Coming of Age for a girl is often assumed to mean getting her first menstrual period. That is a very important occasion but there are also many other coming of age landmarks that we can honor and celebrate with rituals small or large.
I think of Coming of Age as marking the transition from childhood to adulthood, so of course it really doesn’t happen at one specific time. It’s a long series of learning responsibility and gaining self-sufficiency.
As parents we can choose the events and rituals that we emphasize as coming of age for our children. From birthdays to first day of pre-school, to losing a baby tooth, to riding a two-wheel bike. to learning to read, etc., etc.
My daughters always preferred smaller rituals to big elaborate ones. When they got their first periods they didn’t want a party so I did something special with just me & them, tailored to the interests of the individual.
Resources on Coming of Age Rituals:
Michelle’s Rite of Passage Story
What resources do you recommend?
