This viral video is going around. TLDR: Young lass lies about getting her first period, mom catches her in a lie (and using a bad tone with her to boot), uses a “First Moon Party” to embarass and shame her.
Is this video based on any kernel of truth? Are moms these days making a thing (even a minor thing, like a cake, or an offering to The Goddess, or whatever) when their daughters get their first periods?
I wish I would meet a little girl who wants her period. I’d dissuade her of that silly notion REAL quick.
I have heard of such things happening. Not a party where the neighbors and extended family are involved, but making a big damned deal.
It’s usually “Lemme tell you what the hippie chick at work did to her poor daughter…”
I’ve encountered one or two families (out of approximately 700) at my son’s school who I imagine might do such a thing. I don’t see it as a trend that’s catching on like wildfire.
All that said, I laughed at the video.
In our little group it’s a sort of “Mother-Daughter Day” thing. Nobody else involved or told, but maybe a special lunch and a new outfit or a movie. That sort of thing. Anything that says “welcome to womanhood, I’m here for you.”
ETA: I know one woman who has bought a ruby necklace and ring set for her daughter and is waiting fro that day to give them to her. She’s very excited at the idea. I think her daughter will barf on her shoes, and never be comfortable wearing the jewelry.
Did you not catch that the video was supposed to be funny? Or that the girl was mortified at the thought of her mom doing something so strange? Or that her friends and the band members both said this was a really weird party?
Those are clues.
That video’s pretty awesome.
My mom didn’t make an issue out of my first period. But years later when I was a teenager I was visiting my aunt’s house for a week and happened to be on my period. I didn’t mention anything, but I think they found tampon applicators in the trash. My aunt and my grandma woke me up at around 7am, made a huge production about it and acted like it was my first period essentially. I was pretty upset and my mom and I still talk about it to this day. I hope my aunt’s daughters weren’t treated like that when they got their periods.
My mom never made a big deal about my first period - heck, she was embarrassed enough showing me how the pads and belts worked (back in the 60s, before the adhesive pads came out.) I didn’t make a big deal about my daughter’s period either - I don’t know that she announced it to me - it’s so long ago.
Are these the same parent who applaud when their toddlers poop in the toilet? I never did that either. Applaud, I mean. 
I didn’t make a huge deal, but I bought my daughter a pair of gold earrings to mark the event.
I once saw a book on the subject of sex ed for children – one of those books that tries to teach parents how to teach their kids about “that” subject, as appropriate for various young ages.
The author told an anecdote that she had heard from a young adult female, who told of her experience with her first period. I’ll recount this as best I can remember reading it:
I remember my first period. I was at the beach with my family, and I noticed I was bleeding. I knew nothing about periods, and I thought I must have cut myself or something. I ran to my parents crying that I was bleeding. I will never forget the look of disgust that came over my mother’s face. She tossed a dirty towel to me and said, “Here. Stuff this up there and don’t ever talk to me about that again!”
Attitude is everything.
it’s a big deal and the family should paint the town red.
My mum bought me a pair of earrings and fussed over me (not about it but in general) for a day or so, but nothing beyond that. I assume I’ll do the same for my girls, no kid really wants to have it made a big deal or anyone else old I think, but it’s kind of weird and it was nice to know mum thought I might need a little reassurance.
My mom and I didn’t even talk about it I don’t think. But she did buy me a book called “Period” and I think she failed to read the book because a lot of it was about menstrual belts and she gave it to me in like 1991. Hahaha!
I thought the video was pretty funny.
No big deal with our eldest. My daughter on the autism spectrum will start any time, and I hope that we’ve set the stage for her…
None of my friends with girls made any big deal out of it. I think one or two took their daughter out to lunch or tea.
My mother barely notice when I started. It was the day after her father died and she was getting ready to leave and go be with my grandmother and aunts. She had prepared me well for it and I was fine with no one making a big deal of it.
Not to be completely sure, but the families in my suburbs do not.
There are no parties–that’s what makes the video funny. But making a big deal is not exclusive to parties. I’ve read advice for mom to make a special day out of it, explaining what’s going on, and celebrating new womanhood by doing something together. But it’s a mom and daughter thing, not a party thing.
The New Moon name actually sounded kinda Pagan. I wonder if there are any people who celebrate it in a religious sense.
But will they be able to top it with a boy’s first ejaculation video?
For contrast, from 1946: The Story of Menstruation by Walt Disney. The narrator is Gloria Blondell (Joan’s sister), using her own voice, not Daisy Duck’s.
There isn’t money to be made by selling supplies to young lads; just grab a kleenex or whatever and move on.
Thank goodness I read “Are you There, God? It’s Me, Margaret” after I had already started my period. All the talk about menstrual belts would have confused me.
Since I don’t think anyone said it, you realize that “viral video” is actually just a commercial, right? HelloFlo is a website that sells tampons and pads.