All right.. If I didn't post this.. I would feel that it goes against what I stand for and try to advocate for. So, with that said, this will be super TMI for some and you have been warned.
In our house we are quite open... About everything. Our children are quite educated for their age. But we just recently started discussing the 'menstrual cycle' in willows body book. My goal has been to normalize these things within our home and also not have them feel shame or feel scared or confused, etc.
Well, this mom learned a lesson today about how hard that can be. I wasn't raised in a home where you talked about that stuff openly. It was very private. While I'm teaching my girls, I'm learning myself to be comfortable and proud of my body. To accept that this is normal and not to feel shamed myself.
I unexpectedly received the glorious womenly gift today while wynsor was in the bathroom with me. She noticed and began asking questions. I was immediately ashamed and embarrassed and wanted to hide. But I knew that wasn't the right response. That's WHY I feel like that. Because that's what has been drilled into our heads. As women, we hide and we feel embarrassed over something that almost literally every woman goes through at some point in their life. It took me quite a bit of time to overcome that and decide to just be open about it. This IS normal. This ISNT a bad thing. A woman's body and the way it works is incredible. And the fact that they will someday experience this too, means I have to take the responsibility of teaching them that this isn't weird, its NORMAL!
Well, I decided this was also an opportunity to allow willow an opportunity to share what she knows about all of this. Wynsor, being wynsor, was quick to tell willow at bedtime what happened with me. Willows response left me so proud. And SHE made ME feel empowered. I was shocked.
Willow responded to Wynsor by saying "Oh! That's normal wynsor. That's called a menstrual cycle." Wynsor goes "but... There was... Blood." Willow goes "yea! That's her uterus getting rid of the lining because she doesn't have a baby in there. It happens once a month but its not a big deal, it only lasts for a couple of days." Wynsor goes "ohhhhhhh so like.. If we don't have a baby in there, then the body just, like, cleans itself out?!" Willow- "yep! Isn't that cool?! I have a book about it I can show you tomorrow. I know all about the menstrual cycle I can teach you all about it!!!"
I'm humbled. This is what I want for my girls. This is what we should be teaching our children. Our bodies are beautiful and so incredible and the way our bodies work and know what to do just really blows my mind when I stop and think about it. Willow was EXCITED to share that information with her sister. That is how it should be. I'm so thankful that she reminded me of this today.
And if this weirds you out, or offends you, its okay to delete me. But this is me. This is what I do. This is what I'm passionate about. And that's okay. But I don't expect you to be okay with it. I know it takes time to normalize these things. But we're getting there. :)
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