I remember the day distinctly. I was 12. It was Thanksgiving. My cousin was in town. I told no one.

Fast forward 3 months later when it happened to my cousin. She got a dozen roses and dinner out on the town and a shopping spree. Everyone was excited.

I still don’t like to talk about it. I have boys, so at least I can ease into the topic when they are ready. Versus nature deciding to make the announcement for me.

But, hey, it’s happened to EVERY GIRL. THAT’S EVER LIVED.

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I have no idea where I got the idea that it should be a taboo subject. Or why I felt like it was something to hide. (I still get the willies inside when someone makes me talk about it.)

Let’s blame the Patriarchy. That’s a good excuse for most things these days. Like maybe we girls were supposed to pretend to not be girls. And, you know, conform in the workplace and act masculine and shit. A lady-like period is just that – lady-like. Not man-like. And anything not man-like in the 80s when I grew up was taboo and FEMINIST if you pointed it out too much.

Who knows.

Anyway, I’m turning a new leaf and yelling PERIOD PARTY really loudly into the internet. (But I’m still too chicken to say it really loudly at an actual party.)

All thanks to my girlfriends who do have daughters. Who will have to talk about it sooner rather than later. And who suggested I write about HOW TO THROW YOUR DAUGHTER A PERIOD PARTY!

How to throw your daughter a PERIOD PARTY

Here’s everything you need to throw your daughter a period party on that special day.

You can even pretend this is one of those subscription box things, where you gift your daughter a SURPRISE package EVERY month when Aunt Flow comes to town. Because your daughter needs supplies – every month. (If you VENMO me $150 and tell me your address, I’ll do all the shopping for you and hook you up next month. Kidding. Not kidding.)

Since going out to eat is a tad touchy these days. Unless you live in Texas and your governor has declared life is back to non-mask-wearing-normal. And shopping sprees at the ACTUAL MALL are passe, here are all the things you #girlmoms can give your daughters on the day they BECOME A WOMAN.

Period party supplies – in a box

First, find an awesome box to fill with all these goodies. Then decorate it with super heroine stickers and glitter. Because girls are strong and this is a PERIOD PARTY in a box!

1. A bottle of Midol. And perhaps a heating pad for cramps.

2. Emergency school supplies: Period panties and feminine wipes in case the luxurious school toilet paper doesn’t do its job. Plus, a discreet little clutch bag to keep everything in.

3. Speaking of school, include a fabulous hoodie she can keep in her backpack AT ALL TIMES to tie around her waist when the unthinkable happens and she’s wearing white pants, but not her Thinx. (Thank you, Katie Nelson from 7th grade, for saving my ass that day.)

4. A comfy pair of elastic-wasted pants in her favorite color.

5. Mace. To drive away nosy boys.

6. Teen Vogue. Because Cosmo isn’t exactly 12-year-old girl appropriate.

7. A dozen roses. In honor of my aunt who had the balls to make a big deal out of this girly milestone for my cousin.

8. Confetti or little balloons that automatically inflate when you open the box lid. Is that a thing? It seems like it should be a thing. Maybe I’m thinking of those gender reveal parties where all the pink balloons come spilling out of the box when they open the lid. I guess those aren’t magic balloons. Just actual balloons filled with helium. Trapped inside the box waiting for the SURPRISE! moment.

9. Jewelry to mark the special occasion. Perhaps a bracelet with an inspirational quote:, Womanhood is for the strong or Welcome to the sisterhood. Or a necklace simply decorated with a single pearl or her birthstone. (I don’t know what your daughter likes. Maybe a tattoo?)

10. Organic tampons. Fun fact: I’m still traumatized by that one time at church camp when a friend handed me a tampon and sent me off to the bathroom to figure out what to do with it. Haven’t used one since. It mighta helped if she’d also given me some lube – but hey, church camp…

11. A copy of Judy Bloom’s Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret. – the ultimate book about girls and puberty.

12. GIANT nighttime maxi pads – with wings. Plus, panty liners for light days. And how about adding a sticky note on each box to make it SUPER CLEAR about when to use each of them? Because panty liners can’t be trusted for bedtime duty.

13. CHOCOLATE!!!! Or whatever her favorite snacky dessert thing is. Poppin’ Jalapeno Doritos, anyone?

14. A love note from mom. To let her know you’re proud of her. And that she’s still that lovely little girl, even though her body feels a little weird right now.

Then, leave the box on her bed and let her open it on her own. Just in case she’s like me and doesn’t really want to talk about it.

What would you add to the box? How do you celebrate life’s milestones in your house with your daughter? This #boymom wants to know!

Share your own PERIOD PARTY ideas below or on Facebook at MothersRest.

Photo credit: Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

I’m excited to share that Triad Moms on Main featured this post on their blog.