I remember when I was probably 7 or 8 I saw my mom's box of tampons and asked what they were. she said she'd tell me when I was 12. good thing I found out before then because I started at 11.

**** your daughters life. She honestly didn't have a clue what was going on, and was too embarrassed to ask her parents who didn't tell her how to deal with it. Teach your daughter something, will you?

Why is everyone getting all butt hurt and upset just because OP didn't have the period talk with her daughter yet? We have no idea how old this girl is and whether or not she had her period extremely early. I started my period really early at 11, at least 3 years before any of my friends did, and I wasn't given the period talk at that age either. And for all of you who say to give your child the talk around 5, do you really think a person is going to remember what you said to them when they were 5 yrs old?

I highly doubt she'd appreciate you sharing this, you're supposed to help her and prepare her for this not ridicule her. Maybe she was in shock. YDI

Who knows how open a family or a person is about health or the feminine side. I knew all about it but cried of shame and tried to hide it as it meant new responsibilities (firstly not being a child any more). My mom was a doctor and not a sympathetic one, and boys in school would always go through our bags and throw around pads and make fun of the girls with them. Generally I guess I was scared because, to be honest, in our society, bleeding and pain are not considered a positive thing, you don't get a cosmo and talk about bearing a child or growing into a woman, you get pain killers and a talk about hygiene and other problems it carries. Please make sure your daughters are proud of being female, it's a lot more fun that way

Glad I have three boys.

You should have told her in time, it's part of being a good parent. Posting this about your daughter is in poor taste at best! Nothing wrong with telling you daughter at a young age. I was 10 when I got my first period and I knew what was coming.

This is why I want boys

I think your daughter is clever. Imagine, if you will, bleeding heavily for the first time from a part of your body you're not overly familiar with. Most people by age 12 will have skinned their knees, but that doesn't bleed for more than an hour at most. She thought about the problem and came up with a solution which would have been very insightful for a person of her age had it been any other part of her body. You make fun of her for doing something 'stupid', but as she didn't know what she was happening, she reacted in accordance with the circumstances. I really think you should have spared her this by telling her about her body, or even just a casual 'if your body ever does anything unexpected, come talk to me, things happen as you get older'. There's nothing to laugh about here, good on her for having survival skills!

Wow OP. This is both an FML for you and your daughter. I get why everyone on here is wondering why OP hasn't talked to their daughter about her body but we don't know how old she is, what their education has been like and what their family talks about. I hope you did have a talk with your daughter and explain what is happening to her. I think it would be scary for the both you. I was a late bloomer myself and my Mum did talk to me but I didn't talk to her. I got most of my information from school, online or through magazines and when I did get my first period at 14 I didn't tell my Mum because I knew what was happening. I used a pad I'd had from a starter pack and went about my day but it wasn't till I leaked while out shopping later that day that my Mum found out. I hope everything works out OP.