Is there an anti-Carrie?

February 16, 2022 7:16 AM

Seeking: funny, breezy, lighthearted, and positive TV/movie depictions of girls getting the first period. I'm hoping for recs with girls on the younger side, 13 or under. And it would be great if there's a good mom-daughter relationship as part of the story.

I'm thinking of things my almost-11-yr-old and I can watch together which might help her feel a bit less freaked out about getting her first period this week. Thanks!

posted by MiraK to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

Best answer: Maybe not exactly what you are looking for but I watched this with my teen daughter and then we joked about first moon parties for awhile. Didn't have one but I have two more daughters and two more chances.
posted by MadMadam at 7:28 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Have you/has she watched the new Netflix Babysitters Club series? There's an episode where Kristy's mom gets married and Kristy gets her first period during the reception. Her friends figure out what's going on and are there to support her. Much of the episode is about Kristy's relationship with her mom and there's a good scene at the end where they connect with each other after a big fight early on and then missing chances to reconnect over the course of the episode. The episode is Season One, Episode 8, Kristy's Big Day.
posted by SeedStitch at 7:35 AM on February 16, 2022 [10 favorites]

Best answer: Pixar's latest, Turning Red, is 100% a menstruation and puberty metaphor, and directly addresses literal menstruation in a really positive and healthy way.
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:47 AM on February 16, 2022 [4 favorites]

I think Roseanne did a really good job with this. I think it stands alone without watching the series, though knowing and loving the characters adds more fun to it.
posted by Mchelly at 7:53 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

The fifth episode of Anne with an E centers on Anne getting her first period. It starts out silly, but has some really nice moments later with Anne and the other girls in her school talking about getting their first periods.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:14 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

The Disney show Sydney to the Max has an episode that addresses this in a positive and empowering way. No mom, though; she’s raised by her dad and grandma.
posted by timestep at 8:38 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

King of the Hill had a very funny episode where Hank was with his neighbor's daughter when she got her first period.
posted by Furnace of Doubt at 10:06 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks everyone! I marked as best answer the shows/movies I can see myself watching with my kid immediately - but appreciate all the other suggestions as well and I'll check those out ASAP to see if they'll work.
posted by MiraK at 3:53 PM on February 16, 2022

Superstore had an episode where Amy's daughter gets her first period in the store and it's funny and not traumatic.
posted by MillyMath at 5:04 PM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

There's an episode of Schitt's Creek (S2, Ronnie's Party) where David is essentially "babysitting" for his boss's daughter, and she gets her first period. David, despite being freaked out and not really knowing what to do, turns out to be surprisingly supportive.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 5:28 PM on February 16, 2022 [3 favorites]