Puberty
Do you remember when you got your first period? I do. For me, it was a positive experience. My mom had educated me and so I knew what to expect. I was at home when it happened too, so my mom was there to help me.
For many women though, it was not a good experience. You might be surprised at how often moms tell me, "My mom did not give me any education; I didn't know what to expect," and, "I don't know how to teach my daughter b/c my mom never taught me." If this was your experience, please know that you are not alone. Even moms who had a positive experience like me, often say, "I just need a little help with this," and it can be different for your daughter!
For most girls, the first changes of puberty will begin around the ages of 9 or 10, but for some girls, they can begin as early as 7, and in the U.S., the mean age for the first menstrual period is 12.3. African American and Hispanic girls tend to develop slightly sooner than Caucasian girls.
Our daughters are so beautiful and unique and, although there is a general pattern which pubertal development follows . . . breast development, then pubic hair, then armpit hair, then the first menstrual period . . . the changes will occur at different times for each girl, and some girls may even experience those changes in a different order. Regardless though of how and when puberty presents itself, your daughter's body will show signs that her first menstrual period is about to come, and if a girl is taught how to chart and read these signs, she will know when it is about to happen.
Moms, it really is true! Your daughter can know when her first period is about to come! No matter what your experience was with your first menstrual period, through the Blossom Program, you can give your daughter a preparation that few girls will have and make her first menstrual period a truly positive experience.
How does Blossom work?
Blossom is a mother-daughter program designed for girls who have begun to show outward signs of puberty, but have not yet begun to menstruate. Blossom teaches girls what happens in their bodies as the body prepares for the fmp, or first menstrual period. The program teaches girls to follow the signs, enabling them to identify changes that occur on the outside of the body (breast development, growth of hair in the pubic area, and growth of hair in the armpit regions) and to observe changes that occur on the inside of the body (production of cervical mucus and a rise in waking temperature). The girls are then taught how to crosscheck the cervical mucus and waking temperature signs to pinpoint 1 to 2 weeks in advance when their first period will start.
The observation and charting instructions in Blossom are very simple; the program takes the information that women learn in a Natural Family Planning class and makes it both age-appropriate and useable for girls. Blossom will teach your daughter only the basics of charting.
Additional Information for Mothers
In addition to teaching your daughter to chart, Blossom also includes a detailed section for mothers. Moms will learn important information about the development of the adolescent cycle, what to expect on their daughter's charts, and when to seek medical evaluation. And, of course, I will always be available for questions and chart review once your seminar is complete.
What does a Blossom Chart look like?
Course Format and Materials
Growing up can be difficult for many girls and for some, the topics of puberty and the menstrual cycle can be a bit embarrassing. For this reason, some moms wish to teach their daughters in a one-on-one setting in the privacy of their own home. Other mothers feel that their daughter will learn best learning in a group setting with other mothers and daughters. Over the years, moms have given me many good reasons why they prefer one method over the other! And so, to make the learning experience the best that it can be for your daughter, there are several options for learning the Blossom Program.
If you prefer to teach your daughter in the home, our Home Instruction Program or our Private Seminar are great options. If your daughter learns best in a group setting, scheduling a Group Seminar at your church or amongst a group of friends is also possible. Simply let me know that you are interested in scheduling a group seminar and I can help you get everything set up.
No matter how you teach Blossom to your daughter, you will be given lifetime access to all of our beautiful online flipbooks: The Blossom Instruction Booklet, Charts and Stickers, and Activity Packet.
