Preparing and Celebrating Puberty and Periods with your Child
You’ve been learning about your menstrual cycle and how to attune to its changing daily strengths, vulnerabilities, and self-care needs – and it’s been life changing to finally learn what you should have learnt as a child. So imagine how powerful it would be for our children to learn this knowledge and wisdom now – rather than having to figure it all out after many years of being disconnected to their body, their cycle and therefore, themselves. If you’d love to share what you now know with your child or any other child for that matter but aren’t sure of when or how to start, I’d love to give you some ideas to help you do that confidently in a way that feels gentle, age-appropriate, and empowering for you and your child.
Many mothers have traditionally thought that children aren’t ready to learn about their body, how it changes, what menstruation is, or anything else associated with puberty until they have their first period but when we leave “the talk” until this time, children already have a lot of feelings, thoughts and confusion about what’s been happening to their body and sense of selves for a while, and they question what these changes mean about them if they are left in the dark.
Children in the playground talk and share information that’s usually incomplete or inaccurate, leaving children to piece the story together themselves. Schools deliver education that’s most often squashed down in one or two hours total to combine information on what periods are and how to manage blood, anatomy and how reproduction works which sends children the message that having periods means that falling pregnant is something to fear, and that when they begin their periods, they’re ready to have sex, which is not the case at all from a developmental point of view.
When talking about periods is so uncomfortable, it continues the menstrual taboo that we have been victims of for millennia. So how do we cultivate a period positive culture?
Circles As Ancient Medicine For Modern Times with Mitlé Southey
It’s safe to say that sacred women’s circles are making a big come back. No longer lost ancient forms of gathering in community, circles are now becoming increasingly available around the world as an opportunity to gather with shared intention, possibly to meet new friends, devote time to spiritual practice, to experience particular ceremony. Whatever happens and whoever you meet, you are sure to come home to yourself. The way of the circle offers us a very different form of connection and community in which we can come to understand ourselves and each other- and to find the magick and medicine we need at the time.
Circles are an ancient way of life, but are now being held in towns everywhere, in schools, board rooms, and online, and they have the potential to support healing and transformation of communities on many levels. I believe that when you attend your first Circle, you awaken to a new way of relating and being, and its addictive.
My first ever circle was with today’s guest Mitlé Southey in 2018, when I attended her 3 day circle facilitator training, and that immersive experience changed me deeply, and revealed a deeper path forward for me personally in my own healing, as well as in my work that I do. I’m overjoyed to welcome MItlé to the podcast, and to share with you a delicious conversation about:
What circles are, and what may happen in a circle,
Our first circle experiences, and how they shaped our lives,
How circles are medicinal, transformative experiences that can set deep healing in motion,
Why receiving guidance and training in how to hold circles is an important consideration as space holders,
How circles are available for all people, and how the circle process can be imbued into our work, lives, and relationships,
The role circles can play in rites of passage processes for all people, and how Mitlé is hosting Mother-Son circles, and I am host Mother-Daughter circles particularly. Listen in to Episode 60 of Wild Flow, and share with us 3 words that encapsulate your first ever circle experience! xxx
Coming of Age Wisdom for Mothers and Daughters with Arahni Lion and Jo Rockendorfer
imagine a world where mothers were given sacred space to welcome their daughters intentionally into their coming of age rite of passage. and where girls were welcomed into circle with other mothers and daughters to find deep wisdom, loving support and a chance to experience true sisterhood all before their 13th birthday. there is a place on earth: it’s called the seeding wisdom journey held annually in the illawarra (nsw) by wise women arahni lion and jo rockendorfer. If you’ve ever wished you were more supported, more seen and heard, more understood and respected in your own maiden years, this is a truly special way of healing that part of you, and to give your child the best start to a conscious, empowered, embodied and connected womanhood. I know that when my daughters are of age, we will be taking the journey together, one by one.
Arahni and Jo share the story of why and how they created this potent experience, what happens within the journey, and why this kind of initiatory journey is needed now, more than ever.
The Cyclic Nature of Female ADHD
ADHD is becoming more and more understood as a neurodivergence, however what is still not being widely recognised is the link between what ADHD looks and feels like for women and girls, because of their hormonal cycle. Today’s guest Adele Wimsett is a Women’s Health Practitioner & Cyclical Living Expert. With a background of working with children with complex needs and diagnosed ADHD herself, she is keen to raises awareness about how females are affected by ADHD.
4 Ways to Boost Confidence in Girls
Did you know that on average, Australian females experience between 450-500 periods in her lifetime, with the average cycle spanning between 21-35 days, and the average bleed lasting between 2-7 days?
Once we begin menstruating (at menarche – pronounced “men-ar-kee”) which occurs anywhere these days between roughly the ages of 8-15, and commonly around ages 12-13, we begin our monthly bleed (menstrual cycle) until we reach menopause which occurs approximately at the age of 50 (although again, this can occur much earlier or later as it is do individual).
After menarche our periods will be irregular for most of our teen years until the rhythm is established and our hormones settle into their natural, beautiful cycle. You might notice that some months you bleed for longer, or more heavily than other times, or that your cycle isn’t the same length each time. This is all ok – everyone’s cycle is different.
What age is best for girls to attend a First Moon Circle?
Did you know that on average, Australian females experience between 450-500 periods in her lifetime, with the average cycle spanning between 21-35 days, and the average bleed lasting between 2-7 days?
Once we begin menstruating (at menarche – pronounced “men-ar-kee”) which occurs anywhere these days between roughly the ages of 8-15, and commonly around ages 12-13, we begin our monthly bleed (menstrual cycle) until we reach menopause which occurs approximately at the age of 50 (although again, this can occur much earlier or later as it is do individual).
After menarche our periods will be irregular for most of our teen years until the rhythm is established and our hormones settle into their natural, beautiful cycle. You might notice that some months you bleed for longer, or more heavily than other times, or that your cycle isn’t the same length each time. This is all ok – everyone’s cycle is different.
How To Get Children Excited About Periods
Beth Moxon’s favourite topic is, you guessed it, PERIODS, which I am totally here for! Beth channels her inner fire to ensure that menstrual shame is a thing of the past. She is a powerhouse who is educating her own community through holding First Moon Circles, and is starting big conversations on TikTok where a huge proportion of children now receive their menstrual education.
Beth Moxon is a cyclical living guide in East Sussex, England, a qualified and highly experienced secondary school teacher who now trains teachers. She is a certified Cycle Coach and First Moon Circle facilitator and has extensive experience holding space for young people and adults. She is highly skilled and knowledgeable in all things menstruality related and loves to share her passion and knowledge by running local First Moon Circles. She has two little daughters who keep her busy during the times when she’s not thinking about periods!
Become Your Own Contraception and Fertility Expert
how does the universe and cosmos, the earth, our environment and the people around us influence our menstrual cycle and menopause experience? As within, so without, as above, so below. My guest Tracey Stevens is an emotional root cause health practitioner and sees a strong connection between the universal flow and chaos around us playing out in human health – which can impact our menstrual health and menopause.
A Mother’s Guide to Menarche as a Sacred Rite of Passage
Empowering people through their very first period, their Menarche rite of passage is very special, powerful work that I love to do in my First Moon Circles, and Facilitator Training.
I spoke with Donna Raymond on Wild Flow Podcast in episode 20 because she is someone who is equally passionate about this work. Donna recently celebrated her eldest daughter’s Menarche in a stunning ceremony, and has written a book for Mothers so that they can guide their own children through such a pivotal time.
We spoke about
The importance of Menarche in a young woman’s life,
The connection to blood and cyclic wisdom, lineage and personal power.
We also share about the beautiful content that Donna has created for her first book, ‘Maiden – A Mother’s Guide to Puberty and Menarche as a Sacred Rite of Passage’
LISTEN NOW
Beat Sunday dread: 5 Family Rituals For a Smooth Week
Did you know that on average, Australian females experience between 450-500 periods in her lifetime, with the average cycle spanning between 21-35 days, and the average bleed lasting between 2-7 days?
Once we begin menstruating (at menarche – pronounced “men-ar-kee”) which occurs anywhere these days between roughly the ages of 8-15, and commonly around ages 12-13, we begin our monthly bleed (menstrual cycle) until we reach menopause which occurs approximately at the age of 50 (although again, this can occur much earlier or later as it is do individual).
After menarche our periods will be irregular for most of our teen years until the rhythm is established and our hormones settle into their natural, beautiful cycle. You might notice that some months you bleed for longer, or more heavily than other times, or that your cycle isn’t the same length each time. This is all ok – everyone’s cycle is different.