Why Do We Have to Call It "Puberty"?

Why? It is not a nice sounding word, and therefore, why would anyone want to go through it? I would like to think that we could be creative enough as humans to come up with a word that is neither daunting nor apt to send preteens either running, or into fits of giggles. I personally like to just say that my son is in a growth phase right now (as if every child is not currently in a growth phase!). Call it whatever you will, it is a scary time for both kids and parents. Physical changes, mercurial emotions, stirring desires of independence, and the fear that our little one is not so little anymore, all create an environment in which it becomes difficult to communicate for both sides.

The most important thing a parent can do is to genuinely spend some time on memory lane, look at pictures of yourself at that age (and if you are brave enough to share them with your child - do!), remember your first crush, first zit, first time you worried about being cool, etc. Whether we had positive or negative experiences, this time helped shape who we became as adults, and we need to be cognoscente that this holds true for our children, as well. During this tumultuous season, even the slightest teasing (even if it a part of your family's typical fun) can blow up to mountainous proportions and create long lasting negative feelings.

Try to talk to your kids before they are in the throws of change, so that they will understand what to expect. The facts are important to convey, but equally important is how a situation can feel. A young girl taller than everyone in her class, breakouts, voice changes, sexual changes, and so on. Knowing how you felt in a similar or like situation can help calm the fear of the unknown for your child. In addition, remind your child that every person hits this phase in life at a different rate with different reactions. No particular one is right, and so it is extremely important that neither you nor your child compares him or her self to anyone else. If something seems abnormally early or late, seek the proper medical attention to ease your child's fear that they are somehow different or deficient.

This is a time of life, when our bodies seemingly betray us and our emotions fluctuate like the weather. But, it is also a time to appreciate the wonder of what the human body is capable of. We are heading, no turning back, into adulthood and we, as parents, need to take this special time in a child's life to reaffirm their uniqueness and our love. Our understanding and encouragement, has the capability to compensate for the fear, frustration, and worries that our children may encounter during this time. By the way, my son says we should call it he.. :-)!