HELP !!! Advice needed!!!

[Emmsmom]

My daughter just turned 10. NOw she is asking to shave her legs! I knew this day was coming. She has a lot of hair on her legs and she is going into the 5th grade and I really don't want her teased. The hair is blond but you can still see it! I tried to tell that once you start you can't stop. She doesn't seem to mind it. She isn't boy crazy and she is very conservative.

She also has dome dark hair on her lip and she has gotten teased about that before. That I can bleach and it will look ok.. I hope . I just wanted some opinions. Is 10 too young to shave?

[Lindsey]

If there's a lot of hair and it bothers her, I say go for it! I remember when my classmates started shaving their legs and made fun of anyone who didn't. It's the same with wearing bras. Little girls want to grow up! I think I started shaving at about 11. My hair is dark though and I always got bugged!

[DianaB]

My daughter has a 10 year old too and she's going through the same thing. I don't know what she did about it. I also have 10 year old twin granddaughters and I think that they've been shaving their legs for a year or so. I think that you have to just decide what's right for you and your daughter.

[Marilyn]

I don't remember how old our girls were when they started shaving their legs, but as soon as they wanted to we said okay. We reserved restrictions for more important issues. Adolescence is such a difficult time!!!

[Passionfruition]

5th grade was when I started to get teased for having hair on my legs....I'd never really even given it a second thought until then....but when I asked my mom if I could start shaving and she said NO (very clearly, NO)....I had no choice but to either get teased or do it behind her back....so I did it in secret, and teaching myself how to shave sucked b/c I cut myself pretty bad several times but also had to keep that a secret! Haha. So when it's time, it's time, and if you can be supportive of her and be her friend through this, that's what you want most!

[blowry]

My daughters are in their 20's so I can't remember when they started to shave but, I would say if she wants to that badly they I would let her. I do remember one of them shaved without me knowing it and cut her legs...If it were me, I would let her do it and watch her so she doesn't cut herself.

[AngieDoogles]

Hmm, I don't remember when I started shaving, but I agree with Marilyn; sometimes it's best to chose your battles.

[gja1000]

My soon-to-be-11 year old granddaughter, is also going into the 5th grade. Her mom (my daughter) is a fifth grade teacher and she let my granddaughter start shaving her legs this summer. I thought it was kinda young, but my daughter said she would get teased in the fifth grade if she didn't shave her legs.

[Emmsmom]

Well... I let her read all of the reply's and guess what !... NOW she doesn't want to do it. The more I look at her legs the more I think she needs to do it before school ! I have 2 weeks to convince her to do it. Man I can't seem to win for loosing when it comes to her these days. Thanks for the replys... It really helped me out a lot.

My mother didn't want me shaving my legs either and I did it behind her back. it would have been nicer to have her show me how rather than cut myself. Whatever your daughter is comfortable with I think is ok.

[Emmsmom]

Well we had a breakthrough!!! LOL I FINALLY got her to talk about it. She is basically scared of cutting herself. I told her that I would not let her do it by herself and that I would be right there helping her. Then I got to thinking about just buying an electric razor. That way I could use it myself. SO I let her feel her daddy's on her hand and she says.. "That was it!!!!", I said yeah it doesn't hurt. She thought that it was going to hurt. So I guess we have some shaving to do this weekend!!! Hey it is an excuse to buy a new razor for myself! LOL She wants to use the neet type products. I don't even use them. I am just to scared to use it myself!! Well anyway.. Thanks for the help guys!

[AngieDoogles]

Glad to hear that everything worked out alright!

[DianaB]

I'm so glad that you got everything worked out. Just continue to keep the communication lines open.

[Emmsmom]

YEAH!!!! We have shaved legs!!!! She wanted to shave them after a long talk and then got scared. SOO... I told her that if she wanted she could wait and see what the other girls at school were doing.. After 2 days she came home and said "Mom, I wanna shave my legs! Almost all the girls are doing it." So we just finished shaving them and NOW she wants to wear shorts to school in the am! I am just glad that is one more hurdle under my belt. LOL Man... she sure is growing up fast!

[AngieDoogles]

Glad that issue is resolved now Michelle. It seems like you are doing a wonderful job raising your daughter!