  keep some of it to themselves.   They are both married.  so  I hear it all.  And I don't know  why some mothers  can't  talk to their dghtrs about this stuff....embarrassed  I guess....some women just can't  talk about personal stuff.   I have never had that problem......but  I'm sure that is the reason.

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Why don't some mothers tell their daughters about periods?

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