This is a sponsored post from Blogher. All opinions and ideas expressed here are my own and although I have been compensated - if you know me, you know I speak my mind.
A few years ago, I worked in the cafeteria in my kids’ school. The school goes from Pre-K, age 3, to 8th
grade, 14 or so. The kids run the gamut in development – you get teeny tiny kids in there, barely tall
enough to carry a lunch tray, to hulking, behemoth 8th grade boys, who need to shave twice a day and
girls with more curves than most grown women.
It was warm in the kitchen area, and when the kids came through the line, the air temperature rose
several degrees. I noticed that when the bigger kids came through, not only did the temperature rise, as
well as the noise level – but so did the odor. In particular, I noticed that the boys were especially, um,
fragrant – but it wasn’t just typical (and natural) body odor. No, it was more of a perfume-y odor. Upon
investigation, I discovered that the boys knew that they smelled odiferous and so they had begun to
pass around several cans of strong smelling body spray in an attempt to both cover the smell and attract
the girls.
Neither effort was successful.
When I spoke with the gym teacher, she indicated that she had several brands of deodorant available
for both girls and boys, and she encouraged them to not only apply it at home, but use her stash after
gym class. The boys were all too embarrassed to do so, and instead decided to be “manly” and apply the
heavily scented body spray much too heavily and much too often. It took discussion from myself, my
boss and the gym teacher to tell the boys that when it comes to body spray, less is indeed more – and
deodorant is a *much* better choice.
The folks at Unilever -- makers of Degree® Men, Degree® Women, Degree® Girl, Dove®, and Suave®
-- have introduced the “Don’t Fret The Sweat” campaign which aims to reduce the embarrassment
that kids feel when it comes to the sweat-inducing moments in daily life. Working with a roster of
community partners and experts in their fields, the campaign’s Don't Fret The Sweat Facebook page is designed to help provide parents with the tools that they need to speak to their kids without discomfort and help them be inspired in all that they do.
Do you have a similar stinky story to share? Lay it on me – here, where I can’t smell it, thanks! – and be
entered to win a $100 Visa gift card and a Don’t Fret The Sweat gift pack.
But You've Gotta Follow the Rules!
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d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
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-->My 13 year old niece visited after spending 11 hours in the car without deodarant. I smelled her curbside before she even walked the 25 feet to my front door.
Posted by: WebSavvyMom | October 06, 2011 at 01:29 PM
Ick. My son just entered middle school and deodorant was actually on his school supply list! Yikes! This kid is going to need it!
Posted by: Suzanne | October 06, 2011 at 02:02 PM
I have to remind my daughter to use deodorant sometimes, I don't think she realizes that she does need to use it everyday even if she doesn't have an odor.
Posted by: Susan Smith | October 06, 2011 at 05:28 PM
http://twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/122060173731823618
Posted by: Susan Smith | October 06, 2011 at 05:29 PM
My smelly story is more about me, not my kids yet. I think I started wearing deodorant at my early teens. I was always sweaty and no kidding, it wasn’t fun to be able to smell my own sweat, not to mention my close friends. It was one of my best friends who told me "it's time"! I better don’t go too much into details here! LOL
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Posted by: Amy | October 06, 2011 at 07:27 PM
I had hyperhydrosis when I hit pubery. I could be freezing to death and still have sweat running down my sides. I stained shirts like crazy. I finally went to a dermatologist and got a prescription for some medication to put on my pits. It worked within a week! I hope and pray that my 11 year old son doesn't go through this.
Posted by: Sherry | October 07, 2011 at 08:09 AM
I dont think I wore deoderant until end of middle school or high school. I wasn’t a sweater, I’m still not
mjf926 at gmail dot com
Posted by: Mel | October 07, 2011 at 10:38 AM
ugg, not something I look forward to addressing, but it's unavoidable!
Posted by: Vicky | October 07, 2011 at 09:57 PM
My girls are still quite young, however like Erika, I am NOT looking forward to the stink and other "stuff" of the 'tween and teen years!
They grow up so fast!
Posted by: Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith | October 08, 2011 at 07:20 AM
My grandson, who is 7, seems to be clueless when it comes to hygiene--I had a girl so I suspect it is a boy thing--I always check his hands when he comes over because his fingernails as usually BLACK and disgusting--I told him recently don't be petting my dogs with those dirty hands--LOL
Posted by: Lisa Foster | October 08, 2011 at 11:37 AM
http://twitter.com/#!/fostertam/status/122697356280991744
Posted by: Lisa Foster | October 08, 2011 at 11:39 AM
I love this story. I think health class should cover the basics for kids also. Here, PE and Health class are one. Kids don't want to talk bout some things with their parents, and this is one...odor.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Mendy
mendyd15 at yahoo dot com
Posted by: Melinda Mendy Dinsmore | October 08, 2011 at 10:27 PM
tweeted http://twitter.com/mendyd/status/122860156294922240
Posted by: Melinda Mendy Dinsmore | October 08, 2011 at 10:28 PM
My step daughter is 11 and is still at the stage where showering is a hardship (she's a bit of a tomboy and abhors anything remotely girly flowery shampoos etc). Deodorant is a daily battle in our house and showers are mandatory every other day. I really hope she grows out of this phase soon!
Posted by: Lisa | October 08, 2011 at 10:51 PM
I've already faced it with my first 2 girls and am now dropping hints to my oldest son that he's getting to that point - would be easier if my husband would agree - doesn't this fall in the category of his job to deal with ;)
Posted by: DebB | October 08, 2011 at 11:32 PM
I don’t remember the exact age for myself or my son! But, boys seem to need it once they hit puberty! He seemed to know when he was ready for deodorant.
Thanks! kmassmanATgmailDOTcom
Posted by: Kelly Massman | October 09, 2011 at 12:32 AM
My boys are only 7 and 8. I recently began looking into books to help discuss things such as this with them. I want to be an ostrich and bury my head in the sand! Either way, good to know there are campaigns like this that will someday make it easier to have "the talk" with them.
Posted by: Kristie | October 10, 2011 at 09:53 AM
You know what's fun? Having to sniff a 12 year old boy's underarms. That is AWESOME. I do it daily and am met with varying results. Pity me.
Posted by: tracey - justanothermommy | October 10, 2011 at 09:56 AM
Tweeted it!
http://twitter.com/#!/Justanothermom/status/123396718388711424
Posted by: tracey - justanothermommy | October 10, 2011 at 09:58 AM
Both of my kids smell, and no amount of telling them to remember the deodorant helps because every morning I'll say, "did you put on your deodorant?" and at least one of them (usually both) will say, "I forgot," and head back to the bathroom. I guess they don't mind stinking?
Posted by: Nina | October 10, 2011 at 10:14 AM
I know my two teens still need reminders for showers and other personal care. And my youngest (1st grade) was so sweaty at the start of the school year I think he may need to start using something earlier than his big sis and bro did. Big bro also seems to think body spray is a good substitute to real deodorant/ antiperspirant. I hope dad and I can get through to him soon. Keep up the good fight!
Posted by: Bev E. | October 10, 2011 at 04:44 PM
I too lived through the overspray of noxious products. Thank goodness those days have passed.
Posted by: Tammy | October 11, 2011 at 11:24 PM
we came upon that day recently but it’s too early (he’s 7) so we were really worried. luckily, it was transient.
Posted by: sandra | October 12, 2011 at 08:17 AM
My story just happened this past week. My best friend and I along with a 16 and 19 year old girl, 24 year old boy and the sweetest 3 year old girl. We were driving around 17 hours and had not showered for a few days because the house we were staying at was 60 degrees-froze to death and had to buy sweatpants! We were in Florida!!
Embarrassed to say, but we both could smell ourselves-pretty rank!!
Posted by: karen | October 12, 2011 at 10:58 PM
No stinky story, because I'm a nut about making the kids shower daily and (the older ones) put on deodorant. Living together is hard enough without BO making it harder!
Posted by: suburbancorrespondent | October 12, 2011 at 11:36 PM