A while ago, Chicky told me that she didn't like using books. That, ok, we could talk about this puberty/sex thing if we really must, but that we should just discuss, not read from books. Well, fine.
And so we do. She's relaxed a lot, and so have I, and we both joke about puberty all the time. The sex thing is still more awkward, but I think we'll get to this point with it too. So that's promising.
Here's a funny development, though-- as much as the girl told me that she doesn't want to read books about this stuff, she tore through Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret in a day. A day, people, and she doesn't usually like to read. She just found it hilarious. And I loved it too-- not just that she'd found a book she loves (which I'm thrilled by, of course), but also that it's given her a whole new way to talk about things. We laugh about the "we must increase our bust" routines, and how they never actually work. We discuss the huge variation in ages girls get their periods, pads vs tampons, and so on. It became so much easier for her to talk about all of this, once she'd read the book.
The other book we've been reading together in fits and spurts is My Little Red Book. It's basically a memoir of girls' stories of getting their periods-- either for the first time, or some memorable occasion. We've been enjoying the different experiences the girls have had, occasionally talking about mine (though I've had a pretty boring menstrual history), and talking about what will happen for her in the future (we won't slap her across the face, we will have some sort of celebration).
See, kid? Books aren't so bad.
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