And So it Begins….

Here are some of the questions a 9 1/2-year-old asks:

“Mom, when did you go through puberty?”

“Mom, when did you get your period?”

“You mean you can get PREGNANT when you go through puberty????”

“Mom, what’s a tampon?”

“Mom, what’s anna…anna…anna…Anorexia?”

Here we go.

As a journalist, I have had mixed feelings about the American Girl line, mixed feelings I never had to confront as a mother because Daisy thought the dolls were creepy. However, they publish some fabulous books and one that is absolutely worth getting for your pre-pubescent daughter is The Care and Keeping of You. It covers all the above questions, plus  basics like why you really, really do need to wash your face every morning.

I do wish they hadn’t made the Asian girl on the cover quite so bowl-haired and slanty-eyed, though.

For those other birds and bees-type questions I’ve found the best books are It’s Not the Stork (for boys and girls age 4+)

and It’s So Amazing for children 7+

 

The Asians are better in these books, too.

I suggest having all of these on hand. You’ll need them before you realize….