How to support your children through puberty and menarche
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?
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.
Reclaim Your Menstrual Story to Reclaim Your Body
In this episode of Wild Flow Podcast I sat down for a delicious conversation with Hannah Brown who offers menstrual story work to women to help them unpick the threads of their stories, lived experiences, and relationship with their body and cycle. By exploring the patterns that run through your womb story, you can challenge what’s true, what’s yours and what needs letting go, with the aim of rejecting menstrual shame and reclaiming your cycle. Hannah is a Children’s social worker, trainer/consultant and menstrual cycle coach who has worked with people to support change for nearly two decades. She’s also a client of mine, having been coaching with me and part of my Cycle Sorcery group journey so this conversation feels like a beautiful natter with a good friend.
cyclic rituals, sacred self-care and an oracle card reading for your cycle
In this episode of Wild Flow Podcast I sat down for a delicious conversation with my friend Clare Foale, a writer, an artist, a teacher, a space holder, a tapping practitioner, a questioner and an ocean-lover. Clare and I met originally in cycle facilitator training with Mitle Southey, and shared visions and journeys whilst we sat next to each other. I loved her earrings and beautifully warm wisdom and laugh.
Since then Clare has trained with me to become a Certified First Moon Circle Facilitator, and Clare has claimed her creativity by, amongst other things, dreaming and birthing her magickal oracle card deck called Spacious, which is all about honouring our desires, needs, and sacred selves.
What menstrual / cycle awareness means to both of us,
How we can use incredibly simple reflective questions to support us through the more challenging as well as expansive moments of our menstrual cycles, and daily life as women, mothers, space holders,
Why Clare does not like the term self-care and her own personal practice that she finds infinitely more nourishing instead,
She looks back at the last decade of her life from turning 30 to turning 40, and shares the love notes of wisdom she shares with her younger self,
And Clare offers us an oracle card reading from her new card deck Spacious to hold space for ourselves through the four phases of our next menstrual cycle. This is a beautiful menstrual cycle awareness ritual!
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.
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!