Under the spell of growth spurt

"Even before sun rays reaching earth, she wakes up to do household drudgery. She lost her mother and childhood on the same day. Holding broom instead of books became her daily routine from age of 8 and she is successful in managing things. Day starts with work and ends with work for her. With time she got used to working at home, playing snakes and ladder game with old people, helping his father in farm operations. She didn't know what time has in its tressure. 

On one evening after four years, while playing snakes and ladder game with group of old women, she asked a women' Grany,  why were you looking at me like that?' on sensing wired looks. The old women laughed and told 'you are growing up.' Not knowing what the old women is talking and how to respond she kept quite. But the words 'growing up' still persists in her head and she keep on checking her image in mirror. She thought 'i am putting on weight...gained height too..all my dresses getting tighter..i am becoming like my mother but all of a sudden?!'. She is happy for seeing her mother in herself. She has fears too on her sudden growth changes but kept quite.

Next morning, she was shocked to see blood on bedsheet. She checked herself to see any bleeding wounds on her body but none. She is searching in her house but don't know what she is searching for. Meanwhile her father saw stained bedsheet and asked her to stand still at that place and went out. He too don't know how to respond in that situation. She got rooted their with great silence surrounding her. She scared to hear her breathing too. A women from neighbouring house came to her rescue and told that it is her first period, insisted to fold undergarment to hold blood flow. Women  gave many instructions of dos and do not's in house during menstruation and allowed little girl to settle in a corner. She has fear of handling this sudden change but kept quite.

Its been two months from that day, but most of the time she kept silent.  As usual she is involving in cooking, cleaning and playing with old people. On that day too she is playing. Play floor is filled with laughs of old women and she felt comfortable. While tossing she asked them 'grany , i see many changes from past few months. I feel uncomfortable with hair growth. What to do with hair growing there?'. Group of old women burst into laughter but didn't advise her anything. Being silent is her only option now. She turned her back and returning home. While moving back to home, she hear laughter of old womens and voice of one old lady 'what to do?..just burn it' mimicking her slang. She took it serious and lit her pubic hair  with matchstick. Unfortunately her dress too caught fire to burn her. On seeing smoke, neighbours helped in blowing fire away with gunny bags. Little girl get hospitalized battling for life."

This is not a story. Its fact which i heard from an eye witness. "Foolish girl risked her life" "How come she lit fire"  judgements passed by many people. Its not foolishness it is her innocence. Innocence on unaware of sudden growth spurt. Everyone goes through phase of puberty and emotional turmoil is inevitable. Mentors should take care of growing kids to cross juvenescence. Well, who is a mentor?! Mother, Father, Sister, Teachers, Doctors, Friends and every women as a friend. 

Girls face sense of insecurity about external growth changes like increase in height and weight, gaining fat in hip and thighs, increase in breast. Insecurity is due to thought of being stared by people. One should ensure that these changes are natural and advise adolescents in dressing to drag them out of insecurity. Make them feel comfortable.

Internal tale of hormones is another aspect due to which young girls may go through surge of various emotions like fear, anxiety. Talk to them  frequently. One day awareness class is not the thing that change perspective on puberty as all kids are not same. Everyone is unique and hence one should maintain friendly interaction with adolescent kids. Clear their doubts with patience. Make kids aware about internal changes that result in white discharge and periods to avoid unnecessary panic. From the day of first period, tell them about pubic hair and underarm hair. Ensure them every little change during puberty has their own function. 

Acne due to hormonal changes. Increase in fat at hip region to strengthen internal growth of reproductive organs, pubic hair to protect vaginal area from external infections as well as to  hold odour, menstruation to carry on creation.

Train your kid to groom with safe and self razors, using menstrual aids to manage blood flow like pads, tampons, menstrual cups, maintaining hygiene to get rid of infections. Your first hand information and support will provide adolescents with great strength to overcome the spell of growth spurt.


-Dasu Rama Sri Vineela..