Dear Dish-It, I Haven't Hit Puberty Yet

Advice for teens about puberty and body image.

Advice About Puberty

Dear Dish-It, is thinkin' about this some more, so TTYL.

Dear Dish-It,

I am 14 and have hardly any breasts, no figure or a sexy, girly body - and I have freckles. My friends used to look like me but now that they have hit puberty, they are just spurting and they have flat tummies, etc. I am not obese - I just have some baby fat on my tummy. Help!
Coolgurl

Dear Coolgurl,

I know this is going to sound lame, but you really just have to be patient. It's tough when you and your friends are suddenly growing at different rates, especially when you're the late bloomer of the group. Did you know that the average American woman doesn't have fully developed breasts until she is at least 17, if not a bit older? The fact is that you are going to look different than your friends for the rest of your life - but that's not a bad thing. The great thing about women is that they come in all different shapes and sizes, each one beautiful in her own way. You're still quite young and it may take your body a bit longer than everyone else's to fill out but that's ok. Although you may not be entirely happy with your looks right now, it's important to embrace the body you've got and not compare yourself to others. Hang in there and I'm positive you'll catch up to the rest of the girls in no time!

So, ya gotta burnin' question? Need some love directions? Thinkin' 'bout stuff like depression, sex, how ya feel 'bout YOURSELF (that's called "self-esteem"), boyfriends, girlfriends, losin' old friends, bullyin' or peer pressure, but too scared to ask the parents? Don't be scared to Dish-It here. But 'member, if ya hang out in Chat with other Kidzworld members who know ya by your 'username', ya might wanna use a secret nickname when ya write in. That way no one'll ever know it's you. And, just in case ya don't know, Dish-It gets a lotta letters everyday, and she can't answer 'em all. So keep checkin' the column cuz she's prob'ly answerin' somethin' very similar to your question while you're out doin' somethin' else. K? And Thanks! Ya keep her outta trouble. Oh! And if ya've got words of wisdom you wanna share,.