I got mine at age 9 too. The worst part was my mum who hadn't explained anything before hand.

It was a huge shock to my system and I guess my mum didn't know what to do.

My best advice would be to do the birds and bees talk with your girls about age 8. Even if you jsut cover the basics. Then it wont be so hurtful for them when it happens.

I didn't mean to be a horrible child, but with being the only one out of my friends going through this, it was really hard. and i guess the hormones too