“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”
-Vivian Greene

When I saw this quote, I immediately thought about our daughters during the few days of premenstrual time prior to the start of their period each month. Many of us women are very familiar with cramps, bloating and tender breasts as that menstrual cycle comes to an end.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is what we call the condition if the symptoms are severe enough to disrupt our normal activities. Fortunately for most of us, although uncomfortable, we can still go about our day. This type of girl is my focus and who I thought about when I read the quote.

What does it mean to “dance in the rain” with regards to the menstrual cycle?

For me it means staying positive and productive even when I don’t feel like it. About every 28 days, our daughters are going to have to choose if they want to dance or not. If they are in middle school or high school, they are probably already challenged by their emotions and the many changes going on in their body. The premenstrual time just adds another reason to sit out the dance.

Stay Positive

As always, our daughter’s attitude will likely be similar to our attitude. We can help her the most by staying positive about our own emotions and happiness level when these days are upon us. If your expectations are high for yourself, they will also inspire your daughter to have high expectations for herself.

Inspire Her

If your daughter is just beginning to have her period, just think about the tremendous inspiration you can provide for her future happiness by helping her not to be hindered by the challenges of her premenstrual times. Whether she is a teenager, college student or young professional woman, we hope our daughters will move easily through the ups and downs of being a woman. Their early challenge is their attitude during their period. A victory here is a big deal.