First Moon Kit

Both Shanti and myself have tween girls in the midst.  Inevitably, this means that "moon time" or "menstruation" is looming on the horizon.  

Enter the First Moon Kit!!

I remember getting my period at age 12…my mother had talked about it a little bit, about finding blood "down there", and thinking she was bleeding to death, running to her own mother to tell her, (and subsequently having her mother laugh at her).  

Still…we only had one conversation about it, and it was never spoken of again…except for what I read in Judy Bloom books.  

I got mine at a friends house, and I remember feeling such fear.  I told my friend I was sick and needed to call my mom to come and get me.  It was, (horrifyingly), my father who went out and bought me a JUMBO box of no name pads, (that came in one size…BULK)!!!  I felt so embarrassed, and the subject of this was never brought up again in my home.

For my own daughters I don't want them to feel any embarrassment or shame when their own moon time comes.  

I'd like to find a way to honour this transition into womanhood, without too much fanfare, (as my eldest is a bit private about such things).  

So, my thoughts came to making a "First Moon Kit"…

something special to have on hand for when that day arrives.

This is what I've come up with so far...

First thing…this book found HERE. 

This is the most incredible book for young girls about to enter their moontime.

Lucy speaks about menstruation in such a positive light, and offers such great wisdom.

Every mother of a tween age girl should have this book on hand.

(Lucy is also the author of "The Rainbow Way"…she's an amazing lady).

And then…the bulk of the kit…

organic pads and intimate wipes.

(these could also be reusable cloth pads…menstrual cups.)

Before getting this, have a talk with your daughter about what she might like to use and have those things on hand.

A dear friend told me that her own mother gave her bubble bath when she got her first period, 

so I added some bubble bath and organic dark chocolate.

Raspberry Leaf tea, and moonstone earrings.

The earrings will be her first piece of fine jewellery.

Some other suggestions made by friends are…

Hylands homeopathic menstrual cramp remedy

A journal and a pen

New Moon magazine

Clary Sage, Lavendar and other Essential Oils

Rice Bag

Permission slips to cry or be unreasonable

Cozy slippers

Lip Balm and other pampering items

I love that I will have all these wonderful "gifts" for whenever this day arrives.

All of the things I bought will "keep" in the closet for a year or two with no issues.

Would love to hear your stories…wisdom…or suggestions for those of us entering this phase in our mothering adventures!

With love and light

Why I'll take imperfection anytime!

This is my little family…trying to take a "nice", (yes, I'm gonna put that in quotation marks),

 picture of us all together. 

 As I'm scrolling through all our photos of Easter time, there is not one picture perfect picture of MY family…but, this delightfully imperfect one…you gotta admit…it's much more entertaining…and heck, if I'll allow myself to admit it out loud…it's much more US!

This is the "pallet" that the delivery driver dropped off with some flooring…

it's been sitting outside for weeks now…have I found the time to get rid of it yet…

NO!

Does my daughter care…not at all…in fact she's decided that if she lays her booster seat on it just so, it becomes a rocket ship to the moon…SHE'S GOING TO THE MOON on my trash!!!

My procrastination inspired a moon trip…insert check mark here.

And here is my upstairs…I had a BIG wake up call when I cleared out a corner of my room and the contents of that corner FILLED an entire other room!!!!  

This wake up call has allowed me the opportunity to "give stuff away"…I feel like it's my karmic work…I've let go of dressers, desks, cabinets, craft supplies, vintage this and that, 

(that I will never ever use).  

I've make lots of people happy with my former stuff, and it's been such an experience of both growth and letting go!

In the housekeeping department, it should be obvious…I'm a work in progress.

Nope…we will NEVER be one of those "picture perfect" families.  You would think it's all gnomes and toadstools and fairy dust over here, but errr…not quite! 

It's taken me years to get over my quest for "perfect"…it used to be something I'd wear like a front, (or something I actually thought was attainable),

 if only I could paint my walls a certain colour and wear the right clothes,

 or buy the right toys I'd find it.  

I'd even judge people who didn't quite fit into my vision of what that would be, 

I'd look down on people too.

I've come to realize that my previous ideals made people feel badly about themselves, and really who the heck am I to judge?!

Behind all my former ideals there is this family…

(we are one of those real families…the ones that you will never ever see in a magazine, 

unless of course it's a "what not to do" article!)

today my 5 year old looked on my table and declared she "LOVED the PISSY willows" I had put in a vase…my eldest and I fell on the floor laughing…yes, before I corrected her I had to have a good belly laugh...and you know what, the joy…the laughter…the chaos...it sums us up perfectly!

Let us unite in our imperfection and celebrate our delightful and imperfect lives!

Lots of love