Why do mothers make a big deal when you start having your period and become a woman? Its embarrassing!!! Im not gonna make a big deal when my daughter starts her period. My mom did it to me when I was 11. Im 20 now and I am still traumatized about it. Why do parents do this?

Because it is a big deal. In many religions and cultures certainly.
In my spiritual tradition, it is common to have a special, but private, celebration amongst the women of the family or coven.
My Mom told people without my permission when I got my first period, which I did not like one bit. That was more of a respect issue though.
Its perfectly natural and nothing to be ashamed of. Would you rather we be banished in exile in another part of the cave for a week each month like women of old?
Now you know to let your future daughter(s) to choose how much of a big deal they want to make of it.

That's too bad that she didn't respect your privacy. I hope you have a good relationship in general and that she just got carried away...
I can't say, I didn't have a girl. But when you raise someone from a baby and they "become" an adult it's surprising. - I hate saying things like this but you really won't understand that until you have kids.
(the first time I called home and my son answered in this deep voice - I thought I had dialed a wrong number!)

My mom did the same things to me and my sister. It was embarassing!

Now that I have 2 daughters, I will let them make the decision when and who they want to know.

I know that my oldest could start anytime and that makes me sad. I don't want her to grow up!

I swear they grow up when you aren't looking and then it's like "What?!"

You'll feel different when you have kids or at least I do.

Nikki

Mothers show a way of love through embarassment. When you start witnessing other kids that are starting to be badgered or joked about in those years too, you'll find it funny and think of yourself when you look at them, as you are like a completely different and mature person now.

Does it upset you to talk about sex or periods or your body?

Does it upset you to talk about sex or periods or your body? It did when I was younger :)

I remember my mom telling all the women in the family. I didn't know until I noticed everyone staring and smiling at me, I was absolutely embarassing for me too, I hated it. Now when we talk about this they just make fun of me and we have a good laugh.

I was upset because I felt my privacy was invaded but it made the questions much easier, I could approach any of my aunts (They're a lot!) pretty much everything if i was too shy to talk to my mom about it.

hmmmm, my mom didn't make a deal about it at all. She just made sure I understood what was going to happen one day, and helped me be prepared for it when it arrived, which I was. If the rest of my family knew about the day, I wasn't aware of it. It just all came and went without much fanfare, very personally, I guess. I'm sorry Bandie, that it wasn't handled for you the way you would have felt more comfortable with it. Eeeek. I guess some moms do though, is becuase it is regarded as a right of passage, your body distinguishing itself from that of a girl to a woman able to bear children.

surprisingly it wasn't embarrassing for me, my mom did a good job =] but ... my aunts were the cause for my embarrassments
haha