Sisterhood of the Traveling Pads

( Note: If you are not a female, or the father of one, this installment of the blog may not be for you. You are welcomed to read on, but at your own risk of needing to put your hands over your eyes, and say "blah blah blah)

Life is pretty darn funny sometimes. Three days ago, it was pretty *funny* that I posted on FB about my daughter's interests having switched from making displays of Barbies, to creating shrines consisting of Bath and Body Works products. It was *funny* four days ago when Child's Coach and I were talking about dealing with periods as a gymnast. It was also kind of *funny* two nights ago, as I looked over at my daughter, who was sitting next to me at the dinner table (inhaling her Kraft-in-a-box), and wondered when she had 'developed' so much w/o my noticing. About thirty minutes after consumption of the mac, life took an interesting turn:

Child: "Ummm... Mommy.... can you come up here?!?!?!"

(Child and I conferred. Instructions were given, and I retreated back to 'downstairs world'. I headed into the Family Room to find Husband, who was in his usual nightly spot on the sectional)

Me: (wearing a facial expression, which could be best described as half-laughing/half-crying) "Umm.. Child just got her period...."

As Child is 12 and 3/4 years-old, I knew that this day would eventually come. Being the "Queen of Early", Child and I had started talking about this eventuality years ago. She knew the 'how', and she knew the 'why'; the only uncertain element was the 'when'.

It was nice to see that Child was pretty calm about the whole thing; *I* was the one who was an emotional wreck. My mind started processing the idea that when you're a kid who's just getting the hang of daily toothbrushing, bathing, and deodorant-wearing, *this* would add a whole new dimension to the daily routine. Not to mention nature's sick joke in giving a twelve year-old the body of a woman, but the reasoning ability/emotions of a kid ranging anywhere from 2-12, depending on the phases of the moon.

So, yesterday afternoon, I did what any Mom in my position would have done-I hit the local Walgreens. Just my luck, it was 'all hands on deck in the feminine hygiene aisle' hour. After navigating around piles of said goods on the floor, I stood there reading all of the different product descriptions, finally deciding on a good sampling to bring home. Taking my lead from Child's new interest in artistically displaying her myriad of bath products, I put a little bit of each in the prettiest basket I could find, and left it for her to discover.

I was not prepared for how the memories of my own "first time" would come flooding back. Like Child, I was also 12 and 3/4 years-old. After having been sent with an arsenal of 'products' wherever I had gone for the past couple of years, I was traveling (alone) with my Dad, empty handed when it happened. I begrudgingly confided in my Dad about what had transpired; he sent me off with enough cash to buy a box of pads and a *bonus* pack of gum. When we arrived back home, my Mom met us at the airport and was "just so excited" to hear about what had happened. For the life of me, I could not figure out the enthusiasm for something that had my guts in knots, and had me walking like a bowlegged cowboy. I found out recently from my Aunt that my Dad had been excited, too, as he had missed out on most of my "milestones", but was there for that one(Ugh- slightly awkward; Middle School and High School graduation would have been better...).

I am glad that for Child's sake, she was able to be in her own home, and to have her Mom nearby when it happened. After buying-out the hygiene display at Walgreens, I decided that I would put my own spin on a 'gift' for her. I chose a 'demented-humor' card (as that is her preference :) ), and two rockin' bottles of nail polish.

No "Red Party", or Red Velvet Cake to welcome Child into the female 'Sisterhood'; that just wouldn't be her style. Time to say goodbye to the little girl, and to watch as a new, young woman emerges on the scene... The one thing that I am sure of is that there'll *never* be a dull moment...