It's Wonderful Being A Girl (1966)

girls even talk alike jeez great neat wow oh Mom but no two girls are really alike they're as different as Libby and Jean that's because the way they feel about things is entirely different even though they're very close in age both twelves soon to be 13 Libby's feelings are libes jeans are jeans just as your feelings are Uniquely Yours and when will you notice this most now when you're growing up as Libby and Jean [Music] are now is the time that you'll begin to experience all kinds of new feelings things you've never felt before to help you understand this and make growing up a little bit easier a lot more fun we're going to see how Libby and Jean differ about a lot of things as they're growing up well here we are yeah what time tomorrow about 1 okay see you at the pool okay bye bye hi Mom mom jie toar you're home how do you feel fine did you have a nice time uh-huh did you do any painting finish this oh Jee that's beautiful I like it too well darling that reminds me I bought some flowers for tonight would you arrange the for before the guest or how do you do it so well Mom it'll be okay if I take my bath first I feel kind of icky oh sure darling are you still menstruating a little did you buy the sanitary napkins for me today mhm they're on your bed but you just go take a nice bath and we can fix the flowers later all right hi Mom hi dear did you see that dress at the teen shop what dress the one that was pale yellow with flowers across here and a stash in the back oh I know the one oh Mom could I have Libby where would you wear a dress like that I'm as old as Gan and she wears clothes like that oh come here Libby Jean is more developed than you are dear you still have your little girl looks and shape I know but we're the same age but you're two different people some girls grow up sooner than others some not till they're 15 or 16 I hope I won't have to wait that long I'm sure you won't dear before you know it a most important thing will happen what's that you'll begin to menstruate do you know what that means it means you can have a baby that's right so your body prepares for it what do you mean well your body makes a warm soft place out of Blood and Tissue for a baby to grow and when there is no baby the body gets rid of this Blood Blood and Tissue through the lower part of the body that's menstruating uh-huh and once it starts it'll happen every month for a period of a few days that's why it's sometimes also called the period I don't know if I'll like it oh I liby you said you couldn't wait to grow up I know but it's kind of scary oh not at all sweetheart it's completely natural it's part of being a girl I'm sure that once you understand it you'll see there's nothing scary about it come on let me show you something I know sanitary napkins go ahead and open them I've seen them in my magazines would you like to learn how to use them I guess I'd better all right you'll need this sanitary belt too to hold them in place it goes around your waist under your panties then you put the the short end of the napkin through the front Fastener and the longer end through the Fastener in the back see but won't it leak through no the natur absorbs the menstrual flow so there's nothing to worry about and Libby see this blue polyethlene on the bottom and Sid uh-huh that's a special moistureproof Shield to prevent accidents besides you should change to a fresh napkin every 3 or 4 hours what do I do with the one I take off flush no you wrap it in toilet tissue or a paper towel and throw it in the waist basket but Mom suppose it happens at school or some place where I don't have this you look in the restroom if there's not a napkin dispenser there you ask the nurse or a teacher oh and Libby I bought you this it's a special sanitary panty you might want to try instead of the belt the napkin fits right inside you might find it more comfortable than the belt the elastic Loops hold the napkin in place gee mom they look just like my regular panties gee thanks thanks wow we sure had some important talk wow I'll say we did oh honey you might want to keep the things in this drawer then they'll be handy for whenever you want them that's a good idea hey you better scoot off to the pool huh yeah I don't want to be late hi liy Hi D how's the water little it's okay guess what what why did I have some talk with my mother what about menstruation oh that what do you mean oh that nothing you knew about it before sure how long about a year do you do I want menr of course Billy how come you never told me I don't know I always felt it was kind of personal and besides it's nothing special it happens to every girl what happens to every girl Womanhood Oh you mean the curse what do you call it the curse you know being unwell why do you call it that I don't know some people do hey come on let's go swimming no you go we'll be in later okay bye-bye bye oh that's icky word my mother called it mination mine does too I guess we're kind of lucky you mean to learn about it from them yeah but I guess you really don't know what it's like till it happens to you come on let's go swimming [Music] okay I'm glad the shopping finished it was so crowded in the stores guess what Mom you're menstruating how did you know oh I expected it how do you feel oh all right I guess you don't seem oh quite as bubbly as usual are you sure you feel like bowling I'm all right well you're right I guess there's no need to mope around just because you're manstrating but don't overdo H okay I won't whenever they could get together they talk things over so naturally Libby told Jean that she was menstruating for the first time Jean could tell that Libby was feeling uncertain a little unsure of herself so she suggested that Libby might rather not bold but you know Libby to her any sport was a challenge [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] later may be Wonder why she felt so glum and tired she always enjoyed being with the kids but today was not the same she was confused about these new feelings and worst of all she didn't even seem to be hungry like the rest of [Music] them it's the end of the week and Gan is sleeping over at Libby's Libby is her old self again you think you passed I think so do you yeah I'm sure I did yeah but but I think that'll be the lowest Mark I Ever Had A you're smart I'm not that smart is this okay now fine I'll put it over here I like it better okay darthy Mills has the measel oh yeah wouldn't it be funny if she gave him to the whole class how come you don't have any blemishes I don't know I guess I must wash a lot I wonder if I be as tall as you 5 ft isn't so tall maybe I have a glad problem why don't you ask Mrs Cooper yeah out of everyone at school I like her best yeah M she's going to talk with the girls about what happens when we grow up oh we already know about that well maybe we can learn something new what else is there to learn I know I promised that today we would discuss what it means to grow up well some of you may already know something about it but it's important to have a thorough knowledge so you realize there's nothing frightening or embarrassing about leaving childhood and entering young Womanhood you'll understand better if you know something about how you got to be a girl so let's begin by examining the facts of birth now actually each of you began life about 9 months before you were born as a microscopic living organism a single cell that resulted from the joining together of two other cells one from your mother and one from your father this little cell found a safe shelter in your mother's body and a soft blood Rich organ called the uterus there it divided into more cells until finally there are millions of tiny cells growing into a baby and that baby lived in your mother's uterus for about 9 months until you were born then you grew up into the big girl you are today of course you still have your little girl looks but not for long you are approaching adolescent a gland called the pituitary begins to encourage different parts of your body to turn into that of a woman little by little each one of you growing differently in height weight and bone structure your breast will begin to develop getting rounder and Fuller your hips will fill out taking on softer more womanly Contours and a soft growth of hair will appear under your arms and in the pubic area your body will awaken internally and those organs that make you uniquely a girl will begin to develop too there are two ovaries two narrow passageways called the Fallopian tubes and the uterus and they're all surprisingly small the uterus not more than the size of a pear the ovaries not more than the size of wmet then there's the vagina the passage from the uterus to the outside of your body as you approach your Womanhood these organs begin to function and your very first menstral cycle Begins the ovaries release an ovam a single egg cell which Finds Its way into one of the Fallopian tubes very slowly this little egg cell travels through this tube toward the uterus but before it gets there the uterus prepares for it builds up a special lining of Blood and Tissue so that this little egg cell can grow into a baby if it were fertilized by a naale cell now if the egg is not fertilized the special lining of Blood and Tissue is not needed and flows out of the body through the vagina along with the egg itself this is the menstrual flow the monthly breaking up of the special lining of the uterus and when it's over the whole process begins all over again your body body prepares to release another egg cell your uterus prepares to receive it and when fertilization does not take place you menstruate again the total flow is a rather small amount lasting rarely less than 2 days nor more than six this total process is called the menstrual cycle and lasts about 28 days that's why you meant toate about every 28 days of course in the beginning until your body gets used to it your periods may not be regular this is not unusual but give yourself time to get accustomed to this new experience and before long it will seem as natural as all the other days of the month and let a calendar help you use it to keep a monthly record of your periods there's a calendar for this purpose in the back of this little booklet growing up and liking it as well as instructions for using it and lots of other helpful information later I'll give you each a copy before you leave but now one thing more I want to discuss the importance of looking and feeling your best not only during your menstrual period but all month long you may feel free to interrupt and ask questions if you like jod what if your ha needs washing during your period wash it but don't walk around with a wet head dry it quickly and thoroughly remember clean hair and skin help prevent blemishes Nancy what about bathing Jean what do you say to that you can do it every day right a bath or shower every day especially when you're menstruating is certainly very important because you tend to perspire a bit more during that period so bathe use a deodorant change your underwear every day and your sanitary napkins often at least every 3 or 4 hours Mrs Cooper what about sports during your menstral period you can do almost anything you're used to doing on other days if you're used to bicycling bicycle if you dance dance just keep as busy and active as always but just don't overexert till your tired out Libby is it true that some girls have cramps when they're menstruating some girls have them some girls don't if you do don't be alarmed we pass rather quickly there's a helpful exercise for easing the cramps in this little booklet I told you about another thing no girl can look healthy and pretty for very long if she skimps on three well balanced meals a day or 8 hour sleep every night particularly when you're menstruating so remember eat properly get plenty of sleep and if you do you look better have more energy and when your period comes you'll be be better prepared for it both physically and emotionally Libby has learned a lot of things she never knew about being a girl but she still has to learn how to use this new knowledge the kids are planning a big skating party and Libby doesn't know whether she feels like going well I've got my period that's no reason not to go silly well remember the last time when we went bowling I I think we should go you can take it easy you know I won't I'll remind you we'll just SK around [Music] together it's a good party V jeene finds himself skating alone fun but Libby just sits there when Jean asks why Libby isn't skating Libby says she doesn't feel like it Jean thinks that's a funny way to act she tells Libby so and goes off now Libby is all alone and feels it unsure of herself sorry she wasn't nice to Jean but not knowing how to help it [Music] Mrs Cooper spies Libby and wonders why she isn't skating when Libby explains that she has her period her teacher doesn't think that's a reason for sitting on the sidelines Libby admits she really doesn't want to miss the fun besides she feels better now that Mrs Cooper is reassured [Music] her but she remembers how important it is not to overdo and soon finds that she's having fun she has even forgotten that she was ever angry with Jean and realizes it was a good day in more ways than [Music] one J Mom I had a good time today I don't mean just skating when I went bowling and when Jean made me go I got mad but now I'm glad cuz she was right you can have fun while menstruating if you understand what's right for you I think my little girl is growing up what was that you asked me about a yellow dress Libby is beginning to understand her feelings and how to cope with them now growing up is all the fun it ought to be in fact if right this minute you asked her how she feels about it she'd say it's wonderful being a girl [Music] [Music]