Milk and Madness

Hello friends. Welcome back to the Milk and Madness podcast, where we explore parenthood one episode at a time. If this is your first time joining us, we're so glad to have you with us and to our regular listeners. Thank you so much for being part of our community. I'm your host, Nhi. And I'm your host, Dee.
Today's topic might seem a little bit ahead of our time since our oldest are just six years old, but it's something that came up during one of our dinner conversations and it sparked our interest. So, we're diving into the world of puberty today, a stage that's not on our immediate radar. But it is an important part of growing up.
So, let's start with the basics for those of us who need reminders, because it was a while ago that I went through puberty. So, puberty is the phase in life when children start to develop physical and emotional changes that lead them into adulthood. So, for girls this typically begins around the age range of 8 to 13 and for boys it's between 9 and 14.
And it's marked by a range of changes and that includes, growth spurts the development of secondary sexual characteristics and of course hormones. All the hormones. So, the reason why this came up during dinner the other night was because we felt that kids were starting puberty earlier.
Reflecting on when we went through it and when we start developing breasts and when we got our period, it just felt Feels like they're going through it earlier from what we're seeing and hearing from friends with older children, as well as from our wider families. I've got cousins who are going through puberty right now.
And it's really interesting to be an observer of it whilst they're going through it. So, we had to look into it, are kids going through puberty [00:02:00] earlier. We did a quick research session and everything that we found indicated that yes, overall puberty is starting earlier for kids these days.
Girls are generally getting their periods about the same time, but they are showing other signs of puberty earlier, like breast development. And they could be happening a year earlier than decades ago. So, the data that we have is all based in the U. S., but the average age of puberty's onset ranges from 8 to 13, which is what Dee mentioned, but it's been dropping by about three months every decade over the past 40 years.
according to some global data taken in 2020, which is really interesting. So, I think what we've hearing from our friends, from our family, it is true. So yes, it is still technically within that age range, but to your point, it is slowly starting to happen.
Earlier and earlier. And that graph is being skewed, that [00:03:00] more kids, maybe it was more like on average, it was like around the 11-year-old mark. Whereas now it's skewed more towards the earlier range. For me, I remember when we're talking about periods, because I don't really remember when my boobs developed.
I don't really remember any of the other characteristics of going through puberty. All I remember is obviously the big thing, which was my period. And I got it when I was 12. And that's within that range, it's the later part of the range as well. But the rest of it, I really don't remember.
I think getting your period is the last sort of thing. I do believe your breasts develop. I think I already had breasts by the time I got my period. So, for me, I guess I was within the range and within the normal range, but from what we've been reading on what some, and we'll talk about in a minute, what some of the contributing factors to skewing that data, I was pretty lucky that none of those things really were impacting me when I was growing up.
So maybe that's [00:04:00] why. I was in that that later range. What about for you, do you remember any of your puberty? Oh, I remember it. I remember it pretty well, actually. Yeah, so just really quickly, there are so many factors that can impact when kids go through puberty. Obviously, hormone genetics play a big role and environmental factors as well.
We'll put everything in the show notes in terms of the research that we did, and I'm going to quote it incorrectly. There was research done during COVID. And apparently, they found during COVID that there was an impact in terms of puberty as well, which is, interesting.
So, I'll throw that in the show notes, our kids, a couple of years away, a couple of years, three years, four years away from puberty, but that's going to go really quickly. And it's a bit scary actually thinking about it, but I remember puberty really well. So, my parents got divorced when I was, I think [00:05:00] eight.
And then my mom did this thing where we moved pretty much, every year for a while like I think she just felt really restless and she just needed that and so we have relatives in Perth. This is why I remember it so well in terms of like me getting my period and just having breasts and all this stuff.
But my, we have relatives in Perth and my mom's reaction to getting divorced was let's move to the other side of Australia. So, we moved to Perth and we When we moved to Perth, I have cousins there and two of them are, were older than me, so they were in later high school and one who was a couple years younger than me and I was in, I think I was year five.
I was about 11, I think. And when I went over to Perth, my breasts started developing and because of the education system is slightly different, I think in Perth, I dunno what it is now, but when we moved to Perth, I was like a year older than all the kids in my. Year level, and so I just remember swimming carnival, right?
It's thank God I already had a, who gives a F kind of attitude already then, but I remember and kids are kids. I remember I was wearing this, these bathers though, obviously fitted. And I had breasts more than any other girl in year five. And I remember it was such a thing.
I remember all the other girls like, Oh my God, look at your breasts. Like people, kids, they're very open. They're very honest. Like it was really interesting to them because they're like, Oh my God, like she's. our age and in our level, but she's got these breasts and my breasts aren't big at all, but when you, but I had them, I had these, whatever I have now, I had them basically. And so it was so interesting to them.
And I just, I always think about, wow, if I was a really sensitive kid, if I was a kid who you know, would have taken that on wow, that could have really impacted me. I could have, , in terms of my mental health and all that stuff. But I always okay, these weirdos, what's their problem?
Kind of thing. They're from Perth. I don't know what they're talking about. Yeah. Yeah. So I re I remember that like it was yesterday, like honestly. And then we were only Perth for a year and then we came home and that's when I got my period. So I got my period in year six
was I ready for it? Yes and no. I don't know. How do you know if you're ready for it? I remember I got my period and I knew what it was because, they had been that education school, thankfully. I didn't think I was dying or anything. And I remember I poked my head into my mom's room. Who was like, Sound asleep.
I said, mom, I think I've got my period. She goes, Oh, you know what to do? We talked about it briefly. So I'm like, okay, sure. So then when I went and I got a pad from where she showed me the pads were, and I put it on and that was it. And in my head, I'm I don't know if I had a girl, is it something that you make like a big deal?
You're really growing up your bodies or this stuff, or is it something that you just push under the rug go period. All good. Like it's one of those things, it depends on your kids and how they respond to it. So that happened. And then I remember when my sister got her period, I was there to be the mom role, cause I'd gone through all of it I have these memories of talking her through, like through the, bathroom wall in terms of how to put a tampon in and that kind of stuff.
And I'm like, do I imagine that? I can't, I don't know. It's been so long ago, but in terms of puberty, it's so massive. It is such a massive thing you go through and it's, for quite a few years and it's so much to process. So I think if your parents who are going through this right now would love to hear.
How it's going for you and what you're finding so that, we can , have maybe a head start in terms of thinking about that. Were you ready for puberty when you went through it? Do you think? No, I don't think so. No. Yeah, I don't think you can. Be ready for it. Cause you just don't know what to expect.
And although my mom was really good. So when I got my period she was outside doing gardening or something, and I just ran out with my underwear. I'm like, mom, I got my period. And I was like a whole big thing. And it was good. Cause she was excited. She's okay. And she took me through it.
And same thing, I knew it was coming, I knew about it, I knew it was coming, so I had some sort of education, but I feel like I didn't have enough, so I think it was just all about the period, but like I didn't really know about the other hormonal changes and the physical changes that were coming or had happened.
It was just one of those things that just happened and you're a woman and that was it, you're becoming a woman, the end. And I remember that my education in terms of Tampons? was at school at a swimming carnival one time. Oh, the swimming carnivals. We're so scarred by these swimming carnivals. Yes, trauma.
But it was, in the end I gave up because again, I had friends outside the cubicle trying to tell me what to do, and it was just, it was painful, and it was uncomfortable, and it was awkward, and I don't think I'm doing it right. And so I just ended up giving up, but I do vividly remember, and it wasn't my own experience, but I do vividly remember a girl who was at the swimming carnivals and she was in a bathing suit.
And it wasn't so much the boobs for me. Maybe that's what other people were focusing on, but her bathing suit, unfortunately was white. And so she, when she went in the water, it went a little bit more transparent and it was more the pubic hair. That was what. Intrigued me. I was like I can see stuff down there.
Oh, the poor girl. Which, yeah, which, and again, I don't know if anyone else noticed or what the outcome of that was, but I remember seeing it and going, oh that's, she probably should have worn a different bathing suit. And, that's a little bit on the parents too. Like, why would you put white on them?
Anyway. But even though I'd seen my mom naked, like she's not shy, she's not a shy woman. I think half of my friends have seen her naked and she's all, she's fine with it. If you haven't seen her naked, that's probably an issue. There's something wrong there. I'm like, I haven't seen her naked. My mom's like that too.
We're very open with stuff. Yeah. So like I knew about pubic hair, but I just think, I think it was a little bit confronting seeing it on someone. My age. I think that's what I noticed from that, what I took away from that. But yeah, these swimming carnivals, , I can definitely attest to feeling uncomfortable in your own skin, especially when you start growing boobs.
And if you are one of the first ones in your case at your school at that time. Because nobody else knows, and you're the guinea pig, you're the example that's being set, and I was quite, still am, quite heavy chested, so I always do feel quite uncomfortable, and , I feel conscious about, my boobs, and I always have from when I was little, because it's just, yeah people notice them, and they're in the way, and yeah, so it's something that I think has occurred at puberty, and then has gone through, and I obviously haven't had the time to really I guess digest all of that.
Maybe it's because the conversations didn't happen earlier. I'm not sure, but I think it's something that I'm going to have with both my kids, having a boy and a girl, because they both need to be conscious of what each other is going to go through. I think with boys, they can get teased about their voices breaking and there's other things that they can get teased about.
And I think making it normal and them, knowing that it is just a normal part of life and that whoever is teasing them is going to go through the exact same thing at some stage. And to just let it, water off the duck's back, like what happened with you and not let it affect them.
Yep. Especially long term. It is temporary, I think is probably the message that I'll be giving, but as we've said before, you're the one that's going to be educating my kids on all this stuff. I look forward to. Yeah. We were just on it. It's great. I look forward to having those chats with your kids.
And I was just thinking, because you have a boy and a girl, my God, imagine if both your kids. Start puberty, if we look at the numbers this could totally happen, your kids potentially are going to start puberty at the same time.
Whoa. So that's going to help as much as I can. And in terms of us unpacking our experiences It's probably something we've never sat down and really thought about because it was so long ago, and it's something that we've gone through yep, it's done, whatever.
Yeah, so I hope we are helping anyone whose kids, are going through puberty right now. But the other thing, the other big thing when you go through puberty is I don't know about you, but it's when I started noticing boys. Yeah, no I feel like I was very late in that. Oh my God. Bless. I was just like, I, yeah, I remember I had a crush on this guy in Perth, crushes are so funny because they're so intense. You read through your diaries and you're like, Oh my God, I thought I was in love with this kid. And it's just Oh, it's the sweetest thing ever. But I remember I had a crush on this guy. And then I remember there was a couple of boys and I still remember their names.
I still remember them. That I had crushes on in year six in primary school. And then I had my first boyfriend, if you are listening, I've got the air postures up, but I had my first boyfriend in year seven and we kissed once and it was You know, I read through the journals and the diaries and it's I was in love with him and all this stuff.
It's really interesting. But I suppose that's something to be really aware of it as well as a parent. And also be really,
what's the word? I suppose just gentle with your kids about it because it is so new. And you're just like, whoa, am I in love with this boy or this girl? And you genuinely feel like your world is going to end. Because you're so hormonal. There's all this stuff going through.
You don't know how to process this. So I think to have a parent there who is your friend, who you can chat through about this would be just invaluable in terms of helping you go through that experience and processing it. I wished I had that. My mum was great but she was, we've talked about this in the past.
Our parents worked, our mums worked. All the time. And their priority was trying to provide for us things that they, didn't have. And I really would, I really appreciate that. And we'll never, I don't change that. But I think, for us, because we will have that space that I will really try my best to have a relationship with my boys so that they can say, Oh, mom, I had this crush on this girl.
I should just smash my heart into smithereens. And, there's this boy that didn't even look at me, whatever it is. It won't be like, Oh honey, let's hug it out. Let's talk about it. Cause it's going to happen again. I'm sorry. Yeah. Oh God. Don't tell them that, they might freak out. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Yes. It's a balance. And then, all the mental health stuff, there's so much mental health stuff. And even though that stuff is more openly discussed about now, I think I'm just going to say it, but I think there's still a lot of relationships, parent to child relationships where that stuff is not so open.
So I'm going to try my very best to have that open dialogue where they feel like they can say, I'm fine. I don't know mom, I'm really feeling sad all the time. , is it hormones, or am I depressed? Whatever it is can we talk about it? I'm like, yeah, absolutely. Yes. What are you thinking?
So you brought up something really good that I think for me is like very crucial. It's a very crucial point. And that is having that open relationship with your kids. Because I know from my personal experience, like you said, because our moms were so busy working multiple jobs or working all the time.
I, I was still able to talk to my mom. She was very open about things, but I still gravitated towards my peers. And so when you put together a handful of girls who are all hormonal and all going through the same thing and maybe they have, you might have a crush on the same boy or whatever it might be that, there's cattiness involved and there's hurt feelings and there's just so much going on that I think that they need someone impartial who has been through it.
to take them through that journey. And I think that's what the role is that we play as parents, right? We're not there to be like, get over it. You'll be fine. Don't worry about it. You're there to take them through those emotions, not. Dictate to them what they should be doing or shouldn't be doing, but help them through this because it is a big milestone and there is so much going on.
And I do recall one occasion when I finally decided to, I don't know, look at boys, but I wasn't really that big into them. I was like, you guys do your own thing. But I remember being very self conscious of having leg hair because at that time my mum didn't let me shave my legs. She was like, no, you don't need to, you're too young or whatever.
Maybe she just couldn't bother teaching me. I don't know. But either way, I wasn't shaving my legs at that time. And I just remember always wearing pants. Could be as hot as outside. It did not matter how hot it was that day, whether it was summer, whatever. I was always in pants, never in shorts, never in a skirt.
I don't know. Because God forbid, I, somebody sees up my legs or anything. I was just very conscious of all of that. And I think it really does affect your self confidence. Now, does that mean I'm going to let Amelia if she starts going through puberty at nine or eight, does it mean I'm going to let her shave her legs straight away?
Probably not, but I think it deserves a conversation about why not and try and help her through. if somebody is bullying her or someone is picking on her, try and help her through navigating that.
It's just getting them used to having those conversations. Whether it's someone breaking their heart, whether it's another girl going after their crush or another boy going after their crush or whatever the situation might be. It's just, talking them through that process, what it means sharing our own experiences.
I think is huge. That was one of the things that my mom did. I think she, it really worked for me hearing her experiences and hearing her talk about, everything that she went through when she was younger. And I think the biggest part of that was seeing that there is that light at the end of the tunnel because in that moment you're, when you're heartbroken or you're hurt because someone's picked on you.
That's all that there is. That's all you can focus on. Yeah, knowing that other people, and it's so great that we have this support group with the mothers group and all of our friends, where I'll just be like, hey go tell Ada what happened to you? And, so he can learn not to do that to another girl, or go tell Amelia about when you got heartbroken, so she knows that it can, it happens, and it can happen, and you'll be okay.
Yep. So much to unpack and so much work that we're going to have to do over the next couple of years. Yes. Yes. To build really strong foundations of relationships with our kids.
Hey, so whilst you were talking, the other thing that I came across whilst I was doing the quick research and it was super interesting, again, I will put in the show notes, but it was in terms of for boys, the stages of their lives and who is the most important or the most impactful person.
So the first six years. Was mums, right? And I'm like, yep, can confirm. Completely correct. From six to I don't know, I'll look up the date again, but for a significant amount of time becomes the dad, right? And then it changes, so it's not parent anymore. It becomes mentors and then it's peers. And peers for puberty is it.
Massive change your life, who you hang with, who your friends are when you go through puberty. And that is something that I'm going to be like, who are you talking to? No, I'm serious. Because I have seen it firsthand. I will have those conversations with my boys and say, I don't think this person This boy, this girl, whatever, because ABCD, I could be wrong, but I'm going to put it out there, right?
And I remember my mom had those conversations with my sister and I as well, like maybe we had friends that were a bit fickle. This friend isn't as good to you as you are to them. So, I think as a parent, we need to be like, okay, be aware of this, deal with it yourself, but just be aware with our life experience.
We've got the 30 plus years, whatever on top of what you've had just take some of that in and do what you want with it. But I want to be there to help them. And I just think, wow, make or break people, I think, and especially for boys, apparently. scares me a bit. What do you think? Yeah.
Yeah. I, I don't think anyone that's listening can say they didn't have that sort of experience where, they know of someone where their life just took a turn and it, it changed them. And personally, I'm the same. I went up to my mom and asked her to move me from high school halfway through.
So in year nine, I said, I want to move schools because I remember you saying this well, yeah, that it was, there was nothing wrong with my friends. There's nothing wrong with the school. Something just didn't sit right. And I just felt it wasn't the place I was supposed to be. And yeah. those friends, same situation.
I had quite a few of them that went and had kids really young. And look, some of them are doing okay now. Some of them probably not so much, but I just remember thinking this is not where I want my life to be. And so I went to my mom. I said, can you please move me? And she moved me from a public school to a private school.
So she had to pay a lot more to move me there. And it was a lot further away. My public school was literally across the road. And it was a big move and it was really hard. Try moving high. You wouldn't know because you moved around a lot, but. halfway through your first three years, you've already established relationships with people.
And then, you've got a new person coming in year 10 and another three years left. It was really hard, but I still, to this day, think it was probably one of the best decisions that I made to move schools. Not saying that's, I would have ended up, pregnant or whatever, but I just, I wasn't getting what I needed from that school and from that friendship group at that particular time.
So it does make a difference in terms of how I'm going to not interfere, but how I'm going to navigate that with my kids, I think is hard because I push back a lot on my parents. In year seven, I think my parents were still together at that time and I felt like they were trying to dictate to me who I should and shouldn't be friends with.
And I'm so glad that I ended up coming to that decision myself because it needed to come from me, I think, otherwise I would have just rebelled and then this is what happens when you rebel, potentially. Yeah, I have to really think about how I'm going to approach this because if I do come in hard.
I know both, definitely Amelia will probably tell me where to go, Aiden might listen, but Amelia I think will just be like, get stuff, and she'll probably do the exact opposite of what I tell her to do, which is what I did growing up. So I'm gonna have to really reflect on what worked for me. And maybe try and replicate that because, oh man, I'm not looking forward to this, that's for sure.
Going in hard is not going to work with our kids, absolutely not. I think for you to have that personal awareness and for you to want to do that, massive. Massive. And you were what? You were in year 10. So what's that? Year 9. So what's that? 14. Amazing. So amazing. I think that was really great that you pushed for that.
And it would have been a massive change. Yeah. Well done. Good job. I have a strategy in mind though in terms of how we're going to deal with this and it's going to be, I'm going to be in your face in the nicest way, as in I'm going to know your friends. I'm going to know their parents. I'm going to be like, they're going to come over for lunch.
They're going to hang out the weekends, so there's gonna be no surprises. I'm going to know who you hang out with. Hopefully, there's going to be people who you've made through whatever. But I think if I know the vast majority of your friends and I am friends with them, this is what I want to be like, I want to be someone that they can be like, Oh, Hey, Kenza's and stuff that hopefully.
If I ever get in trouble, even if Kenzo doesn't call me or Ambrose doesn't call me, maybe one of their friends might call me. You know what I mean? I don't know if this is just wishful thinking and I'm naive because I haven't gone through this yet, but in my head, I'm I have that relationship now and I'm just going to continue it.
I know all these BFF parents. I know them, I think I have a pretty good rapport with his friends. Like when I come to pick them up, they're always like, Oh, Hey, and that kind of stuff. So I'm hoping that I can continue that. And I think, it depends on what they're like as teenagers, because I have seen different types of teenagers and it's and I know what I was like as a teenager.
I don't know what my kids are gonna be like in puberty, but yeah, if I continue the way that I'm going now, it's not gonna be strange that I know your friends.
It's not gonna be strange that they can come over and play video games. You know what I mean? Like It's not like I'm gonna shift it. When you become a teenager, you go, Oh, hey, we've never had friends over before, but let's have them over. Let's have a party.
So I'm hoping, I don't know we'll let you know when we go through it, but I'm hoping that works. Yeah, being involved versus being controlling. Yes. The more involved you are, the more you know what's going on and you can pick up on those red flags. And is it normal for him to be in his, is it normal for your kids to be in their room because they like quiet time?
Or is it out of character for them? Hang on, something must be going on. Yeah. And then also giving them space. Intentionally and knowing that I'm giving and making sure they know that I'm giving them the space as well. If that makes sense and trust it's got to be a very open trust in that, yes, go to that party, but I'm going to trust that you're going to make any stupid decisions.
And if you do, you can call me. So it's just one of those things. We don't know. We don't know until we go through it. Please, if you're listening, tell us how you're going. I really need to know now. I know we've opened up Pandora's box. We shouldn't have. I don't know how it came up in conversation.
But so just going back to the start of our conversation today. So in terms of some of the things that can affect puberty I just want to preface this quickly with, we spoke about the normal age range, but there are two outliers. So there's precocious puberty, which happens earlier than the standard.
age range. And then on the other side of that, there's delayed puberty, which is outside of the end of the bracket.
Now We always say, we're not doctors, so go and speak to your doctors or your medical professional if you are worried that your child is going through puberty early or too late, and obviously they can talk to you about why that might be. But some of the factors that can contribute to bringing it earlier within that normal age range, as we said, are environmental factors
Genetics. There's genetics. Food plays a massive, yeah, plays a massive impact. And one of the things that kind of blew my mind in terms of this was around plastics. And. You hear all this stuff that this gives you cancer and that gives you cancer and etc. And it's really hard in this day and age to remove everything out of your life.
How do you stop? Everything that can cause cancer, completely get rid of it, unless you live completely organically it's impossible, but it blew my mind knowing that things like drink bottles and Tupperware can contribute to early, earlier onset of puberty. And so now I'm actually really conscious about, Oh my gosh, what do my kids actually drink out of?
And Aiden has. A plastic bottle. Amelia has a stainless steel one. So I was like, oh my gosh, like I should buy him a stainless steel one. Anyway, so that's definitely something that I'm going to be conscious of now, or a little bit more conscious of, because I don't want to contribute to any of those things contributing to them starting puberty earlier than what their body is ready for or than what their body needs. And one of the things that we spoke about at dinner was around earlier development of breasts. And that was around the food and around the hormones in our food. Which again, I'm going to have to just buy organic food.
I don't really know how else to tackle that because everything that we eat is store bought pretty much. Like we do have a veggie patch in that but meat wise everything is store bought. the thing is there are so many factors and at the end of the day you could try to do everything and they can still go through.
Precocious puberty, like you, you don't know, it could be a genetic thing, could be a hormone imbalance thing. It could be thyroid issues. It could be so many other things, right? So you could try your best, but that's not saying if that's not saying that they won't go through precocious puberty.
I think a lot of those things are to the extreme too. So I think if your diet has A lot of additional hormones, a lot of, all that stuff that we're told we're not meant to eat, then maybe it will contribute. I don't know. The other thing is exercise contributes it to if you do, if you're really fit, you do a lot of exercise and maybe, I don't know, maybe it impacts it.
I'm not sure, but there's just so many factors and so many that honestly is quite out of our control because it's how, We live now. So if you compare us to like the 1940s, 1950s, girls back then got their period years after what we do now. Years. So I think it was something like at 14. Oh, I'll find the research and I'll put in the show notes.
But that's crazy to think that your girl might go and have a period at nine versus, On average 14. Wow. I, and I remember, I wouldn't say resentment. I was annoyed that I had a girlfriend who didn't get a period until she was honestly 14, which now in hindsight might've been a bit late.
But, I'm like damn, I've had my period for years dealing with this stuff and here you are. And she, it was opposite. She was worried. She was concerned. She wanted her period because all her friends had their periods. We all had breasts. She, didn't start that stuff yet. It's just interesting because it's like, when you're a teenager, what's normal?
I want to be whatever that is. So whenever it's outside of the norm, that's when it becomes a bit of an issue. So yes, I think do everything that you can to help. But a lot of it is going to be outside of your control, I think. Unfortunately. So the reason why I think I'm stuck on these points is because I was fortunate enough.
My. upbringing for the first four years of my life, I lived with my grandparents and everything was organic. They lived in the village, everything was homegrown, they had cows, they had chickens, they had a farm, like everything that I consumed, the milk, the cheese, the bread, everything was grown by them, made by them.
So I think it gave me a head start and now I'm just really, I feel quite guilty and quite conscious that. Everything that my kids consume is processed food. And so I think I'm going to make a conscious effort to. give them a better diet. It's really hard, especially with school. I have been pretty good up until now, but as soon as you start going to parties and as soon as they start going to school, they see other kids eating, LCM bars and chips and all this other stuff.
And they want the same naturally, right? I remember I was the same. I would have killed someone for a LCM bar. My mom would never let me, or for a packet of chips. And she wouldn't let me because she said it causes cancer. Still to this day, it's stuck in my brain. And Yeah, I just, yeah, I think I'll have to, whatever comes of it, I don't know if it'll help like you said.
There's, I can't get rid of everything that I'm very conscious of because you just can't. Unless I go and buy a property out in the bush and just live off the land, it's not going to happen, right? They will be exposed to all sorts of stuff, but I'm going to try my hardest knowing that when the time comes that they are going through this, I've done my best to.
Delay, not delay it, but make it as normal of a process and not contribute to added hormones and other things because yeah, I've heard. I know it's very rare, but I've heard of instances where kids as young as four years old have started going through puberty. Maybe not necessarily in their period, but start going, like developing breasts and such.
And I'm just like, that is no way Amelia, I can't imagine her. Anyway. Yes. And that brings on other issues as well in terms of kids being treated older or the sexualization of kids. And there's just so many other issues to think about. And, kids can, medically you can prevent it.
If you, if Amelia did start developing breasts. stuff, then, they could put on hormones to help slow it. There's stuff that they can do, but intervention and that, yeah, own problems and yeah, but she's not no, she's not. Thank God. Thank God. Thank God.
So I think that wraps it up for us today. This topic may seem far off for us right now. It did last night when I was thinking about it, but now I'm like, I don't think it is actually that far away for us. But understanding puberty can help us better prepare for when our children reach this stage.
So I think reflecting on your own experience and what worked, what didn't work, what you needed, what you got, what you didn't need, all that stuff, your experience with your friends can help us prepare for when our children reach this stage. It's about providing the right support and ensuring that our kids can navigate these changes as smoothly as possible.
thank you so much for joining us today as we explored puberty. We hope you found this discussion insightful and that it sparks some helpful conversations for your families. If you go through it again, let us know. I'd really love to hear how it is going and what challenges you're facing.
If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe, leave us a review and share it with your friends and family. Thanks for tuning into Milk and Madness. This has been Nhi and Dee.
Until next time, catch you later.