A woman’s first period is a profound moment in her life, a significant rite of passage that marks the end of childhood and the beginning of womanhood. How this transition is nurtured and embraced by those around her can shape the course of her journey into adulthood.
In many cultures throughout history, a girls first period was celebrated with a ceremony, a meaningful way to honor this important step into womanhood. While some of these rituals are still practiced today, research shows that acknowledging this transition with care can leave to a sense of self-worth, confidence, and ability to navigate life’s challenges.
Unfortunately, without proper guidance and understanding about becoming a woman and menstruation, many girls experience feelings of confusion, shame and embarrassment. These feeling continues into adulthood.
Many of us didn’t receive the nurturing or education we needed around our first period, and those feeling have been suppressed and ignored. If women have a safe environment and opportunity to share their first period story it can be incredibly healing. In most cases, women are surprised how emotionally intense the sharing experience is. Usually sharing the experience can lead to emotional release and an awareness that they never expected.
Through telling our first period story, we begin to truly grasp the uniqueness and wonder of the human body—it’s incredible capabilities and the importance of caring for it with love and respect. Often, in these exchanges, individuals rediscover a deep truth they never fully received or understood.
Opening about menstruation with other women allows us to normalize the experience, helping to remove the stigma and discomfort often associated with it. By talking openly, we realize that menstruation is a natural, magical and universal part of life—a shared experience that connects us all. And in doing so, we no longer feel so alone.
Many times, after the moms share their stories in circle with other moms, they quickly will share how they want this experience to be different for their daughters. They want their daughters to feel empowered, to trust themselves, know how strong they are, and to love and worship their beautiful bodies. They want to make sure their daughters feel cherished, respected, and celebrated—just as they deserve.
By sharing these stories, we begin to heal. We unlock the emotions that need to be released, and we create a new, loving path for the next generation. Once these stories are unlocked, the chains of shame and embarrassment can be broken, and moms can become more whole and be able to love their daughter more than she thought possible.