Boobs. Periods. Spots. And mood swings that can have you laughing one minute, raging the next, and sobbing into your pillow a moment later. Help!!!

Body Matters

Dear Cathy

I’m so unhappy. I am nine years old and already I have to wear a bra. The boys at school make comments and try to ping my bra strap through my shirt, and even my friends think I’m a freak. What can I do?

Tina, age 9

Hiya, Cathy

All of my friends have got really good figures, but I’m pancake-flat. Seriously, I look like a boy. I’ve started wearing a padded bra because I’m sick of the comments, but everyone knows I don’t need one at all. Will I ever start to develop?

Elaine, age 13

Ouch. It can be tough to be the first one in your class to hit puberty – and just as tough to be the last!

Tina is really shy about her new shape – after all, it’s a lot to get used to at the age of nine! The boys who tease her probably don’t mean any harm – they may just be curious – but their jokes make Tina more self-conscious than ever, and if left unchecked this could turn into harassment or bullying. Tina needs to talk to her teacher about this, so that the boys back off.

Tina isn’t getting the support she needs from her friends, either… though I bet most of them are quite envious of her. Tina needs to accept her new body, because the more she shows her embarrassment and unhappiness, the more likely she is to be teased. This is a situation where acting cool and confident, even though you might not feel it, is the answer.

Pretty soon, Tina’s friends will be asking her for advice on bras and boobs and growing-up stuff, and the boys will be too in awe of her to dare ping her bra strap.

Elaine has given up hope of ever developing curves, and that’s just as hard as being an early developer! The truth is, though, that puberty can hit at almost any time between nine and fifteen. What’s normal for one girl will be totally different for another – we all have our own body clock, our own rate of development. And that’s OK – growing up is not a race.

Elaine too needs to relax and try not to worry… those curves are coming, and soon!

Dear Cathy

My friends say they envy my boobs, but I hate them! They’re just too big and I feel really shy and awkward about them. I hate the summer because it’s too hot to wear a sweatshirt and everyone can see my bra through my white shirt.

Amaal, age 13

Cathy

I have really small boobs and I’d love to be a bit bigger. I don’t think it’s going to happen, as my mum is pretty small as well. I’ll never get a boyfriend at this rate.

Gemma, age 15