Driving 6, 12-year-old boys home from a week at scout camp should earn me a major award! They had spent the week in the mountains, 2.5 hours from civilization. There were no showers to clean the sweat off their bodies, and no washing machines to sanitize the clothes they both slept and played in. I’m no stranger to horrible smells. From the time my kids could wear socks, they’ve had super smelly feet. But the smell from these scouts went beyond stinky feet. The BO from the back seat was almost unbearable. I made the entire trip with the window down and my sleeve pulled over my hand and pressed to my nose.
As soon as we got home, I ordered my 12 year old to take a shower, put his clothes in the washing machine, and meet me in the kitchen for a talk. I didn’t realize this time had come. My kids are growing up faster than I realized. While he was in the shower, I ran to the store to purchase his first stick of deodorant.
The conversation went like this:
Me: “Nate, do you know what deodorant is?”
Nate: “Yeah.”
Me, “I need you to start wearing it.”
Nate: “K,” and he walked away.
This is typical of every conversation with my 12-year-old boy. He gives me one word replies and walks away. No big deal, as long as he complies. He turned 13 one week ago. We ask him often if he remembered to put deodorant on. He had been forgetting a lot, until the last few weeks, as he started Jr. High and apparently likes girls now. Lucky for the world, girls in Jr. High don’t like boys who smell. They have been more influential than I can ever hope to be.
Are you getting ready for this conversation? Unilever’s Don’t Fret The Sweat campaign has help for you! They’ve signed on a panel of experts to get your questions answered. The Don’t Fret The Sweat Facebook page, is an educational resource that can help you choose the right deodorant for your tween, as well as give you support and advice. Check out real life stories and tips, so you don’t have to drive 2.5 hours with a stinky 12-year-old boy.
Unilever’s Don’t Fret The Sweat campaign has launched at the perfect time for me. Their current products include:
- Degree® Men
- Degree® Women
- Degree® Girl
- Dove®
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Don’t Fret The Sweat and BlogHer are getting the word out about this campaign and they want to offer one, Super Healthy Kids reader a $100 Visa card and a Don’t Fret The Sweat gift pack. Share your fears about your kids going through puberty or how old you were when you had to start wearing deodorant, and you’ll be entered to win! This contest will run from 10/4-11/4, 2011
For More chances to win, Visit the BlogHer Prizes & Promotions section
- 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.
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319 Comments
Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/flowergirl523/status/132556808165396481
I was 11 years old when I started wearing
Blogged: http://insanityisforthelame.blogspot.com/2011/11/dont-fret-sweat-teaching-kids-to-use.html
https://twitter.com/#!/purplelover04/status/132559010124677120
I started wearing deodorant when I was about 11 or 12.
Thanks for the giveaway!
tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/js22222222/status/132561634207088640
I was 11 when I started wearing deodorant.
I was eleven and it was Secret spray which irritated my skin.
I was twelve when I started to wear deodorant.
My fear about my children going through Puberty would definitely be them being teased while they are in transition or even them being uncomfortable with themselves, Especially my daughter when she gets her first visit from Mother Nature. I was horrified when mine came
I tweeted about this giveaway- @cinderella10383
https://twitter.com/#!/Cinderella10383/status/132632696840126464
I fear having the talk, I know its inevitable but its just… you know they’re all grown up and scary. I started wearing deodorant in 7th grade, i dont think i necessarily had to, but all the ‘cool kids’ were and we had just had that ‘health assembly’ for the girls.
I tweeted about the promo :) http://twitter.com/abitnerdy/status/132651066285232128
i have no idea how old i was when i started wearing it.. but my kids will start earlier because i worry about things like that. i don’t want other kids to make fun of them and thats something i sweat about
My son has just hit this phase, and Whew, deodorant is a must!!!
sweokgrl@gmail.com
I tweeted
sweokgrl@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/bdiane34/status/132981314386276352
Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/computerfan/status/133028775502938112
I was 13 when my parents first prompted me to use deodorant..and quite frankly they were really late to do this..I took quite a ribbing at school for years before that..I was shy and awkward & ashamed…
I don’t remember how old I was. But I’ve had a few situations in the classroom when I’ve had to counsel the ‘more mature’ 5th grade boys about using deodorant. Very awkward!