Yes, my mother and I had "the talk," at least once, that I can remember. The day I got my first period, my mother and my aunt set up a lounge chair in my grandmother's backyard, handed me a glass of lemonade, saying something about sitting in the sun being "good for you" and I still remember thinking that, somehow, the rest of the neighborhood knew.
"You're a woman, now."
That, along with being herded into a darkened gym with the rest of my 7th grade class, to watch someone's mother (or, older sister maybe) wrestle with a "sanitary belt" (I know, I'm old, shuddup!) was the extent of my education into womanhood — until, I had children.
"Don't be afraid to ask mommy ANYTHING!"
[pointing down there]
"What dis called?"
Um…wait…I know this one.
"That's your…um…pooh-tee."
Say it with me…FAIL! Then, a mom friend of mine told me about a body book for girls put out by American Girl and I immediately ran out and bought 2 copies (1 for me and 1 for the girls) and it was good — until, I had teenagers.
[lifting bra and pointing at, well, you know]
"Is this normal?"
[eyes go wide]
I have the extreme pleasure of being the 1st stop on the TLC Book Tour for January 2010, featuring The Body Scoop for Girls by Jennifer Ashton, M.D., Ob-Gyn.
Got lemonade?