Let’s talk about that awkward moment when your son walks past the sanitary pad aisle in the supermarket and reacts as if he’s spotted radioactive waste. Or when he hears the word period and looks like someone just suggested he do homework on a Sunday. Yes, we’ve all seen that look—and it’s our cue.
If you’re raising a son, this might surprise you: one of the best things you can do for his emotional intelligence, relationships, and future partner(s) is to teach him now how to be a gentleman during those years when his female friends begin going through physical changes.
I know, I know. It sounds like another thing on your already overwhelming parenting to-do list—right up there with “don’t let him swallow LEGO.” But trust me, this one? Worth every second.
Start with Curiosity, Not Caution
Children are naturally curious. Boys included. If your son asks, “Why is Riya not playing today?” or “What does Simran have stuffed in her pocket that looks like a big Band-Aid?”—don’t freak out. That’s your moment.
This is where you say something like, “She’s just on her period—it’s something girls go through every month. Nothing bad, nothing weird, just biology and nature doing its thing.”
The First Rule of Period Club: We DO Talk About Period Club
Normalize the conversation. Say words like “menstruation” and “period” around your son the way you say “dinner’s ready” or “wash your hands.” If you make it sound like Voldemort’s name, he’ll treat it like a dark secret.
Teach Respect Without a Lecture
Boys don’t need a PowerPoint presentation on female anatomy. But they do need to know this: physical changes like breast development or menstruation are natural, not a circus show.
If someone in class gets teased for these changes, your son is not supposed to laugh along—he’s supposed to get it, step in if he can, or at the very least, not be part of the problem.
Say something like:
“Hey, if your body suddenly started doing new things and everyone stared or joked about it, how would you feel?”
You’ll be surprised how quickly empathy kicks in when they feel it on their terms.
Upgrade His Definition of “Cool”
Real cool isn’t about cracking period jokes; it’s about standing up when others do.
Your son might not be ready to shout, “Periods are natural!” in the cafeteria—and that’s okay. But he can do a quiet version: not laughing at a classmate, changing the subject, or even just offering a smile to a friend who’s clearly uncomfortable.
Tell him, “Being cool isn’t about who laughs the loudest. It’s about who understands the most.”
Make Room for Awkwardness
Let’s be honest—this might get awkward. You might say “menstrual cycle” and he might respond with, “Can I go play Xbox now?”
That’s okay. Awkwardness is not failure. Awkwardness means the door to conversation just creaked open.
Respond with, “Sure, go play. Just know you can always ask me anything—even if it’s weird.”
Raise a Human Before a Man
Here’s what we forget sometimes: before our boys grow up to be men, they’re just humans. And humans thrive on kindness, understanding, and compassion.
When we teach our sons that it’s okay to talk about things that others treat as taboo, we don’t just raise boys who are polite—we raise boys who become safe spaces for the people around them.
That is rare. That is valuable. That is what the world desperately needs.
So, dear parents—if you want to raise a gentleman, start by teaching him that periods aren’t gross. They’re just biology. That breasts are not a punchline. They’re just development. That his female classmates deserve dignity, not curiosity with a side of laughter.
And the best part? You don’t need a textbook or a TED Talk.
You just need to talk.
Start the conversation. Don’t wait for the school to send a permission slip. Because the greatest permission he needs… is from you.
That’s a parent!
