“Navigating your child through puberty — including their first period — can feel overwhelming for any parent. And if you thought you had until the tween years to worry about it, think again, friend,” writes Arielle Tschinkel. “According to new research, the average age for first periods is decreasing in the U.S., which means you'll want to begin having discussions with your little one far earlier than you may have planned.”

Maybe your kid hasn’t gone through puberty yet, but you’ve read the stats and you’re worried. Or maybe your kid has already started their period and you’re confused about why the hell it happened so early. Either way, Arielle’s got some answers.

— Kelly Faircloth, Executive Editor

“Even if you’ve had them yourself, it’s hard to know what to expect when your child gets braces — you’ve lived a lot of life since then, and the details are a bit hazy,” writes Katie McPherson. Well, she just wrapped up 24 months of braces herself, and she’s here to give you a refresh.