Turning Emotions Inside Out

Have you seen Inside Out 2 yet? As someone who's been teaching puberty education and period preparation for over three decades, I was intrigued by how Pixar would handle Riley's journey into adolescence.

I've previously seen Inside Out 1, and while it wasn’t my favorite movie, the sequel caught my interest because it deals with Riley entering puberty—right in my wheelhouse. I decided to see it with two of my girlfriends; in hindsight, I should have taken my thirteen-year-old granddaughter for a different perspective.

The Reality of Puberty vs. Hollywood Magic

Every parent probably took their child to see this movie. If you haven’t, it’s about Riley from Inside Out 1 turning 13 and experiencing a new set of emotions. What a great concept. However, as someone who has taught puberty education and period preparation for over thirty years, I feel Pixar missed a few key points.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the stages of puberty start around eight years of age, though some girls can be as old as thirteen.

That's right, parents – the rollercoaster of hormones and emotions often starts earlier than you might expect!

Riley falls on the older side of this spectrum and seems ill-prepared for the emotions bombarding her.

The movie suggests that all these new emotions show up at puberty and can create havoc. Girls going through puberty could relate to the anxiety, envy, embarrassment, and ennui (boredom) depicted in the film.

By the time any girl or boy reaches the age of thirteen, I hope they will have received some form of education to prepare them for the emotional onslaught and the dramatic physical changes. Riley was ill-prepared for her emotional upheaval. Can you imagine if she had gone to hockey camp and gotten her period?

Let's imagine Riley getting her period at hockey camp. She's an emotional wreck, unable to talk to anyone about it because she’s alienated her old friends while trying to impress her new ones.

Plus, with anxiety running the show, she goes to the bathroom and sees blood on her underpants. Can you imagine how anxiety would handle that? Who would Riley turn to with this issue?

In some ways, this movie is a perfect example of not sending your thirteen-year-old to camp without preparation. I realize Pixar wasn’t interested in reality; it was just a cute movie with two sets of emotions playing off each other.

A Wake-Up Call for Parents

Let’s use the movie as a wake-up call. If you have a daughter aged eight to thirteen, what can you do to prepare her so physical and emotional chaos doesn’t occur?

1. Basics by Age Eight: Start early! By 8, ensure your child understands the fundamentals of puberty. What changes can they expect? Why do these changes happen?

2. Tools by Age Ten: Equip her with tools to manage physical and emotional changes.

3. Period Education: By 10, make sure your child understands what a period is and why it happens. Normalize it! Remember, knowledge is power, and understanding leads to confidence.

4. Period Kit: If she has breast buds, dark body hair, and discharge on her underpants, create a period kit. This fun activity is included with our Birds and Bees Connection class, Puber-Tea☕

5. Normalize Puberty: She should understand that puberty and periods are perfectly normal and something to celebrate, not be embarrassed about.

Going to the movies is fun and entertaining, but reality is different, especially when it impacts your child’s well-being.

Your Turn to Be the Director!

Imagine if we could remake Inside Out 2 with a twist. Let's call it "Outside In 2: Prepared for Puberty." In this version, Riley's mom notices the early signs of puberty and takes proactive steps.

They attend a mother-daughter class together, like Puber-Tea☕, learning about body changes, emotions, and how to navigate this new phase of life.

Now, when Riley goes to hockey camp, she's equipped with knowledge, confidence, and a trusty period kit.

She has open lines of communication with her mom and feels comfortable sharing her experiences with her best friends.

Which version would you prefer for your child?

Host a Puber-Tea Class: learn more

Remember, parents, you have the power to transform puberty from a scary unknown into an exciting adventure of self-discovery. Let's work together to ensure our children feel prepared, supported, and celebrated as they navigate this incredible journey!

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