Ming is horrified to find her daughter Mei's notebook where she has scribbled drawings of herself embracing a local 17-year-old convenience store clerk. In an interview with Chatelaine, director Domee Shi said she hopes the movie 'starts those conversations and that we can eventually just normalize talking about puberty and menstruation and not feel so weird about it.' 'Drawing fan fiction' One parent tweeted 'That 'Turning Red' Disney movie is NOT appropriate for children. Despite its numerous euphemisms for periods (none of the characters actually use the word 'period' in the film) some parents were too squeamish to handle it.
'You are now a beautiful, strong flower who must protect her delicate petals and clean them regularly,' Ming says. She explains to Mei that the changes are nothing to be embarrassed about because ' woman now and body is starting to change.' Ming then storms in with ibuprofen, vitamins, a hot water bottle and an assortment of pads. 'Did the red peony bloom?' Ming reluctantly asks through the door.
