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My mom never told me anything. I noticed blood on my undies when I undressed to shower, ran, freaking out, to her and she briefly explained that I was a woman and hugged me. Then she gave me a sanitary belt (YES a belt that held the pad in place!) and that was that. I had no clue this was going to happen to me and was totally blown away when it did.
My oldest was 13, like me, but my younger two were both 10 when they began menstruating. I prepared them by telling them what was going to happen, why it happened and explaining how they'd be dealing with it. I kept the information age-appropriate because at that age they tend to get bored if you go on and on. I made sure to tell them that as they felt they wanted to know more that I was the one to ask, making sure they knew that what they learned "on the streets" was often inaccurate. It's worked well for me and them.
And if you don't mind a little preachiness here. Based on being in the midst of three generations of women in my family, here's what I've learned about parenting.
As long as you're mindful of the mistakes you feel your parents made with you, you can not go wrong. Be strong in your decisions, knowing that you've made them to the best of your ability, working to become a better parent than your own.
It took me years to forgive my own mother, but the one thing she told me that really helped me was the she "only did the best that she could do". Sounds elementary, but it goes for each of us. I do the best that I can and don't expect to be perfect. But I think that each generation of girls in our family will be better than the last. I think that's phenomenal, because I only wish my daughters even more joy from their children than I have from them.
Personally, I think it sounds as though you're a great mom!
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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain
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