Being there for your kids - Hormones Will Wreak Havoc

Episode Date: February 11, 2019

When your daughter is getting ready to start her menstrual period, it can set a whole house spinning. Most teen girls see their period as a bother, not as a blessing. How you prepare her for her first period, and help her adjust to her monthly schedule can make all the difference in the world. Use your active listening to help her get all of her feelings out. When you see the emotional fever go down, let her know, "You know, sweetheart, I have some thoughts about how you can make do here. Can I share them with you?" Asking permission always helps open the door. It also invests your daughter in your ideas working. For a few months, help her get a rhythm that works for her, and involve her in activity and dietary options that can minimize her discomfort during her periods. Cut her some slack in mood and attitude, as long as she remains respectful. Hormones can wreak havoc in a home, but with planning and patience, you can weather this storm as well.

Hi, I'm Dr. John Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. You know, hormones will wreak havoc. We've all been through the hormone wars, both our own and our children's. Some of us have been through the wars more than once. It's true that hormones will wreak havoc with our bodies, our families, and our relationships. Because these wars are a given, it's important to identify, own, and plan for them. Mandy is 13. She's been having menstrual periods regularly for a couple of of months now, and she is perpetually annoyed by them. Her mom had prepared her, but going through it and talking about it seemed to be two different things. Mama, this is gross. Yuck, can I just do something to stop my period? Mandy pleaded with disgust. Oh, baby, I know it's unpleasant, but you know, it's just part of being an adult woman. Mandy protested, but I'm only 13. It's not fair. I don't like it. Her mama had given her the biblical reasoning for women's periods, the Adam and Eve story. She had also given her the medical reasons. They hadn't, however, really talked about the mood and attitude changes with having her period.

Now is the time for that talk. Mandy's mom agreed to be aware of the time of the month for her daughter. She would give her discrete prompts and encourage preparations. Medical research concludes that the emotional impact of menstruation can be improved when teens and women increase their physical activity and use a hypoglycemic diet, which is low sugar, low caffeine intake the week before menstrual flow begins. Mom suggested her daughter jog, walk the dog daily, or get into a sport or workout as regular health conditioning. She also agreed to have healthy, low sugar, low caffeine, snacks, and meals

for the preceding week. For issues of mood and attitude, mom offered to cut her daughter some slack as long as Mandy did not cross the disrespect line and corrected her slip-ups. As with all emotional fevers, active listening is your go-to response when your child has mood or attitude issues. Mandy did not like the bottom line. It is what it is. She did, however, appreciate her mom's effort to understand and to adjust. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist and Christian author, and this has been Teachable Moments. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, is available online at AmazonBooks.com, and in local, and national bookstores. More on Dr. Robinson at TMC-P-I-N-C.com.