Preparing your daughter with special needs for menstruation…

There are so many mothers and fathers of daughters with special needs (our ranks included!) that we felt it very worthwhile to ask one of our special moms to write about her experience introducing a Period Pack to her daughter with Autism. This is the first of two (2) installments from Ms. Darcy Rubino, mom to Jessica, and supermom-of-three, who also serves as a family advocate in the state of Massachusetts, and is a former co-president of her home Parent Advisory Council (PAC). Ms. Rubino’s initial account is the ‘introduction’ of menstruation to her daughter, and the follow up will come likely a little bit after Jessica reaches womanhood.  We hope this is as helpful to other parents of daughters with special needs, as it was to us. Thank you Darcy (and Jessica!).

The first time I talked to my daughter Jessica about her period, she covered her mouth and giggled. 

She was 9 years old, and we were having what we call a Mama-Jessie day.  The plan for the day was to go to the beach, so I decided to take advantage of the 45 minute ride and have “the conversation” with Jessica. 

The fact that Jessica giggled and didn’t immediately yell “Stop!” was actually a good thing.  Jessica has high functioning Autism, and when she doesn’t want to talk about something, she will let you know it!  I asked her what she knew about periods, and she continued to giggle.  At that point, I knew that I needed to use my best friend “Google” to find out a more effective way to have a real conversation with her.

I got Jessica a Period Pack, and it was the best thing I did to facilitate “the conversation”.  The Pack was girly, pink, and packed full of information. 

Jessica has not gotten her period yet, but the book “Period” was something that we read together.  She really seemed to enjoy reading the book with me, and was struck by the clinical names for what is happening to her body. 

Her favorite word was “ovum”.

Don’t ask me why, but she thinks it is hysterical!  Jessica also enjoyed that there were many illustrations in the book, especially the drawings of cats.  I think we counted 7 cats in the book. 

The other part of the book that I found extremely helpful were the sections that talk about how a girl may feel when they have their period or when they are about to get it.  Because of Jessica’s Autism, it is hard for her to express emotions.  She was able to read the passages and let me know that she does feel grumpy or tired at times.  This was a fantastic revelation to me!

Jessica’s Period Pack was filled with fun things like pink hot chocolate (which we are saving to drink the day she gets her period), lip gloss, nail polish, sanitary napkins, panty liners, and wipes among many other things. 

I cannot explain how relieved I am that there is a product like Period Packs on the market. 

(I will make sure to update when Jessica takes her first step into womanhood!)

~Darcy Rubino

Period Packs Earns Prestigious Ranking

We couldn’t be more proud of this honor and simply wanted to immediately share the news. THANK YOU to all our fans, supporters and clients! xoxo

PERIOD PACKS™ EARNS PRESTIGIOUS POSITION AS A LEADING MOM-OWNED BUSINESS

North Andover Gift Box Company Ranks Amid Top 200 of StartupNation.com’s Entrepreneur Competition

 

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (5.3.2012) – Period Packs, Inc., a Massachusetts-based theme gift box company which aims to bring a sense of celebration and understanding about the onset of menses to young ladies around the world and pamper postnatal mothers, has been ranked among a prestigious list of the nation’s top mom-owned businesses. Announced this week,  Period Packs was selected from thousands of contestants entered in StartupNation.com’s 2012 Leading Moms in Business competition — sponsored by Web.com and Sam’s Club.

More than 350,000 votes were cast in support of the 2012 contestants, reflecting immense interest in moms building businesses at the same time they tend to their families. “There has been a sea of change among moms who come to realize that adding entrepreneurship to their lives brings exhilaration and immense gratification, not to mention supplemental—sometimes primary—income to their families in these dicey economic times,” said Rich Sloan, chief startupologist and co-founder of StartupNation.

The 2012 Leading Moms in Business ranking highlights some of the dominant trends, motivations and attributes among moms in business including:

• A great eye for providing attractive discounts, coupons, savings and value, all especially important to consumer moms of the recession era.

• A likelihood to come up with innovative products and solutions to address the challenging maze of motherhood. It’s an environment that demands resourcefulness.

• Conscience-driven business, where “doing well” is just fine, but the real rush comes from doing good.

• The attraction of being your own boss looms large for moms wanting to take control they just can’t find in a day job.

• Sustainable solutions and responsible business practices are increasingly paramount.

• Making the most of social media for business benefit is seemingly a birthright for the socially adept moms.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be ranked among so many superior mom-owned businesses across the nation, but even more proud to learn that we have such a supportive demographic of clients and fans who recognize the value in what we do,” said Wendy Bulawa Agudelo, chief maxi of Period Packs, Inc.  “Our hearts are filled with appreciation–which will fuel us to further build upon what we’ve already accomplished to date.”

The full results of the 2012 Leading Moms in Business ranking are available on StartupNation’s website at http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-in-business, and Period Pack’s winning profile (#175) can be found at: http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-in-business/contestant/11721/index.php.

 

About StartupNation
StartupNation provides over 175,000 pages of business advice and networking for entrepreneurs and serves millions of entrepreneurs annually. StartupNation is a free service founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs with the intention of providing a one-stop shop for entrepreneurial success, including blogs from a host of experts, podcasts, webcasts, eBooks such as 23 Hot Businesses to Start Right Now award-winning step-by-step advice, and more. StartupNation co-founders, Rich Sloan and Jeff Sloan, are two of the country’s leading small business experts. The Sloan brothers speak frequently at entrepreneurial forums and recently hosted a Public Television special helping people transform their passions into business opportunities. They are authors of StartupNation: Open for Business, published by Doubleday. The Sloan brothers are regularly quoted and featured in media such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fortune Small Business, Entrepreneur Magazine, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, FOX News and many others.

 

About Period Packs, Inc.

Period Packs™ specializes in theme gifts for young ladies entering menses and postnatal mothers. Based in Massachusetts, the company was founded by a mom with a pure mission to ‘welcome young ladies to womanhood.’ Through a series of uniquely designed gift boxes and similarly themed items, Period Packs aims to bring a sense of celebration and understanding about the onset of menses to young ladies around the world, and pamper postnatal mothers. The company strives to educate woman about global female-focused news through its blog, Pack Talk, and also offers gifts for girls in need via its Pink Packs program. For more information about Period Packs, or to order Period Packs merchandise, please visit www.periodpacks.com.

Why not wait….??

Many parents often think that opening the door to awkward topics such as menstruation, puberty, sex, etc. will result in too much curiosity—and they therefore, put these important conversations off or leave them in the hands of school or pediatrician, instead.

I recently viewed an old episode of Supernanny in which a family with four children had not yet had a conversation about sex with their 13-year-old son, whose room contained unopened condoms scattered across his dresser. Supernanny Jo Frost was horrified and questioned the parents as to whether or not they’d given them to their son or provided him guidance/sex education. When both parents replied ‘no’ and told her that they just hadn’t talked about it (hoping by not talking they’d ultimately prevent their teen from being curious about and having sex), Supernanny just about had a heart attack on camera!

As a parent of three children myself, I know all too well how weary us parents can become over the years. It starts with sleepless nights caring for newborns, and graduates to the Terrible Two’s and Three’s, and eventually, filled social and activity calendars—all of which must be juggled alongside careers, relationships, marriage and oftentimes, other children. When life is this hectic I can see how conversations (especially the ones we prefer not to have too soon) get put on the back burner. Ask my husband how often I say, “Can we discuss X topic tomorrow?”  and he’d tell you it happens a lot.

Interestingly, after launching Period Packs two years ago, we quickly realized that our clients are mainly comprised of parents who purchase gifts for the special young ladies in their lives after they begin menstruating.  While this is certainly a wonderful time for a young lady to receive a celebratory, yet discreet gift in the mail, we encourage parents to engage their daughters on the topic of menstruation in advance of its actual onset since menstruation isn’t exclusively about the onset of monthly bleeding. These days, we have a responsibility to educate our young women about everything from safe Internet practices to safe sex. We must explain the importance of regular medical exams, hygiene, breast self-exams and overall preparedness.  Young ladies today do seem to have more on their plate than their predecessors—likely due in part to amazing advancements in technology and the Digital Era in general. Information moves rapidly across a variety of platforms—many of which can be obtained right from a handheld device like a smart or cell phone. It’s a little frightening sometimes.

With this easy access to information, some parents assume (or hope) that their engaged and intelligent tweens/teens will leverage the Internet to research the things they need to know on their own. The main challenge with that plan is that not all information on the Internet is accurate (in fact, much of it is pure opinion) and much of it is shared with improper or incorrect context.

I’ve come to realize, now a parent myself, how important it is to have open communication with my children about everything—and I mean, everything.  I have promised them (and myself) that I can handle anything they drop into my lap.  I just hope I can always keep that promise.  Time will certainly tell.

In the meantime, I’ve already started to plan how I’m going to begin discussing menstruation with my soon-to-be 7-year-old daughter. It seems so young, but current research estimates that more young women are getting their period between the ages of 7-14.  Since she’s been around Period Packs for so long, I’m sure she’ll grasp it more quickly than others, yet I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to put off that day for as long as I could.  I’m still in the ‘your my little princess’ phase with her and seeing her grow up—so seemingly quick—nearly breaks my heart.  Alas, some silver lining is that we will begin discussion soon, and my goal will be to wrap it around a few chocolate sundaes, hot cocoas and wonderful one-on-one bonding moments with her in the years to come.  Now that is something to look forward to–YUM!

Tips for Dads: The Start of your Daughter’s Period

The concept of your little girl becoming a woman may be difficult to wrap your head around, may make you uncomfortable, and even cause you to break out in a cold sweat. But, there’s little to fear, fellas….the Chief Maxi is in!

Yes, the onset of your daughter’s menstruation can be an awkward time for fathers, as well as their young daughters, but trust me when I tell you that it is very, very important that you be there for her—especially as she begins menstruation.

Young women between the ages of 8-14 are frankly, fragile.  They are caught between being little girls and women—and there’s very little time for that adjustment to occur. It happens seemingly overnight.  Right before our eyes, our bodies morph — courtesy of curves where none used to be, hair where none previously grew, all married to a series of uncomfortable physical symptoms that can make us downright moody.  It’s a lot to ask at this age when self-image is at the height of development. Self-esteem can be lost for many years with  simply a sideways glance from a boy we like, or an unexpected, embarrassing incident which transpires in front of classmates.

The cult classic, Carrie did a real number on me and several of my friends—especially the scene where the uneducated and highly sheltered Sissy Spacek gets her period and panics. Instead of showing compassion or support, her classmates pummel her with tampons and maxi pads in the locker room shower. That scene was clearly traumatizing not only for the character in the movie, but those of us who had yet to start menstruating….me included.

My father didn’t prepare me for my menstrual cycle. I don’t think he knew how to broach the subject having raised three boys on his own. And…my father was all I had.  I’m confident that the ‘birds and the bees’ talk with his sons was much easier than the day I got my period.  So, to help you and your daughters alleviate some of the awkwardness around this special time, we’re offering a list of suggestions to prepare for this major milestone in a young woman’s life.

(1)   Don’t turn over the responsibility to another woman or completely avoid it.  One of the ancillary benefits of you helping your daughter understand that she is growing up is that you send a message of comfort. You can handle uncomfortable subject matter—and you aren’t afraid to talk with her. You show confidence and innate affection for her by challenging yourself with the sensitive subject matter. Extra cool dad points, scored. You may not have all the answers, but it is absolutely OK to say, “I’m not sure about that, honey, but I am more than happy to find out so that we’ll both know.”

(2)   Separate the onset of menstruation from sex.  While medically, a young woman is able to bear children after the onset of menstruation, there is NO need to insert a discussion about sex within a conversation about menstruation.  You can if you want, but menstruation is biological. Having sex incorporates many facets including your spiritual, cultural and moral beliefs and values system which you can plan for at another time. For now, focus on her period. Getting your period (from a woman’s perspective) can be both exciting and daunting. Rest assured, plenty of your daughter’s friends are likely beginning to talk about it, so she’s not totally in the dark. However, wouldn’t you much rather have her learn about the facts from you rather than a classmate who regurgitates informationto her peers from unknown or unreliable sources without context?

(3)   Become more familiar and comfortable with the ‘tools of the trade’ (i.e. pads, tampons, menstrual cups, washable pads, feminine wipes, sprays the like). Listen guys, you’ve had girlfriends and/or a wife or two, so you know that they use these items. That can’t be completely foreign to you. Don’t be afraid…most are made from cotton, string, plastic, cardboard—stuff you’d find in a Home Depot, so just because they come in pretty boxes, don’t let them scare you.  While you are becoming more comfortable, feel free to walk an aisle of feminine hygiene products with your daughter in tow. Ask her a question about the variety of options to determine how much she knows.  You’ll get a good idea about her level of understanding simply from asking her ‘why do women need all this stuff?’  She may think you are clueless, but thankfully, you’ll be the wiser. In the end, the more comfortable you are, the more comfortable she will be.

(4)   Don’t distance yourself. I know, I know…she’s changing. She’s moody, sometimes downright bitchy, and she certainly doesn’t seem to want a hug from dad anymore….so she leads you to believe. Girls at this tender stage DO desire their father’s support. Simply saying, “you are so beautiful,” “you look really nice today,” “I like your hair that way,” “I still can’t believe how time has flown, and how quickly you’ve grown up..” really go a long way.  Just noticing her provides self-esteem and confidence…just as it did when you cheered her on at swim meets, basketball games, soccer games, band concerts and stage plays.  This is a wonderful opportunity for you to strengthen your relationship with your daughter—so consider taking advantage of it.  And, if all else fails, invite her to go shoot hoops, take a run with you, or even a hike at a local park to just spend some time.  Trust us…we like time with our fellas…Dad included!

Original Period Pack contains all that is needed to welcome your daughter to womanhood

(5) Consider purchasing a preparation kit to celebrate the forthcoming milestone and also give her added access to information, products, and gifts that she may actually like and can really use. I of course have to plug our company, Period Packs, as our mission is simple, to ‘welcome young ladies to womanhood.’ Inside all of our gift boxes is an amazing book, Period., that explains in simple terms the entire process of menstruation, what to expect, and things to start thinking about such as grooming and hygiene. There is also a nifty pullout Parent’s Guide in the back for you that can assist in planning a shared discussion together after she’s read the book, if you like.   And, other companies similar to Period Packs do exist that also carry interesting products at a variety of price points, so there are options.

Ruby's Red Wash--fantastic stuff!

(6)   Expect some overflow.   Yep, blood.  That’s the result of a menstrual flow, gentlemen and this you know very well. You may not like it or even want to know about it, but as your daughter ages, you are going to have to learn to be okay with it—just as you would be if you scraped your knee playing baseball, or sliced your fingers while preparing dinner.  Same stuff….just from a different location.  As your daughter begins to menstruate, she may have leakage onto her underwear, clothes, nightclothes or bed linens.  DON’T panic. There is a fantastic product (eco-friendly no less) that has recently become available that helps remove blood stains quickly and nearly effortlessly called Ruby’s Red Wash. Definitely get some…it works.  Or, blood does wash away in cold water with some help from an over-the-counter stain remover. For really nice clothes however,  use caution as stain removers can bleach and sometimes harm fabrics.

(7)   Consider going with her to her first OB/GYN appointment. Finally, if you are the sole parent, it is important to know that women should begin seeing an OB/GYN physician shortly after menstruation begins. An overview of a PAP smear (the test completed by the doctor to check the cervix for abnormal or cancerous cells) is included in the PERIOD. book, and most pediatricians today can perform these exams as well—just check in with yours first about the timing of such an exam.

Hopefully these tips will provide initial guidance. I can say with confidence that I wish my own father had helped me prepare. Since I was the only girl in a house with my father and three brothers, it was an incredibly awkward and isolating time. Dads today can really make a difference in the lives of their daughters–even in the most unexpected of ways. We hope you’ll tackle the topic of menstruation knowing that you and your daughter aren’t the first to walk this path, and of course, won’t be the last.

Heartbreaking: Teen girls ask “Am I Ugly?”

This blog was created as a place where current information and cool product news specific to women could be highlighted to bring attention to topics that may or may not be known. Several news reports the last week have horrified both the men and women who operate Period Packs–the posting of videos on YouTube by teen girls asking, in fact occasionally begging, unknown Internet denizens, “Am I Ugly” or “Am I Pretty.”

Akin to past Internet ‘grade-my-physical-appearance sites,” including HotorNot, teen girls instead are just posting their images online (likely without parental knowledge…  L) and asking complete strangers if they believe them to be physically attractive.  What is most frightening is that the Internet knows no boundaries. It is comprised of sex offenders, jailed criminals surfing the net, individuals posing as others, as well as just regular Joe’s and Jane’s,  and has also become a known environment for ‘bullying’ – even leading to teen suicide.

All we can muster is the question: why are these girls lacking self-esteem at such a tender age? And, how will they gain a positive self-image by doing something as dramatic as asking perfect strangers if they are attractive or not?  Bottom line answer: They won’t.

Parents, if you’ve not yet seen these videos or heard of this trend, we encourage you to visit the news links below:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/teens-post-insecurities-youtube-pretty-ugly-videos/story?id=15777830

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/21/am-i-ugly-or-pretty-videos-youtube-teens_n_1292113.html

After reading, you may wish to check in with your beautiful daughter and remind her that she IS in fact, beautiful—whether YouTube visitors agree or not.

My nieces aren’t active on Twitter or Facebook. But, they are regularly on YouTube.  After a weekend visit, I couldn’t believe how frequently they’d trot off to their notebook computers to watch videos and gulp…possibly post some of their own. In my opinion, YouTube is one of the last places I’d look for a confidence boost.  Visual directions on how to change out a car battery maybe, but certainly not a place to gain or establish my self-worth.

I know my nieces care about their physical appearance, but thankfully, my brother and sister-in-law (as I’m sure hundreds of thousands of other parents out there) have made it clear to them that their accomplishments make them the beautiful individuals they’ve become.  Both of my teen nieces earned a black belt in karate (second degree), as well as a wall of trophies for golf. They swim, skate, ski and sail. They’ve earned their scuba diving certificates, and speak multiple languages—and both of them are under 16 years of age. I couldn’t manage a resume’ like that in 30 years—and haven’t.  One of them actually wrote a poem for Teen Ink on inner beauty that brought tears to my eyes. She gets it. Why then do some not? Why would young women seek the opinions of Internet trolls to determine their worth?

Experts conclude that “part of the appeal of asking viewers open questions comes from the immediate reward the teens get. Rather than sitting down and having a conversation, teenagers can post something on the internet and immediately experience the thrill associated with seeing a response, whether positive or negative.”

I can’t say with any level of authority or knowledge that parents aren’t monitoring their kids’ use of the Internet…nor would I try. Frankly, it’s none of my business. I have my own children to parent/monitor.  But, what does it say that somehow, 11-, 12-, and 13-year old girls are posting videos on YouTube (a site that states it does not allow kids under the age of 13 to post videos) that parents are horrified to learn have been posted.

In our humble opinion, the best way to promote positive self-esteem is to hammer home the message that our children are worth more than the sum of their external appearance.  Tweens and teens have an uncanny way of rolling their eyes when complimented, but the reality is, they listen. They listen intently…to everything.

As a matter of fact, I’m going to go home and tell my daughter exactly how much I love and adore her, and how beautiful she is…because…she is. I’m sure an eye-roll and a “cut it out mom…..’ will follow.

A Note to ALL Fathers….

As I read my daughter’s school minutes for the month, one thing caught my eye immediately—the dates for the Annual Father/Daughter Dance. It suddenly occurred to me what we should be writing about this week, and that is, the incredibly valuable and fantastically important relationship between fathers and their daughters.

It’s no secret (given that it is written about on my company’s website) that I am the product of a single-father household.  My mother sadly passed when I was an infant, so my father raised not just me, but my three brothers, by himself in a rural part of Upstate New York.  Clearly, not an easy task, although to this day, I believe that raising a girl amid all that testosterone, was really his greatest challenge.  

My father, you see, is the epitome of a ‘man’s man.’  He worked by day as a dentist, and during the evenings and weekends, prided himself a farmer, cattle rancher, mason and sportsman.  My brothers and I regularly emerged from the warm comfort of our beds to be quickly shepherded into icy blizzards and below-zero temperatures to feed our 300 head of cattle. We built fences, grew corn and strawberries in large fields, drove tractors, bailed hay, and gained a tremendous comfort with the purest definitions of hard work. So, when I reached puberty, it pretty much boggled my poor father’s brain.  He had, for years, raised his daughter just like he raised his sons. Without a female in the house—he knew no better—and did what he thought best. Fortunately, I was a late bloomer (age 14), but even so, when the fateful day came, he was ill-prepared to say the least.

Our elementary school, of course, had broached the subject of menstruation and procreation thanks to the old film ‘Sammy the Sperm and Eva the Ovum.” Anyone else remember that little gem?  I therefore had a relative idea, by 5^th grade, that menstruation would eventually become part of my fate, but never really talked about it, nor was I prepared for it when it arrived.  When it did—oh boy—I was a nervous wreck.  I wasn’t sure how I needed to manage it—and was without the proper ‘tools’ (maxi pads, liners, etc.)

Sadly, when I got my period, women were still expected to wear the huge, gigantic maxi pads WITH a plastic belt that wrapped around your waist! I swear…..it was horrifying! (Hmmm…did I just give away my ancient age?)   Since then however, major strides have been made and young ladies today have many more options—including adhesive pads, reusable/washable ‘green’ cloth pads, menstrual cups, tampons and even organic options of each.  But, let’s return to my poor father….

When I called his office to tell him about the start of my menstruation, he seemed dumbfounded and didn’t quite have the words to engage in a conversation. He fumbled over a few sentences suggesting that I call my Aunts to talk about it, and mentioned that he’d be home in a little while with some ‘supplies.’  I wasn’t sure what to do in the interim. Did I shower? Did I wad up some toilet paper in my panties to catch the blood? Was I to experiment with an old t-shirt?  Needless to say, those few hours of waiting were troublesome for me as a young girl. The next day, while wearing a gigantic maxi pad my father had brought home from the store, I visited the school nurse.  She put together, in a small box, samples of maxi pads and panty liners from Proctor & Gamble, and a brochure about ‘Getting Your Period.’  After school, I pulled out these items and poured over them as if they were the most valuable items I’d ever received.  In the hour it took to review everything, I calmed down and felt much more comfortable with the changes my body was undergoing. It made a WORLD of difference.

The reason I share this story is two-fold. First, I was recently contacted by the incumbent middle school nurse from MY own middle school of days past, requesting a few Period Packs for them to keep on hand.

Her email read, “I am a middle school nurse with 1,000 sixth through eighth graders. We live in a widespread school district that is semi-rural. We also have a number of single fathers. This would be nice to give to these young ladies with no female role models in the home. I would appreciate a few kits. Thank you!”

It was if my past and current life suddenly collided……..!

Secondly, as I read the note about the Father/Daughter Dance, it gave me pause to realize that it isn’t just single fathers, but ALL fathers who play a role in the development of their daughters.  Just as parents celebrate the tiniest of milestones together: first steps, first solid foods, first words, and successful toileting, so should both mom and dad be involved in celebrating the onset of their daughter’s menstruation. 

Now, I realize this is territory that makes most men gag in disgust, but c’mon guys, your wives/girlfriends menstruate and you know all about it.  Your little girl WILL become a woman one day. It’s a biological certainty—even if you opt to bury your head in the sand about it.  And, what most men don’t realize is just how VALUABLE they become during this evolution in their daughter’s lives.   Yes, you’ll be forced to stand the heat as your premenstrual little lady suddenly becomes mysterious and quieter around you, and occasionally barks for no reason at all.  But, at the same time, treating her as special as you always have is paramount.   And some days, it won’t be easy!

Given the nature of hormones and feminine outbursts, most men run for the hills when the women in their lives turn the corner towards PMS.  Yet, imagine how that little girl of yours feels as these hormones surge endlessly through her being!  She’s growing up, and going through puberty—yet remember, she’ll always be your daughter.

Simply sending the message, “I love you and you will always be my beautiful girl” can do wonders for a woman’s self-esteem.  Knowing that there is a man in her life that she can trust and that loves her unconditionally will make an amazing difference-even if you don’t immediately feel the results.

So, I leave this as an open letter to all fathers…to at least consider being involved with your daughter’s cycle of puberty. It’s easy to toss this responsibility to your wife, girlfriend or a female sibling, but remember: you’ll be there at her wedding. You’ll celebrate that day just as you will the day your daughter gets her license or wins a trophy for the sport or activity within which she excels.  You don’t have to run around and do cartwheels as your daughter enters puberty, but consider being a male cheerleader. Remind her how much you love her. Remind her how beautiful she is in your eyes, and finally, remind her that as her father, you’ll always be there for her.

These little gestures WILL make an impact….trust me.

To aid your precious daughter towards being prepared, consider sending her a Period Pack™.  We offer several unique designs to introduce the concept of menstruation as well as celebratory items to make this step less tenuous for all involved.  If you mention that this blog post as the reason you ordered, we’ll take $5.00 off your total purchase price to boot!

   **To see what a fellow father says about Period Packs, visit Daddy’s Hangout: http://www.daddyshangout.com/product-reviews/period-packsreview).

Travis Williams, father of three, shares his thoughts—from a male perspective. **

Oh Ruby…where have you been all my life?

Let’s face it ladies…even with the most fitting menstrual gear, the occasional leak is bound and determined to happen…most often on the day when we want it to the least!

Welcome Ruby’s Red Wash!!

Created by psychologist Dr. Carolyn DeForest, Ruby’s Red Wash is a stain remover designed just for women, to mitigate the challenges of menstrual blood-stains in their clothing. The best part…it dissolves even dried, set-in stains, so the thought of having to toss out pretty panties or worse, expensive couture, is no longer a concern. The pleasantly-scented and fully biodegradeable (i.e. environmentally safe) Ruby’s Red Wash is a proprietary concoction of live bacterial cultures that successfully break down stains in a matter of seconds. Unlike currently available chemicals and bleaches that can often lead to damaged clothing, Ruby’s is safe to use on all clothing types.

Dr. DeForest said, “My hope was that it [Ruby's] would fall into the hands of young women as a way of positively introducing them to their bleeding bodies. I think all women will appreciate not having to scrub out or throw out their underwear anymore.”

I’ve just ordered my first (and hopefully one of many, many more to come for inclusion in Period Packs gift boxes) bottle to have our focus group of ladies –moms and tweens alike– test drive this wonderful new invention to see if it really does deliver on its promise.  We’re thinking that Dr. DeForest is onto something very special here.

Check it out for yourself at:http://www.rubysredwash.com/

******UPDATE******* (9/10/2011)

We took it upon ourselves to trial this product within a small focus group and the feedback came back the same–IT WORKS! Ruby’s Red Wash immediately begins to remove stains from clothing, and given some time to break down older stains, it can eliminate struggles with menstrual staining completely and organically. We recommend!!

Having ‘The Talk’……

Many moms in my social circle shiver at the thought of having ‘the talk’ with their precious daughters about getting their period. To this day, I find it funny that even in 2010, the very same women that have endured their menstrual cycle for upwards of 25+ years, still remain uncomfortable about introducing information around menstruation.  Maybe I’m just in the minority….a group of women who aren’t at all fearful about having this discussion at all. In fact, I rather look forward to celebrating this milestone with my daughter, yet must wait at least another 5 years before introducing the subject to her, since she’s still in pre-school! 

The discomfort that moms (and dads, grandparents or even caregivers) feel about bridging this moment in a young woman’s life is completely natural. I submit that the discomfort isn’t so much around the actual biology of menstruation, but the enormous bevy of complex discussions that will come after this milestone is reached. The primary one is the reality that the ‘little girl’ that you once held in your arms, whose belly you tickled and peppered with baby kisses, whose hair you brushed thousands of times and who you dressed up in frilly outfits , is in fact now, becoming a woman. My how time does fly….

All of us will feel this immense ‘void’ as our children become young adults.

We fear the loss of innocence as the great big world around us waits to devour our little ones alive. Realistically though, our jobs as parents and caregivers is to teach, protect, guide, and counsel on this journey we call life, and eventually, we’re asked to let go. It seems a task of gargantuan proportion. However, we must and will, give our children more and more rope as they grow up and eventually, leave the nest.

Before this departure however, girls require additional guidance about many things as they reach puberty. Menstruation is simply her body’s way of signaling a growth spurt that will affect her eating habits, personal hygiene, body image and many other components.

Because of this, it should be viewed as a celebration of sorts–the letting go of her child self–and an introduction to a more mature, grown up woman on the rise. 

 How we react and engage this momentous time is really quite critical. What is also important to note is that it will not require one, single conversation, but several of them–over the course of months and possibly, years.

Many of my girlfriends have shared stories about how their mothers introduced menstruation to them–several in very shameful fashions, I’d like to add.  One of my high school girlfriends explained her story which amounted to her mother literally throwing a box of maxi pads at her saying, ‘enjoy your curse.’  

Just horrifying!

Now, I realize that getting your period isn’t always enjoyable. I’ve been getting mine for nearly three decades and cramps, headaches, nausea, panty leaks, etc., just aren’t the epitome of ‘good times.’

But, becoming a woman IS worth celebrating, in my humble opinion. 

 Therefore, my first “Tip for having The Talk’” is simple: Be positive and prepared.

Between the ages of 9 – 13, the special young lady in your life will ultimately reach puberty. The initial signs are simple–she’ll sprout breast ‘buds’ and likely some pubic hair. Soon after will come a phase of growth (height, size of feet, etc.) and then, her period will arrive. It’s a basic, but simple formula.

When out and about, take opportunities to talk about hygiene (taking regular showers/baths, using deodorant, wearing makeup). Stop in your favorite store and visit the intimates section and look at beautiful bras and panties. When shopping at the grocery store or pharmacy, spend some time in the feminine hygiene aisle and point out pads, tampons, feminine wipes and introduce these things slowly over a period of time. Most of us feel much more comfortable with change when it has been introduced over a period of time. Think of how much time you spent introducing the idea of ‘going to school’ with your daughter for the first time, or visiting the doctor’s, or making new friends?  We harken back to our parental instincts to teach and educate more often than we give credit, and having ‘the talk’ is a time of little difference.  It is our job to instruct, educate and inform–so why wait until it happens?  The simple answer is, don’t wait.  Prepare your daughter (or niece, grand-daughter or charge) by siphoning information over time. You may find that it not only gives her a greater level of comfort, but YOU will be more comfortable too! And, if all else fails, there are books available (below) which may be of help–although my (and Period Packs’ favorite is quite simply, Period.)

Additional “Tips for having The Talk” to follow….