Well, today’s “LuLu Says” is not something she said. It’s a report of a monumental happening in the life of LuLu yesterday. Yesterday was THE day. At the ripe old age of 10 years, 2 months and 15 days, LuLu is experiencing her first monthly cycle. About a year ago, our psychiatrist announced to us that she had elevated hormone levels, based on the quarterly blood draws we were doing for medications. We discussed then about how concerning this elevation was in a child so young. But I’ve since been told by any number of medical professionals that 10 years old is not early, not precocious puberty, even though there’s information out there that suggests that children raised in orphanages have a higher risk for precocious puberty. (They define precocious as more the 6-8 year old range!)

So with great dread, I was aware of the signs that pointed to impending puberty. But kept being assured by her doctor that it was not likely to occur for another year or two…wishful thinking.

My biggest clues should have been her very large growth spurt over the last 8-12 months. She has gotten incredibly tall; taller than most other 10-year-olds. And to my knowledge, Asian females on average just aren’t that tall. (KayKay is likely headed for 6 feet, so we do grow tall women in this household!)

My biggest concern (ok, I’ll admit it was out-and-out panic) was how her trauma/abuse memories would come into play with all this. But yesterday, with a very matter-of-fact pride, she called me into the bathroom. We had previously had “the talk” of all the biology associated with this “event”. Now it was just the nuts and bolts hygiene basics. LuLu is thrilled. And for now, meticulous (OCD sometimes plays to her advantage). The hardest part for her is not telling everyone she sees. With no modesty on her part, she really wants to share this exciting news with the clerk at the post office, our pastor at church, and the neighbors. I grit my teeth when we’re in public, and so far, she’s read my body language correctly and kept her exciting news to herself.

I’m trying not to think about all the potential negatives this “event” can bring with it. Perhaps she won’t grow any taller than she is now. And of course, it’s nearly impossible to sort out if her moods are hormonal or something else. And because her emotional age is still behind her physical age, her new "womanhood" may eventually present some problems.

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