Mom to the Screaming Masses

I'm Your Venus!

I am the mom of four girls. Two boys as well, but saying that I have two boys doesn't get quite the same reaction as saying I have four daughters.

Knowing what it was like to be a teenage girl, I like to think I'm more sensitive to the "firsts" my daughters will go through, and I really have to focus on trying to make sure I'm not blase about the special moments. After all, once you've gone over the first makeup/first date/first kiss conversations, it can be a bit of deja vu to do it three more times.

But my second or third or fourth time around is still her first, and I try to keep the excitement and the energy going for each and every occasion. I try to focus on the "firsts", personalize them and make them special for each daughter.

I remember when I decided it was time for me to shave. I decided. Did you catch that? I'd asked my mother, naturally, and just as naturally, my mother said NO. So because I'm clearly thick and stubborn and I know better than, oh, just about everyone,I took her razor and went into the bathroom myself.

Sorry, Mom. You don't know this story, and you might want to stop now.

I knew nothing about the need for shaving cream, had no idea you shaved against the direction of hair growth on your legs, and, well let's just say there is a two-inch long, white scar on the outside of each of my ankles that required a hefty amount of pressure and maybe could have used a stitch or two.

I made sure when my daughters were ready to start shaving - and I've had two begin the shaving process, with a third in hot pursuit - I would make sure they know all about it. I promised to show them how to shave, encourage them to use the correct product and above all, how to avoid cutting themselves.

My girls have been fans of the Venus Embrace razor for a while now. With FIVE blades - back when I started you were hot stuff if you had two blades - plus a Ribbon of Moisture for a comfortable shave with fewer nicks and cuts, this razor not only means business but helps them achieve a close shave with a minimum of discomfort. With the Venus Embrace, I know that my girls are in good hands.

In addition to the Venus Embrace, they love the Satin Care Passionista Fruit shave gel. The fruity scent is wonderful, and the silky gel-turned-foam provides even more moisture for a smooth shave.

I know my daughters pay a lot of attention to their appearance and I want to make sure they are getting the right information from me. What are some of the ways you tackle conversations like shaving (or other tough "firsts") with your daughter? Leave me a comment to be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card, courtesy of BlogHer and Venus.

Rules:

No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/21 - 6/30

Be sure to visit the Venus Brand feature page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win! And if you want some great shaving tips for first-time shavers, go here.

Smelly Boys (And Girls!)

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!

No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older and will run from Oct 4- to Nov 4. It will close at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.  You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Visit the BlogHer Prizes & Promotions section for more chances to win!

Visit the Official Rules