Don't be alarmed if this is the response you get when you decide to have "the period talk" with your tween.

In fact a good majority of you can expect it.

Talking about periods shouldn't be one big talk at a particular age. Instead, start the conversation early and slowly build on your child's understanding. Girls and boys need reliable information about periods. So make sure you talk to your sons, too.

- For example, if your 4-year-old sees a tampon and asks what it's for, you could say, "Women bleed a little from their vagina every month. It's called a period. It isn't because they're hurt. It's how the body gets ready for a baby. The tampon catches the blood so it doesn't go on the underwear."

Over the years, you can give your child more information as he or she is ready.

If your child doesn't ask questions about periods, you can bring it up. By the time they're 6 or 7 years old, most kids can understand the basics of periods. Look for a natural moment to talk about it, such as:
- when kids asks about puberty or changing bodies
- if your child asks where babies come from
- if you're at the store buying pads or tampons

Ask if your child knows about periods. Then, you can share basic information, such as: As a girl develops into a woman, her body changes so she can have a baby when she grows up. Part of that is getting a place ready for the baby to grow inside the mom. The place a baby grows is called a uterus. Every month the uterus wall gets ready for a baby. If there is no baby, the uterus wall comes off and bleeds a little. The blood comes out of a woman's vagina. The body makes a new wall every month, just in case there is a baby.

Answer any questions simply and directly!

This shoud help with that fisr converstion, as seeing someone so famous and empowering announce it on live TV in an interview will help them feel more comfortable or brave to start the converstaion and hopefully more interested in the topic

1. Start the conversation early

Talk to your child in an age-appropriate way about periods from a young age. Look for opportunities if the topic comes up naturally in conversation. As they get older you can go into more detail in a way that’s suitable for their age and have more focused discussions.

2. Be period positive

Be a positive role model when it comes to periods. Avoid talking about periods in a negative way and try to normalise them by explaining they are a normal, natural part of life.

3. Teach anatomy

Make sure your child knows the correct name for body parts and teach them the anatomy of their body so they understand what’s happening and where it’s happening in their body.

4. Explain the facts

Explain to your child what periods are, why they happen, how often they happen, how long they last and what PMS (premenstrual tension) is. The more fact-based information they have, the better they are able to make good, healthy choices and take care of contraceptive needs as well. There are lots of good resources online about periods to help you. You can also ask a trusted family member or healthcare professional to talk about the topic, too. Many schools also have puberty programmes where they talk to the kids about periods and other changes that happen.

5. Talk about period products

Explore different period products together such as tampons, pads, menstrual cups and period underwear and explain how they work. Let your child be involved in deciding which product or products they’d like to use or try. The government has recently rolled out a programme providing free period products in most schools around the country.

6. Promote hygiene

Teach your child/adolescent the importance of hygiene when menstruating, ie showering daily. Also show them how to dispose of their period products properly, for example, wrap used pads in toilet paper and put them in the rubbish bin (not down the toilet). Remember to talk to them about toxic shock syndrome and what they can do to reduce the risk, ie, wash their hands thoroughly before and after changing their tampon and don’t leave their tampon in too long.

7. Be prepared

Show your child how to keep a record of period cycles by marking it on the calendar, on their phone or a period tracking app. A period cycle is around 28 days from day one of their period so knowing when it’s due can help them be prepared. Having period products in a bag or stored somewhere means they won’t be caught short.

8. Talk to other family members

Have a conversation with other family members about menstruating and what it means so they are armed with the facts and have a better understanding of periods.

9. Be honest

Be as honest as you can be when talking about periods. Answer questions honestly and keep the lines of communication open so your kids feel like they can come to you if they have any questions.