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Going through puberty is ALWAYS awkward! | Source: Shutterstock
I was roughly the age that most of my friends got their periods–totally normal–but I still felt like a total freak.
Last week, the New York Times ran a big story about “early puberty,” focusing on how a ton of 6, 7, and 8-year-old girls are starting to grow breasts and pubic hair before the average girl. Overall, the article was packed with information, but I do have one major problem with it–and that’s the term “early puberty.” If a girl is hitting puberty in the third grade, that might not be “normal” compared to the rest of the world, but it certainly is normal for her, and I can’t see how freaking out about it and schlepping her around to specialist doctors will do anything but freak her out more.
Growing up is hard enough! | Source: Shutterstock
Apparently, some parents are insisting on their daughters getting hormone shots to slow down the progress of puberty–but the scary thing is that these same shots that can keep a little girl “little” can also cause things like osteoperosis, a serious condition that involves the weakening of your bones. Is that worth it? I don’t think so, and I bet if girls were given a choice, they’d say they didn’t want the shots, either!
Nobody knows for sure what’s causing really young girls to start developing breasts, but if I know anything about girls, I know that when we start getting breasts or our period starts or–whatever–it’s mortifying, and we just want to be left alone about it.
It seems like there are some things parents can do when their daughters are babies and toddlers that might help prevent early puberty–like making sure their kids eat healthy food without hormones, that they exercise, and that they do not become obese–but once a girl is already hitting puberty, no matter how old she is, isn’t that time to just accept it and try to support her the best you can? I think so, especially since girls who develop early are already at higher risk of having low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders. Youch! Girls who hit puberty early need extra love and hugs–not prescription drugs!
So if you started developing early, maybe even before all your friends, try not to freak out. It’s actually pretty normal now. No, it’s not super fun to go through all these changes, but we all go through it sometime. You are not alone!
How old were you when you started developing? Did you feel kind of embarrassed about it? How old were you when you got your first period? Do you think early puberty is something we should freak out about? Tell me everything in the comments!
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I was almost 13 when I got my first period… I was so old compared to you guys!
I started at the rodeo in 4th grade it was so awkward…. I’m glad I had jeans on not uniform khakis!!
I got mi period when I was 9 and I started growing tits when I was 8. I Neva felt embarrassed or anything I just thought that it was normal. Now I’m a size 36 D and I’m only in 8th grade.
I started growing breasts when I was about 9 years old. If I wasn’t already a (UK) C cup by the time I was 11, I was certainly nearing it. Though there’s a first year in my school (she would be about 11 or 12) who’s got DOUBLE D cups and is very slim. I really want to know how this could be.
I got my period when I was 11 on a school trip over night(…yeah it wasn’t fun especially when all the boys in my class found out) but yet my Mum got hers when she was 14. I wasn’t scared or anything when I got it; i’d talked about it with my Mum for quite some time before and I was actually looking forward about having it, so I was happy when I got it. Almost three years later and I loathe the time when it comes.
From what I gathered, besides my aunt who was 8 when she got her period, I think i’m the youngest in my family to get mine, though I could be wrong.
I’m 11 years old and I started developing breasts at nine years old
I was 10 when I had my period, the first in my class. I have no mother
So it was pretty difficult understanding things from my fathers point of view.
I am used to my periods now, and I find it easier to use pads than tampons
By the way. I was quite scared at first, but my dad had me visit a nurse so she
Could tell me about the changes(I think he was scared). But in the end I know
All I need to know(well, mostly). Early periods can be scary but they’re not that bad.
And by the way Anna, my breasts are large for my age(I’ve had boys tell me so) and
A C cup in year 3, no offense but I think that is quite far fetched. Then again, I am
British and I do think they call cups by different names? I don’t know, I will have to research, but if it is a British C cup you speak of, that is ridiculously huge.
R u kidding me i got my period when i was nine in fourth grade and I had huge boobs when i was in third grade i was a c cup in third grade.
Another problem with early puberty is that its onset is can somtimes be representative of sexual abuse and so being able to stop cases that are caused by poor diet and genetic factors can help to narrow down the amount of cases that occur wo that when it happens in cases of child abuse it can be more easily assessed and prosecuted as well as to limit the medical issues that can be caused by younger girls having their periods (cancer,dieseases,early menopause)