Why Grown Up Girl

I remember about 30 years ago when my mom gave me a kit to prepare me for my period. At that time I really did not know much about periods. There were so many questions in my mind. What is a period and why would I get one? What will the first day be like? Will everyone know that I started my period? Was I normal?

When my mom gave me the box, it was a great gift. I thought, now I'll know all of the answers to my questions and I'll be ready for my period to come. I remember to this day that I felt so cool having all the stuff and knowing I'd know what to do when my period my period came. I looked at all of the samples and studied them. Back then, the products weren't as convenient as they are today. The pads seemed huge and there was even one of those old-fashioned belts that you had to hook the pad to.

What I remember the most was organizing all of my supplies that came in the box over and over. I was ready and waiting for the day I would start my period and join that special club- a club of womanhood. I walked a little taller and smarter because I knew I had the answers and didn't have to be scared or worried about what would happen.

On the day my period started I was not scared or embarrassed- I was prepared. I went to my supplies, grabbed a pad and then went to tell my mom that I had finally started. I was so thankful that my mom had helped me with this confusing time.

30 years later:

My daughter Danielle was on the brink of puberty when I started looking into how to prepare her for this transition which can be confusing and difficult time in a girl's life.

I looked and looked for a period kit like the one my mom gave me, but I found nothing out there. I was disappointed because I wanted to ensure her experience was as positive as mine had been. This was the inspiration for Grown Up Girl, which I founded because I really believe that this time in a girl's life should be positive, not scary, confusing or embarrassing. When parents are able to prepare their daughters for the changes they will experience, it can be a positive transition from girlhood to womanhood.

When Danielle turned 10, I gave her the book, The Care & Keeping of You, so she could start reading and learning about the changes her body would go through, both physical and emotional. The book also talks about how to care for your body through healthy eating, exercise, hygiene and grooming. When she turned 11, I gave her a Period Pak and told her to look through it and to read the booklet inside because she would soon be starting her period.

Not long after, the big day finally came. It was Winter Break and Danielle was out of school. She came down the stairs with a smile on her face and gave me a big hug and whispered in my ear that she started her period. She caught me off guard, and I had to ask her to repeat herself. She leaned in close and said "Mom, I started my period" and she gave me another hug. We celebrated for a minute or two. I smiled and said "GREAT" and we both ran upstairs to her room to go through her Period Pak. She told me that she had already read the booklet. I pulled out a pad and told her to put it on and then me marked the calendar included in her Period Pak so that she can keep track of her cycle. I am relieved that she had a positive transition into womanhood- like 30 years earlier, I walked a little taller because I felt like I had made a difference in this time in my daughters life a positive one.

Danielle recently told me that she wasn't scared or embarrassed at all when it happened. She was glad she had everything in advance so she was prepared.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the people that helped and supported me with this venture. There was a great amount of time and research that was done prior to launching Grown Up Girl.

Dr. David Wilkins- Medical Consultant
Melissa Goins, R.N.- Medical Consultant
Melody Paulsen- Education Specialist
Dianne Pavia- Writer/ Designer
Dawn Cheyovich- Technical Advisor