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My son is 11 and his mum and I have agreed I'll do the puberty conversations with him. Problem is my own dad's version of "the talk" was handing me a leaflet and leaving the room, so I've not got much of a template.
He's already had some lessons at school but I want him to know he can come to me. How did you start it without it being excruciating for both of you?
Car journeys. Honestly. Side by side, no eye contact, he can look out the window. I did it in about four or five small chats over a few months rather than one big one.
Agree with car journeys. Also, there are some good books written for boys that you can leave in his room. I read it first so I knew what was in it, then told him "this is yours, ask me anything, I won't be weird about it". He came back with questions a week later.
Good shout on reading it first. I'd have panicked at the questions otherwise.
Don't forget the emotional side - mood swings, feeling angry for no reason, crushes. We focused so much on the body stuff that I forgot to mention that feelings get bigger too. When he started crying out of nowhere at 12 he thought something was wrong with him.
not a son but from the other side - with my girls the thing that helped most was just normalising it. pads in the bathroom cupboard, talking about it at dinner. if you're relaxed they will be. if you go red they'll go red.
Also tell him about stuff that's going to happen to girls in his year. My lad was baffled by why girls were going to the nurse and other boys were making stupid jokes. Better he hears the facts from you.
Did the first chat on the way back from football on Saturday. Mostly grunts from him but he said "ok, thanks dad" at the end which I'm taking as a massive win.
Bookmarking this. Mine is 10 and I can feel it coming. Car journeys duly noted - luckily we drive to football every weekend.
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