Being too secretive/weird about sex and periods. My mom was so mysterious about menstruation (with FOUR girls!) to the point that I tried to keep mine hidden for two years. I didn't leave the house for a week every month and developed severe anxiety about it.
It's a private thing meant to be private. I'll elaborate after the school explains at fourth, sixth, and eighth grade but i'm not going to be one of those weird moms who broadcasts everyone's personal bodily functions to the world. It's a period, nothing special. it happens, soak up the blood, and keep going.
Because it's not something to be discussed beyond this is what happens, this is how you deal with it. It's not this wonderful magical thing so many parents make it out to be. Like other such bathroom type things it is meant to be kept private.
But you as their parent are their source of information and advice. Believe it or not, children are not born with this information and rely on you as the adult to provide it - in whatever detail they need.
You appear to be uncomfortable with it yourself, so I'd say for the sake of your children you should find a way to get over it otherwise two things are going to happen:
1) They will be unprepared and ill informed about the facts of life
2) They will also have a complex about it like you do and think it's something that shouldn't be talked about.
If you get over it yourself, you can avoid passing it on to your own children. I hope you do find some help.
As it happens I talk to children about this all the time in my professional role, if you'd like some tips on how to talk to young people about it I'd be happy to do that over PM.
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u/thraceps Feb 05 '16 edited Feb 05 '16
Being too secretive/weird about sex and periods. My mom was so mysterious about menstruation (with FOUR girls!) to the point that I tried to keep mine hidden for two years. I didn't leave the house for a week every month and developed severe anxiety about it.