Supportive mom throws daughter a party for starting her period
For young girls, starting your period is a weird time.
Your body is doing new stuff, you feel gross and moody and you feel like no one else in the world knows what you're going through. And although starting to menstruate is a natural thing, talking about it to friends or, especially, family, can be uncomfortable and embarrassing.
For 12-year-old Brooke Lee, starting her period turned into a grand celebration when her mom Shelly threw her a "period party," equipped with a delicious cake that read, "Congrats on your period."
Friends and family attended to support Brooke, gift her with tampons and pads and celebrate the milestone.
Brooke's cousin, Autumn Jenkins, posted pictures of the bash on Twitter:
Mashable spoke to Jenkins about Brooke's reaction to the bash.
"Brooke wasn't embarrassed by the period party." she said. "She thought it was funny. It's kinda normal for our family to do something like this."
When asked about the impact these kinds of celebrations could have on the way periods and puberty are discussed, she said, "I think that this story teaches girls, and even guys, that periods aren't a horrible or embarrassing thing. Its a milestone and [a] big part of a girls life."
The overwhelming response has been shocking, Jenkins said. The reactions to her tweet keep her laughing and she hopes that everyone loves it.
And it looks like a lot of people do:
Seeing womanhood celebrated like this does our hearts good. Getting your period is a natural, normal occurrence, and commemorating such an occasion shows young girls everywhere that they are not alone.
Samantha was a Watercooler Web Culture & Lifestyle intern at Mashable. Follow her on Twitter @samiscelz.
