My twelve-year-old granddaughter started her period. When her mom told me, I asked how it was going. She said (Jordan, not her real name) that she was okay and not embarrassed to discuss this passage. Later that week, I was reading Priya Parker’s excellent book, How We Gather and Why it Matters. In one story, Priya recalls when she was eleven years old. She started her period, and her mother gave her a “period party.” A few days later, I was reading about the mental health crisis for teens, and I had an idea. I want to host a “Red Tent Party” for my granddaughter.

I texted my idea to her mom and asked if she would appreciate it. She replied, “I love it, and so will she.” We began planning. I would make pasta with red sauce, and her mom would bake red velvet cupcakes and bring all the red decorations. I made an invitation list of only the older women in her life: her grandmothers, aunts, and cousins.

I sent the Evite, explaining that the Red Tent symbolizes a place where women gather, support one another, and pass wisdom. The “Red Tent” refers to a cultural tradition among ancient Israelite women not explicitly mentioned in the Bible but is believed to have existed based on historical and anthropological research.
According to this tradition, women would gather in a designated tent or separate area during their menstrual cycles or after childbirth. This space was called the “Red Tent” because of its association with menstruation and childbirth.

The Red Tent was a sacred space where women could rest, recover, and connect with other women. It was also a place where women could share knowledge about childbirth, menstrual cycles, and other aspects of women’s health. While the Red Tent is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, many scholars believe it was a common practice among ancient Israelite women and played an important role in their culture and society.

I invited them to come for dinner and, if they would like, to bring gifts. There were ten of us, four generations of women who love Jordan and are together helping mark the transition from childhood to adolescence. We ate delicious food, laughed, and told stories of making that transition ourselves.

After dinner, we sat around the living room while Jordan opened gifts. Hot water bottles, a baby pearl and ruby bracelet, and her great aunt passing down to her her mother’s necklace. A family heirloom being passed to the fourth generation. There were so many gifts, so much laughter, and a few tears. At one point, her cousin said, “Look around this room; if you are ever in trouble or you need any kind of help, these are your people; we are here for you.”

It was one of the most beautiful celebrations I have been a part of. Young people today need community. They need people who see them, bear witness to formational moments in their lives, and walk alongside them on their journey toward adulthood. As we navigate an increasingly complex and disconnected world, I think of the importance of creating spaces where young people can gather, connect, and celebrate the milestones that shape who they are becoming. I hope this spurs your imagination for young people in your life.