U By Kotex Brings Moms and Daughters Together For The Big Talk #KotexMom

I was so excited when picked to be a U By Kotex Mom Ambassador this June and have had such a great time writing posts and participating in all of the fun activities over the past 6 months. When I was a young girl just getting my period for the first time, it was a confusing time because my mom never took the time to talk to me about it. Everything she did share with me was how horrible it was, so when I got my period I was completely clueless. Plus, my mom was out of town when the big day finally arrived. There was no way I would ever let this happen with Rylee. I want her to have the opposite experience and to embrace change and womanhood. I think this is something important for all girls and moms should take the time to answer questions, be there for them and let them know what to expect.

Checking out the U by Kotex products for the first time!

 Before the ambassadorship began, I had not yet spoken to Ry about her period and, honestly, I was in denial about how quickly she is growing into a beautiful young woman. When I started writing my "period posts" I realized she was ready for these talks and I knew she would have many questions. Over the past 6 months, I've had the opportunity to speak with Ry several times about her period and what to expect. I can tell such an attitude change now! At the beginning, she was very shy and would get embarrassed when I brought up the subject. Now, she openly asks me questions and is very prepared for when the day arrives.

Big girl at the beach this summer.

In particular, I really enjoyed our Mom & Daughter Day Out we shared a few months ago. We went out to eat and just spent some time without the boys around. I was able to focus completely on her and she loved every minute of the attention. Having girl time is so important and, from my own experience, I know she will cherish this moments when she grows up. I fondly remember dates with my mom when we would go out to eat or to the movies.

Showing me her U by Kotex Pads!

Rylee also had a chance to check out the U by Kotex products and has remarked several times how "cool" they are. I love that they are just for tweens, have different designs and are colorful. This makes them less scary for first-timers and more fun to use, too. She was actually excited to start carrying around her period emergency pack in her backpack. It is discretely hidden and her little secret, which is exciting for her.

U by Kotex has definitely brought us closer together and I am so grateful for this opportunity. We've shared all the talks I wish I'd had with my own mom and we've had a great time doing so. I was able to find some great information on the Kotex website. Your daughter can also find answer to questions and other period information on the U by Kotex Hello Period website. Just click on the U by Kotex link above.

Have you talked to your daughter about her period or did you before she started? Did it bring you closer together?


I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Kotex Encourages The Period Talk : Monthly Maintanence #KotexMom

Thanks to U by Kotex, we've been discussing the big "P" and the period talk and, more importantly, having the talk with your daughter. We've gone over several topics that are a must for the period talk and Ry and I have had some great mother-daughter talks, which is something I never had. The talk can be nerve-racking and tough, but it doesn't have to be. There are many questions which are bound to come up when talking with your daughter, so educate yourself. This week we are writing about Monthly Maintenance and how to be prepared.

It seems just like yesterday when I was sitting in my high school World History class. My teacher was at the front of the class lecturing when it happened. Yes, I had my period, which was nothing new, but this month I had a much heavier flow for some reason. I knew when it happened... my pad leaked. What a horrible feeling to be stuck at my desk and helpless. I didn't want to interrupt class and I certainly didn't walk up to the front of class with everyone looking at me, especially if I had leaked through my pants. Embarrassing! There is no other word for it and I should have been prepared. This is why it was so important for me to discuss this with Ry.

How can your daughter be prepared? During the talk with your daughter, discuss keeping track of her period and let her know that it is normal to experience irregular periods, so she may have a really heavy flow one month and a light one the next. You also need to teach her possible symptoms, such as cramps, headaches and moodiness. I have experienced them all! This is why a "period kit" comes in very handy, especially if you are in a situation like myself when I was in school.

Nothing slows my girl down!

Last month we talked about packing some products in an inconspicuous pouch for daughter's purse, locker or backpack, which is a must. You can keep track of when to expect your period by calendar, but always have a kit ready.

What should be included in the "period kit"?

• Extra pads for emergencies and for regular changing.
• Tylenol or Midol for cramps! This was a lifesaver for me because I had horrible cramps each month. PMS is real.
• Wet wipes for cleaning off
• Extra undies in case of an accident
• Extra pair of pants or shorts (She can keep these in her locker, just like gym clothes. No one will know the difference!)

Not only is it important to pack a period kit, but you should also discuss staying clean. It's very important to change your pad before it gets too full (what I did in World History), which is different for each person, but I found changing mine about every 2 hours was the way to go. Why so often? If you don't you put yourself at risk for odor and infection. Believe me, you do not want to have your period and an infection. Talk about uncomfortable!

Ry is such a happy girl and full of life. I never want this to change! In a house of all boys, she has her hands full and is a very curious girl. This is why it is so important to educate her about her period, what to expect and how to take care of herself. If your tween or teen has more questions, direct her to the Hello Period website. There are answers to questions, stories from other girls and much, much more. Unsure how to begin the big talk with your daughter? You can take a look at the U by Kotex tween site.

I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

A Special Mother/Daughter Moment: The Big Talk #KotexMom

We've been referring to it as "the big talk" or "the big P  talk" in our home, which is code for Rylee wanting to ask questions about her period. Yes, she started asking questions quite early and now she has even more. I have to admit, my nerves got the best of me for a while and I kept putting of our talk, not knowing exactly how to approach it. Would I start crying? Would I start giggling like a teenage girl? One thing I knew for certain was that I wanted Rylee's period talk experience to be completely different from my own and pretty much nonexistent.

My parents never wanted to talk to me about getting a period, so what I learned was in my 6th grade sex education class. Needless to say,  what I knew was pretty minimal and, when I got my period, I was mortified not only because I was unprepared, but because my mom was out of town and my dad laughed. Yes, he actually laughed at me... until I made him go buy me some feminine products. I was what you would call a late bloomer, but girls are getting their periods much earlier these days, so I want Rylee to be prepared and I want to do what I can to educate her. Thanks to the U By Kotex Tween site, I was prepared for the talk and ready to answer all questions!

I wasn't sure how to break the ice for the talk or when the right time would occur, but it just happened to present itself while we were at the beach. We'd had lots of mom and daughter time on the beach, going to the pool, looking for shells on the beach and, her favorite, going to play putt-putt. It was an amazing trip and gives us extra time to bond.

How did "the talk" happen? I'm not sure this would be considered an ice breaker, but one night we came back to the room to get ready for dinner. She heard me talking about my period during the trip and was already asking questions about that, so we just started talking about my own experiences with my period. Plus, I was sent a variety of Kotex Tween products to share with Rylee and this was so helpful for her to see them in person. She loves all the colors and actually bragged to the boys later that she gets to wear the pads and he can't. Girls talk at school and most of the things they told her were completely wrong and untrue, so we went through just about everything. She wanted to know if it hurt, how often she would get her period and, my favorite question of all, "Do I get to miss school every month, too?" Ha! Good try, girl!

We went to the beach with my parents, so the great thing is that my mom was there to share her own experiences, too. After speaking with Ry she looked so proud and was actually telling Granny about her period. She told her she is ready for it now and I honestly feel like she is prepared, though I do want her to be my little girl just a little longer, thank you! For any further questions she may have, I directed her to the Hello Period site, which also answers more questions and shares experiences of other teen and tweens. So, if there were any questions that many she just didn't feel comfortable asking or forgot to ask something at the time, at least I know she has a great resource at hand just in case.

As a Mama, I think you will know when the time is right to have a talk, though make time just between mom and daughter. She will appreciate that you took time out just to be with her and, honestly, without brothers around, she is much more likely to open up and feel comfortable. I know we will probably have many other talks in the future about Ry's period, especially after she gets her period for the first time. I think when we first started talking about periods, she seemed scared about getting it, but now she seems excited and sees it more as something to celebrate and that's exactly how I want to keep it. I want her to be proud of becoming a woman!

I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Preparing For The Mom & Daughter Period Talk #KotexMom

In my last period post, I wrote about my experience of getting my period for the very first time, how my parents never talked to me about it and how my mom was actually out of town with it finally arrived. I was a late bloomer, had no idea what to do and my dad was utterly clueless! This is why it is so important for me to do this the right way for Rylee. I don't want to make the same mistakes and want to make this experience a special moment between mom and daughter. The "big talk" is nearing and, yes, I am a bit anxious about what questions will be asked and how the talk will go, but I am doing my research and preparing because I want this to be a great memory, not something awkward and embarrassing.

In honor of the big day approaching, I wanted to list a few tips for you moms out there who are also preparing for this day. It's amazing how quickly our daughters grow up, so even if your girls are still toddlers, believe me, the years fly by and, before you know it, you'll have little woman on your hands asking many, many questions! I know I do! I found some great helpful suggestions and ideas on the Kotex Tween website, though, so here are some fun ways to approach the period talk and how to be confident when the time comes.

• Do your research! Children can tell when we are holding back or when we feel uncomfortable about a subject. Take the time to look up information about the subject and educate yourself. You should know about the body, why we get our period and much more. You never know what will be asked, so be prepared!

• Whether you are a mom or a daughter, the Kotex Tween site has invaluable information about and is dedicated to answering your questions about getting your period. It's a great place to look for answers, suggestions and can even help prepare you, as a mom, prepare for the talk.

• Be open and honest - Daughters can tell if you are holding back. Be open, honest and tell her the important info she needs to know without overwhelming her. Answer questions and let her know you are there for her! Make her feel like this is something special for young women and that all women go through this. 
• Purchase some products -Buy a few different U by Kotex Tween products for your daughter so she can get a first-hand look at them and ask questions about how they are used. Show her there is nothing to be afraid of or embarrassed. The designs on the boxes and products are made just for teens and tweens, making them approachable and cool. Rylee loved the ones she received. 

• Have a Mom-Daughter Day - Make the day all about her! Get relaxed with a mani-pedi, go to an arcade or do something you know she really enjoys. Have a lunch or dinner together and start talking! Before you know it, you'll be chatting about periods effortlessly.
• Let her know about the Hello Period Site. - There may be a lot of information to cover and you don't want to overwhelm your daughter, right? Tell her about the Kotex Hello Period website, which answers many, many questions for teens and tweens, helping them understand their period much better. They will learn facts, myths and can read experiences about other teens and tweens getting their period.

I can honestly say that I've learned more about periods and my own body since becoming a Kotex Tween Mom Ambassador and I want to put that knowledge to good use by passing it on to Rylee. I don't want her to be so confused and embarrassed like I was at her age. I've already begun thinking about the day we will spend together and have our period talk, but that's for the next post! So, if the day for a big period talk is nearing for you, keep the suggestions above in mind and take a look at the information available through the links, too. I can't wait to see how your own talks go and hope it ends up being a great experience for both you and your daughter. I am confident it will be for us!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.