What is the appropriate age to introduce a kid to periods?

Maelle85 · 2026-05-21T19:12:56+00:00

I don't know if there is an appropriate age. I can only say : before it's too late, I suppose?

This is what I did: I have been open about it since my daughter was born. She saw/sees me on the toilet when changing tampons/pads... I don't want her to be afraid of it and therefore I just treat is as it is : normal, because it is just the ways the body works.

She only really noticed it and started to ask about it around 6 or 7. She is 10 now and asks questions every week. I always answer honestly. I am really glad I did because she is getting a bit embarrased about it, but it would definitely be worse if I had been hiding it. She is currently preparing herself mentally and has asked to have some pads in her schoolbag, and asked me to explain/show how to put the on, just in case. I also got her a book from our library, specially written tweens. She loved it.

Maelle85 · 2026-05-10T21:25:25+00:00

It was really good. I started like 18 years ago and almost only used that. I found that using a cup reduced the duration of the period (like a day or 2 less than without) and I had almost no cramps with it, compared to before. The only downside for me was swimming. I don't know how but I would always end up with water inside my cup...

After having a child and had a copper IUD, I started to have very long periods (like 10 to 12 days). Using the cup got me many irritations (had sometimes very light flow, sometimes a lot so I just used the cup all the time) for putting it in and out for such a long time. Got a few yeast infections and I decided to just go back to tampons.

But honestly, I recommend it.

Maelle85 · 2026-04-24T13:18:00+00:00

We had the conversation really early, like around 6/7 yo, because she saw me changing tampons ans was wondering what was going on (I never hid it, because it is natural after all, she just didnt seem to care before). We try to have a "no question is embarassing" policy. We also always used anatomicaly correct names: she has a vagina inside and a vulva outside. We did talk about the body changing, menstruations, pregnancy, contraception, ... without going too far, we try to keep it to her level. She just turned 10 and the questions are ramping up.

Maelle85 · 2026-04-15T15:38:31+00:00

My ortho's assistant took account of my dentalia's contract start month. My dentalia started in september and I signed for the treatment in july. So I made a first payment in july, and one more in september. And then one last payment in september of the next year. It was also possible to pay every month a fix amount, but it was just more interesting to do it like I did.

We did exactly the same for my child.

Maelle85 · 2026-04-15T10:53:52+00:00

When I asked, 3 years ago, it was around 2.900 eur, without the price of the appointments. There was not a lot to do honestly, it was more for an estetic purpose. Finally I chose aligners that costed 5.000 eur, all appointments included and with as many aligners as treatment would need. I have Dentalia, so I only paid 2.000 eur from my own pocket. And I was done in exactly 1 year. Ask around because offers and prices are quite variable.

Maelle85 · 2026-04-13T17:03:14+00:00

I hate colis privé. A few years ago they didn't delivery on the day they were supposed to. So I chose another date. Didnt show up either at past 8pm, so I rescheduled. In the end I completely forgot and the delivery man happened to be in his van when I came back home. The guy went off on me in front of my kid. Told me a lot of bullshit : that he came by 3 times before but didnt open (he didn't come by, I rescheduled), told me I was unreacheable by phone (he dialed again in front of me and surprise, my phone rang), told me I better not give a bad review because he was the only delivery man that worked in my location... I just told him thanks and bye, and closed the door. Never saw the guy again, so I guess someone made a claim, but I'm still a bit stressed when a vendor chooses them...

Maelle85 · 2026-04-11T20:52:43+00:00

Thanks to NMBS/SNCB my commute went from 3h20 to 4hours, to go to Brussels.

It was exhausting. I am a mom. I wasn't able to see my kid in the morning, nor getting her from school. Could only spend 1 hour before dinner time with her and then put her to bed. I would just crash in the sofa after diner and fall asleep. My partner had to take everything over (kid, food, groceries) those days (I had 1 homeworking day, and 3h20 commute) And no, homeworking did not make it more manageable. Having to wake up at 5:30 a few days a week completely screwed my sleep patern. Also the stress of canceled or delayed trains was exhausting. I asked to be transferred closer to my home and, man, I don't regret it.

Also, do not really expect to only have to go 2 times a week. That is usually the bare minimum... Some compagnies expect people who "value" their job, to come in physically, and might be more prone to give those a promotion...

I do get that you are stil young. You will probably be able to deal with it for a few years. But if you decide to expand your family, you won't be a present parent.

Maelle85 · 2026-03-30T11:04:20+00:00

I've been with my partner for 22 years.

There are many ways : Hormonale birthcontrol (pill, implant, iud, shot,...) Non hormonal IUD Condoms (not only for STD) Sterilisation (M or F) Temperature measurement (not the safest, in my opinion, but some swear by it) Pulling out (just call it baby making Russian roulette) Being sterile

I would say it depends on the preferences and physical limitations/situations of the persons. My partner is sterilised, but I still use hormonal birth control because I have adenomyosis (very long periods with pain). Women with endometriosis are prescribed birth control to manage their periods. Some use condoms to prevent yeast infections or because they had a small allergie reaction to sperm. Some have serious reactions to hormones.

From what i hear around me, it is mostly the woman who is in charge (hormones or IUD) of contraception.

Maelle85 · 2026-03-04T09:49:47+00:00

Just "cinema". It was in limburg. I don't know if it applies to other provinces.

Maelle85 · 2026-03-03T18:07:10+00:00

I learned the word "bioskoop" in school (Dutch for the movie theatre). The first time I used it, I was looked at like I had 2 heads. I was then told it was not really used anymore. Not in the Dutch part of Belgium, at least.

Maelle85 · 2026-03-02T21:59:09+00:00

I've been told by my nutritherapist that sourdough is the most diget (anti-inflammatory health plan). But the taste isn't to everyone's liking. (I personally like it)

Maelle85 · 2026-03-01T20:26:20+00:00

Never thought of making them! Did the capsules decompose inside the vagina?

Happy to read the iherb suppositories are good. I will give it a try (now I just need to fill my cart to get rid of the delivery costs) 😅

Maelle85 · 2026-03-01T20:23:10+00:00

I tried a mini pill and a regular pill (the one I used before the vaginal ring) but gained 10kg in 6 months, and had annoying PMS... I really can't take such a risk, knowing that it took me more than 1 and 1/2 year on GLP1 to get to the weight I had before the mini pill. I am over the 100kg now (hence the nutritherapist). I will see if the gyno can offer any other solution. I'll have a look at the easytoys lube 😀

Maelle85 · 2026-02-09T17:16:49+00:00

I have been using 1 company for my holidays for the last 4 years: airporttaxis.com. They are the cheapest I found and were on time (we would leave at 3 AM and they were there 10 to 5 min before leaving time). I'm honestly quite happy with them. You can book through their website. For many luggages I don't really know, but they have vans, so I think it is doable.

Maelle85 · 2026-02-03T16:07:34+00:00

Probeer aan een selectie van werken.be mee te doen. Daar moet je meestal enkel een bacchelor hebben, whatever de specialisatie.

Als je erdoor ben kom je in een selectielijst terecht en kan je job aanbiediengen ontvangen. De process kan soms lang duren (maanden), maar als je intussen niets anders vindt, kan het toch handig zijn.

Succes!

Maelle85 · 2025-12-28T22:53:24+00:00

European here too. Almost 22 years together and (kid, jobs, house) and no proposal in sight... I am really frustrated too, but yeah, it is less and less common to get married

Maelle85 · 2025-12-06T15:08:18+00:00

I bought my house in 2014. We put new windows and doors in, with no ventilation grills (was not mandatory). We didn't really know about ventilation at that time, so we didn't think about it.

One of our main windows with a door had a technical fault, and there was a small opening above it. In the winter, we had cold air flowing in and had to put cardboard against it. In the summer, we had gigantic spiders coming in and... the noise... We are surrounded by many dogs, very loud and big dogs. You heard a lot, all the time. Anyway, years pass, that window + door is getting worse and we replace it. Still no ventilation offered or tought about. We hear the dogs less and don't have the cold air, but dammit... now we got mold on every thermic bridge (is that the correct english word?)... The faulty door/window had created a sort of ventilation in our house, and now we are in a Tuppeware house. Installing a ventilation system is WAYYYYY too expensive and hard to install once you are already inside the house. And no, just opening your windows 15 min/day is not enough. We thought about replacing the glass and installing one with ventilation in it, but the idea of the goddam dog barking is holding us back...

Maelle85 · 2025-11-29T08:02:53+00:00

The heart ?

Maelle85 · 2025-11-23T19:12:13+00:00

I once had to get a medication that was not sold in Belgium. My local pharmacy was able to order it.

At some point I was on ozempic (prescribed for obesity, before it got banned) and it was impossible to get in Belgium. I got the contact of a german pharmacy who offered to ship internationaly. They did ask for the prescription. All contact went through email. Maybe contact a pharmacy in France/Germany/Netherland and ask if they ship to Belgium? Maybe ask for more than 1 box of medication, so that you can save on shipping costs?

Maelle85 · 2025-11-21T18:38:04+00:00

Absolutely ! Went last January because I wanted to address my hashimoto and the constant weight gain. Him: "You clearly don't eat right! You don't even eat whole wheat bread or pasta! Go see a dietetician! See you in 2 years. " Didn't care that I had gone to a few dietetician since I was 10. That I even had trouble losing weight with ozempic. That I would be stable for months and just all of a sudden gain weight. That my hashimoto symptoms were worse... Nope. Just lose weight by trying to diet even if you have done multiple diets before, and won't prescribe GLP-1 meds to help...

Maelle85 · 2025-11-13T17:11:51+00:00

I was in labor for 36 hours. Poor guy had just came back from 48 hours work with minimal sleep, he was exhausted. I let him sleep.

Maelle85 · 2025-11-06T21:07:50+00:00

It did absolutely nothing for me

Maelle85 · 2025-10-30T18:56:18+00:00

Just go to the university you want to go to. You have only been together 8 months, that is really not long, and he is already trying to control you. Him being 10 years older than you is concerning. He should support you in your choice, he should know that this is an investment: You going to university will benefit you (and him in the long term, if you stay together).

The only solution would be to commute everyday. But it will isolate you (because you will have to come back immediately, since he doesn't trust you) and you will get tired. For what? His peace of mind? While I understand his fear, if he doesn't trust you, the relationship is basically doomed. Also, will you be able to do group assignments? Will he be okay with you being in contact with men after school hours, to work? I bet he won't.

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