Season 1

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The Beginning. ❤️

Welcome to the beginning of puberty! Things are starting to change, even if she still feels very much like your little girl. 

This can be a funny in-between season. Her body is starting to change, but she may not feel like she’s in “puberty” yet. She’s still a kid in so many ways, while little hints of growing up are showing up here, there, and… when you least expect it. 🤪

One minute she wants to snuggle and would crawl back into your womb if she could. The next, she’s acting like you’ve completely embarrassed her by existing. Welcome to the season of parental whiplash!

This is the time where you find yourself daydreaming about her in her wedding dress while simultaneously remembering when she took her first steps… sometimes all within the same hour!

You might be noticing…

• Her body is starting to change.
  You may notice early breast development, the first signs of pubic hair, body odor, changes in her skin or hair, or other early physical changes.

• She’s becoming a little more aware of herself.
  She may start noticing how she looks, comparing herself to other girls, or becoming more aware of how she’s perceived.

• Her emotional world is expanding.
  Bigger or more frequent feelings may be showing up and often at times that feel confusing (for everyone). This is simply a result of her hormones practicing in currently unpredictable patterns and reflects the changes her brain is experiencing developmentally. 

A season, not a box

Puberty doesn’t follow a neat little calendar, and Season 1 isn’t defined by a particular birthday.

Some girls begin these changes earlier and others later. Different parts of puberty can also unfold at completely different rates.

That’s why this quiz looks beyond age and physical development. My Seasons of Puberty framework considers the physical, mental, emotional, relational, and hormonal changes that can happen as a girl moves through puberty.

It’s not a medical diagnosis or clinical assessment. Think of it as a helpful snapshot of where your daughter seems to be right now.

And here’s something I really want you to remember:

She isn’t behind. She isn’t ahead. She is exactly where God created her to be.

What she needs from you right now

She needs a mom who is comfortable being alongside her as things change.

You don’t need to sit her down for one giant, official “Puberty Talk.” (Honestly, that sounds a little terrifying for everyone involved.)

Start with the little things.

Talk about her changing body before she has a question. Notice what she notices. Answer her questions without making them a big deal. Let her know that nothing about puberty is embarrassing or off-limits with you.

The goal isn’t to give her every piece of information all at once.

It’s to help her learn:

“I can come to Mom.”

Connection matters here

This is the season to start building the relationship you’ll want to have when puberty gets a little more complicated.

Right now, connection might look like laughing together, answering the random question she asks in the car, listening to the very long story about something that happened at school, or simply being interested in her little world.

It may not feel like you’re doing anything profound.

You are.

Every ordinary moment that says “I see you. I know you. I’m here” is helping build a relationship she can lean on later.

Because relationship comes before influence.

You don’t have to know exactly what’s coming next.

You just get to keep showing her that you’re here for all of it.

Curious what’s ahead?  👀

See how the seasons of puberty unfold and what each one may look like for your girl.