I was an early bloomer, being age 11 when I started my period and developing breasts in the 5th grade. I was one of the tallest girls at that time - then everyone passed me by in junior high. I was teased a lot by the boys that I hung around, for my breast size. I always looked older than I was, looking 18 or so when I was 15 years old. When the other girls caught up, the boys spread the wealth with crude comments amongst all of the girls. :(
I believe I was more mentally mature than my peer girlfriends, and definitely my guy friends. I was very self-conscious of my body at the pool and in track in junior high. I wore baggier clothes, and exercised a lot to try to keep my weight down. I grew hips and curves so quickly that felt like I was getting fat. My coaches wanted to make sure I was running in the off-season, to make sure I kept my weight down so I wouldn't slow down on the track. I thought it was because I was getting fat, not just developing. I never suffered from a disorder, but I sure was worried about how my clothes fit, as to not attract attention to myself. I'll just say, this was before great sports bras, back in the 80's! So, playing sports made me very aware that I was more developed than my friends. Tracy Dowell
I was pretty average in developing. I started my period when I was about 12. I'm really not sure when everything else stared to develop because I started wearing sport bras before I even developed breasts. I had to wear them for dance class. It was recommended that we wear them all the time to get used to them. I do remember being teased by the boys when it showed through my shirt though.
I think I was more mature than most of my friends. While I did have my goofy moments, I usually acted a bit older than my age. Consequently I was always mistaken for being older than I was because I carried myself in a more mature way. Ellyn Wisniewski
I cant remember any specific differences between me and other boys growing up, so I would have to say I was pretty average. Later on, in high school I felt much more mature than the others in my class and found myself hanging around with older students. Sometimes I wander if I grew up to fast being that I graduated school and went straight to work, and now I'm trying to catch up with with the others that got to go to collage straight out of high school. Joshua Fehring
I was a late bloomer. I did not start my period until I was 16 and really did not develop breast until High School. The kids made fun me because I was short and underweight. However, this really did not effect me because I am outspoken and direct. I always had older friends.
I started developing earlier than most of the girls in my class. I received my menstrual cycle at age 11 and began developing hips and breasts shortly after. Since I developed before the other girls in my class, I also gained weight before the other girls in my class. I became self-conscious at an early age and acted out through drinking. However, the older I get and the more mature I get the less alcohol I consume. My confidence level has also risen immensely since I quit drinking.
I was a late bloomer but I also had a weird start. At age 14 I started my period but then didn't have it again till i was almost 16 years old. I am told its because i was so active as a child and did a lot of sports which made me start later then most girls. Almost all of my girl friends had already started, my baby sister started before me and it made me feel like something was wrong with me. Obviously there was nothing wrong, my body just changed later then what we call "normal." I didnt pass 100 pounds till my sophomore year and didnt get breasts till then either. It was kind of frustrating on my part seeing everyone around me change. I did and still do not look my age because of my late growth, however I do look at it this way: When im older i will always look younger and I will love that fact then :)
I do feel that I was more mature looking than the other girls at an earlier age. I think older boys payed more attention to me than the boys my own age, earlier on. I tended - always have - to go for the much older boys. I had a boyfriend throughout high school that was 6 YEARS OLDER than me. Can't believe my parents let THAT happen!!! I looked 18 when I was 15, hope I don't look 50 when I'm 40! But, I got more attention from the boys at an earlier age, and I was the eldest child in my family. I had grown up responsibilities (like we talked about in class) of caring for my much younger sibling and cooking/cleaning - so I had to grow up pretty fast. My mom was gone to night school (college) a lot - and I had a younger sister to take care of a lot of the time. Like Jfering said, I regret that I grew up too fast, missing out on a childhood and younger college experiences. I dated very seriously too early - and wish I had been a little less grown up at times and enjoyed the experiences that my peers seemed to enjoy. Tracy
I was a late bloomer. I was 15 before my peirod started. I remember feeling like there was something wrong with me because all of my friends had started at like 11 or 12. I believe that this might have caused me to lack confidence in myself because I did not look like the other girls. I had not really filled out very much. It is made me feel weird. Sandra
I would have to say i was a normal bloomer. or so i can remember. I started my period at 12 and started getting boobs at the age of 13. I guess it made my mental image kind of embarrassing. Alot of other girls in my grade were already developed so i kind of felt underdeveloped. it also made me feel selfconcious because now I looked at myself differently in my swimsuit and i felt like everyone knew that i was on my period and that i was dirty and gross. My mom got me a book on cleaniness and that made me feel like i was gross but i grew out of that.
I was a normal bloomer i think. i was 12 when i got my first period but i'd had breast and curves for awhile before that. I've never really cared how people saw my body and how it looked (I was always pretty skinny with a big butt). i was more concerned about my clothes being mostly hand-me-downs. For about the first 6 months of having a period I felt like I was one of the only kids in my grade who had a period and I felt different and really dirty but as the months went on and more girls where having their periods I felt like I was smarter and all my friends asked me how I did everything and that made me feel good that I had mine first so I didn't have to ask my friends question they asked me questions instead.
I was an early bloomer in the sense that I had to start shaving under my arms in 3rd grade. It was quite embarassing on the days I would forget. If I was wearing a tanktop and raised my hand in class, I had to cover my armpit with the other hand. My friends hadnt developed yet, so I tried to keep it secret because I thought it wasn't normal. However, I did tell my closest friend and she was really interested about it and didn't make me feel uncomfortable. So, I guess I felt a little more mature since she hadn't developed that way yet.
I was a little bit of a late bloomer, and remember being self-conscious that my friends were more developed than I was. On entering Jr. High, I felt a little bit left out when my friends started getting into boys and makeup when I still didn't have any interest in those things. I remember feeling pressure to like boys and clothes and makeup, and wondering if there was something wrong with me because I still wanted to play Barbies with my sister and explore the woods behind our house instead of going to the mall and talking to boys on the phone. Maybe my slower physical development effected my social development, but I feel it was more effected by my social and emotional maturity level at the time. I didn't see what the rush was to act so grown up and wanted to prolong the imaginative and carefree aspects of childhood as long as possible. I felt left out, but I think I was more secure with not fitting in completely than going against who I was to fit in. I eventually found some friends who shared my interests and felt more secure that I had found my "place", even if it wasn't the same as most of my peers. I still have that part of my personality today, and try to always remain true to who I am without judging myself by comparing my progress to others'.
Although I began developing breasts and curves during my fifth and sixth grade year, I did not have my first period until I was almost 13, and I will never forget the first day I started because we were leaving for the Ozarks that same day!
Even though I was bummed about having my first period on the day we were leaving for vacation, I was not upset and did not cry like some of my friends. I have always had a great relationship with my mom, and she had talked with me about the changes my body would be going through and how, although it sucks sometimes, these changes were good things because it meant that someday when I was older I could have kids of my own.
My friends had started their periods and had started developing either before me or at the same time as me, so we were all able to relate and understand what the other was going through. Because of the talks I had with my mom and because my friends and I all went through "the changes" around the same time, my body changes had a positive affect on my mental image if anything. I felt the changes were a good thing, and they made me feel more grown up.
I matured mentally at a very young age, far before the majority of my classmates. Physically, though, I matured much more slowly. I was fourteen when I had my first period and it wasn't until my junior and senior years in high school that I really developed physically. The dramatic difference between my mental and physical maturation caused a lot of problems for me during Jr. high and high school. I was constantly teased about my physical appearance, but also suffered through years of feeling like an adult trapped amongst children. The combination caused me to avoid many of my peers and most social situations. It wasn't until I was out of high school that I was able to feel comfortable with myself, both inside and out, and I stopped being the shy kid that I once was.
i guess you could say I was a early bloomer. I did everything early .I walked and was potty trained before I was a year old. I started my period at 11 and mentally I had to grow up fast. Being the oldest child in a alcoholic household I didnt have a choice. When other kids were out having fun I was babysitting my siblings all the time. I guess you could say my childhood was taken from me. That is most likely whay I rebelled so badly and got into a lot of trouble when I was in highschool. But it all made me a better person today.Amy McNeil
I was a late bloomer. I remained very timid and shy from a child through my teenage years. I often stayed to myself at school and around people I didn't know. I'd say the only quick bloomer for me was my heigth. From kindergarten to fourth grade I remained one of the tallest in the classroom. I had puburity at a later age,after puburity,I became more sensitive to toward my point of views regarding the world. I was shy to talk to boys and other girls who were more outspoken than I.
I would say i was mostly normal..I started my period just a little bit earlier than some other girls in the class but was probably physically a little late. That may have been just because I have always been tiny. As a highschooler I think for my freshman and sohpomore year i was fairly immature just like my peers, but in the latter two years I matured very quickly and passed most of my friends up. I got along better with people who were ten years older than myself better than i got along with my friends my age. I think some of that was due to how i was raised. My parents taught me responsibilty big time. By my senior year i was babysitting three kids everymorning and taking them to school as well as myself, then sometimes pick them up after school. It taught me a lot about growing up and also manageing my own money. - Heather Oltmann
I was an early bloomer, being age 11 when I started my period and developing breasts in the 5th grade. I was one of the tallest girls at that time - then everyone passed me by in junior high. I was teased a lot by the boys that I hung around, for my breast size. I always looked older than I was, looking 18 or so when I was 15 years old. When the other girls caught up, the boys spread the wealth with crude comments amongst all of the girls. :(
ReplyDeleteI believe I was more mentally mature than my peer girlfriends, and definitely my guy friends. I was very self-conscious of my body at the pool and in track in junior high. I wore baggier clothes, and exercised a lot to try to keep my weight down. I grew hips and curves so quickly that felt like I was getting fat. My coaches wanted to make sure I was running in the off-season, to make sure I kept my weight down so I wouldn't slow down on the track. I thought it was because I was getting fat, not just developing. I never suffered from a disorder, but I sure was worried about how my clothes fit, as to not attract attention to myself. I'll just say, this was before great sports bras, back in the 80's! So, playing sports made me very aware that I was more developed than my friends.
Tracy Dowell
I was pretty average in developing. I started my period when I was about 12. I'm really not sure when everything else stared to develop because I started wearing sport bras before I even developed breasts. I had to wear them for dance class. It was recommended that we wear them all the time to get used to them. I do remember being teased by the boys when it showed through my shirt though.
ReplyDeleteI think I was more mature than most of my friends. While I did have my goofy moments, I usually acted a bit older than my age. Consequently I was always mistaken for being older than I was because I carried myself in a more mature way.
Ellyn Wisniewski
I cant remember any specific differences between me and other boys growing up, so I would have to say I was pretty average. Later on, in high school I felt much more mature than the others in my class and found myself hanging around with older students. Sometimes I wander if I grew up to fast being that I graduated school and went straight to work, and now I'm trying to catch up with with the others that got to go to collage straight out of high school.
ReplyDeleteJoshua Fehring
I was a late bloomer. I did not start my period until I was 16 and really did not develop breast until High School. The kids made fun me because I was short and underweight.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this really did not effect me because I am outspoken and direct. I always had older friends.
I started developing earlier than most of the girls in my class. I received my menstrual cycle at age 11 and began developing hips and breasts shortly after. Since I developed before the other girls in my class, I also gained weight before the other girls in my class. I became self-conscious at an early age and acted out through drinking. However, the older I get and the more mature I get the less alcohol I consume. My confidence level has also risen immensely since I quit drinking.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was a late bloomer but I also had a weird start. At age 14 I started my period but then didn't have it again till i was almost 16 years old. I am told its because i was so active as a child and did a lot of sports which made me start later then most girls. Almost all of my girl friends had already started, my baby sister started before me and it made me feel like something was wrong with me. Obviously there was nothing wrong, my body just changed later then what we call "normal." I didnt pass 100 pounds till my sophomore year and didnt get breasts till then either. It was kind of frustrating on my part seeing everyone around me change. I did and still do not look my age because of my late growth, however I do look at it this way: When im older i will always look younger and I will love that fact then :)
ReplyDeleteNatalie Derstine
Thanks for sharing your personal stories!
ReplyDeleteRemember to consider and share any behaviors associated with your development- ie. Alta's response.
Tracy you did a great job- just wondering why you feel you were more mature- do you believe this was due to your physical maturity?
I do feel that I was more mature looking than the other girls at an earlier age. I think older boys payed more attention to me than the boys my own age, earlier on. I tended - always have - to go for the much older boys. I had a boyfriend throughout high school that was 6 YEARS OLDER than me. Can't believe my parents let THAT happen!!! I looked 18 when I was 15, hope I don't look 50 when I'm 40! But, I got more attention from the boys at an earlier age, and I was the eldest child in my family. I had grown up responsibilities (like we talked about in class) of caring for my much younger sibling and cooking/cleaning - so I had to grow up pretty fast. My mom was gone to night school (college) a lot - and I had a younger sister to take care of a lot of the time. Like Jfering said, I regret that I grew up too fast, missing out on a childhood and younger college experiences. I dated very seriously too early - and wish I had been a little less grown up at times and enjoyed the experiences that my peers seemed to enjoy. Tracy
ReplyDeleteI was a late bloomer. I was 15 before my peirod started. I remember feeling like there was something wrong with me because all of my friends had started at like 11 or 12. I believe that this might have caused me to lack confidence in myself because I did not look like the other girls. I had not really filled out very much. It is made me feel weird. Sandra
ReplyDeleteI would have to say i was a normal bloomer. or so i can remember. I started my period at 12 and started getting boobs at the age of 13. I guess it made my mental image kind of embarrassing. Alot of other girls in my grade were already developed so i kind of felt underdeveloped. it also made me feel selfconcious because now I looked at myself differently in my swimsuit and i felt like everyone knew that i was on my period and that i was dirty and gross. My mom got me a book on cleaniness and that made me feel like i was gross but i grew out of that.
ReplyDeleteI was a normal bloomer i think. i was 12 when i got my first period but i'd had breast and curves for awhile before that. I've never really cared how people saw my body and how it looked (I was always pretty skinny with a big butt). i was more concerned about my clothes being mostly hand-me-downs. For about the first 6 months of having a period I felt like I was one of the only kids in my grade who had a period and I felt different and really dirty but as the months went on and more girls where having their periods I felt like I was smarter and all my friends asked me how I did everything and that made me feel good that I had mine first so I didn't have to ask my friends question they asked me questions instead.
ReplyDeleteI was an early bloomer in the sense that I had to start shaving under my arms in 3rd grade. It was quite embarassing on the days I would forget. If I was wearing a tanktop and raised my hand in class, I had to cover my armpit with the other hand. My friends hadnt developed yet, so I tried to keep it secret because I thought it wasn't normal. However, I did tell my closest friend and she was really interested about it and didn't make me feel uncomfortable. So, I guess I felt a little more mature since she hadn't developed that way yet.
ReplyDeleteKara Provines
I was a little bit of a late bloomer, and remember being self-conscious that my friends were more developed than I was. On entering Jr. High, I felt a little bit left out when my friends started getting into boys and makeup when I still didn't have any interest in those things. I remember feeling pressure to like boys and clothes and makeup, and wondering if there was something wrong with me because I still wanted to play Barbies with my sister and explore the woods behind our house instead of going to the mall and talking to boys on the phone. Maybe my slower physical development effected my social development, but I feel it was more effected by my social and emotional maturity level at the time. I didn't see what the rush was to act so grown up and wanted to prolong the imaginative and carefree aspects of childhood as long as possible. I felt left out, but I think I was more secure with not fitting in completely than going against who I was to fit in. I eventually found some friends who shared my interests and felt more secure that I had found my "place", even if it wasn't the same as most of my peers. I still have that part of my personality today, and try to always remain true to who I am without judging myself by comparing my progress to others'.
ReplyDeleteWhitney Pasquesi
Although I began developing breasts and curves during my fifth and sixth grade year, I did not have my first period until I was almost 13, and I will never forget the first day I started because we were leaving for the Ozarks that same day!
ReplyDeleteEven though I was bummed about having my first period on the day we were leaving for vacation, I was not upset and did not cry like some of my friends. I have always had a great relationship with my mom, and she had talked with me about the changes my body would be going through and how, although it sucks sometimes, these changes were good things because it meant that someday when I was older I could have kids of my own.
My friends had started their periods and had started developing either before me or at the same time as me, so we were all able to relate and understand what the other was going through. Because of the talks I had with my mom and because my friends and I all went through "the changes" around the same time, my body changes had a positive affect on my mental image if anything. I felt the changes were a good thing, and they made me feel more grown up.
Ashley DeLuka
I matured mentally at a very young age, far before the majority of my classmates. Physically, though, I matured much more slowly. I was fourteen when I had my first period and it wasn't until my junior and senior years in high school that I really developed physically. The dramatic difference between my mental and physical maturation caused a lot of problems for me during Jr. high and high school. I was constantly teased about my physical appearance, but also suffered through years of feeling like an adult trapped amongst children. The combination caused me to avoid many of my peers and most social situations. It wasn't until I was out of high school that I was able to feel comfortable with myself, both inside and out, and I stopped being the shy kid that I once was.
ReplyDeletei guess you could say I was a early bloomer. I did everything early .I walked and was potty trained before I was a year old. I started my period at 11 and mentally I had to grow up fast. Being the oldest child in a alcoholic household I didnt have a choice. When other kids were out having fun I was babysitting my siblings all the time. I guess you could say my childhood was taken from me. That is most likely whay I rebelled so badly and got into a lot of trouble when I was in highschool. But it all made me a better person today.Amy McNeil
ReplyDeleteI was a late bloomer. I remained very timid and shy from a child through my teenage years. I often stayed to myself at school and around people I didn't know. I'd say the only quick bloomer for me was my heigth. From kindergarten to fourth grade I remained one of the tallest in the classroom. I had puburity at a later age,after puburity,I became more sensitive to toward my point of views regarding the world. I was shy to talk to boys and other girls who were more outspoken than I.
ReplyDeleteI would say i was mostly normal..I started my period just a little bit earlier than some other girls in the class but was probably physically a little late. That may have been just because I have always been tiny. As a highschooler I think for my freshman and sohpomore year i was fairly immature just like my peers, but in the latter two years I matured very quickly and passed most of my friends up. I got along better with people who were ten years older than myself better than i got along with my friends my age. I think some of that was due to how i was raised. My parents taught me responsibilty big time. By my senior year i was babysitting three kids everymorning and taking them to school as well as myself, then sometimes pick them up after school. It taught me a lot about growing up and also manageing my own money. - Heather Oltmann
ReplyDelete