rw-Hep meez, the puberty fairy might be coming

Forewarned is good -- just make sure Lily knows the basics and that she knows where to FIND whatever she's gonna need.

i.e., tell her it's OK to go to the school nurse and ASK for supplies

It's OK to tell the nurse to call Mom if you've messed your clothese up -- NO SHAME, it's what happens the first time.

I was exactly 12 1/2 to the day.  And that was many years ago.  But when I was teaching 5th grade it was NOT uncommon to have girls start then.  In fact, when the boys were at gym I always made sure the girls knew I had "stuff" IN MY DESK and they only had to ask for it **However** they had to ask.

One day a girl came up to me and said "Liz is in the girls room and ... NEEDS YOU... and bring your desk stuff!"

nuff said.  Of course I had to send the boys hanging at my desk to their seats, but I just grabbed my little pouch and put it in my pocket and away we went. 

But I felt bad -- SHE had never been told by her mother nuffing -- and she was convinced she had cancer and was bleeding to death in the girls room.  I 'splained a bit and she caught on fast -- but how many times do kids hear that one of the cancer warning signals is "unexplained bleeding".

You'll do fine Gina -- it's scarier for you than anyone.

If the dentist is right, & puberty is on it's way, I'll just say "I'M SO SORRY!"

 I "started" puberty at age 11. Sorry.

 Eeeks!

I agree with the others, and I'm sure you already know, or have already had "the talk", but definitely keep the lines of communication OPEN! My mom never gave me "the talk." I learned in school (when everyone is giggling and embarrassed so much they don't hear half of what is said), and from my big sister. 

 I had the opposite issue - my bone age was about 2 years behind my actual age (i.e. it read 12 when I was 14).  I started my periods when I was 16.

I was 11. Boy, I was sooooo excited:P. Somebody should have warned me this would be for DECADES.  Now I can hardly wiat for it to end!

Hang in there girl--the "fun" is just beginning!

My youngest sister was 11 and we were kind of surprised that it could happen that early.  I was almost 14.  However, I've heard teacher's say that girls as young as third grade hit puberty.  I forget, how old is Lily?

lorib

I was 11. Boy, I was sooooo excited:P. Somebody should have warned me this would be for DECADES.  Now I can hardly wiat for it to end!

Hang in there girl--the "fun" is just beginning!

When dose it end??? I'm past my expiration date and still going strong...

I went to school with a girl who started in the 4th grade.  She was the first girl to get boobs, which seemed pretty weird to the rest of us at that age.

Linda, I read somewhere that the earlier a girl starts, the longer she has til menopause.  I don't know if that's true.  I started a couple months shy of my 13th birthday and at 42, I am peri-menopausal.  Not that I'm complaining.  30 years, minus the 9 months I was pregnant, is more than enough!

georgie4682

I forget, how old is Lily?

Lily is 8, going to be 9 on April 27th

jenn52

Time to buy the book, "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret" by Judy Blume. Best ever girl book!

Ditto.

Deb W.

I had the most laughs ever reading that as a youngin...all the same I was about 11 when I read it. I will have to check it again and refresh my memory of what all is in it. I don't want to shock my prude of a daughter...she is 8 years old in mind still if not in teeth LOL.

If it makes you feel any better, my 13-year-old daughter started at age 10 (egad) and she currently has six baby teeth.  She's supposed to be getting braces (last year) but we are on hold because of her slow dentition.   So maybe your dentist is wrong. You can hold on to that!