Her mom: "Ummmm, sweetie?"
Her: "What, Mom?"
Mom: "Well, sweetie, you're little arms are starting to stink."
Her: [Begans wailing]
Remembering that conversation makes me laugh every time. It was obviously pretty traumatic being told you smelled like a sweating hippo. It kind of gets you right in the heart, apparently. After that conversation with her mom, she began piling on the deodorant. She probably used a stick of Secret per pit.
I don't remember having that kind of conversation with my mom. I don't know if one day I smelled something funky and decided to go talk to my mom about it. Perhaps we were walking on the beach with our hands in our pockets and our hair freshly hot rolled and instead of re-creating a Summer's Eve commercial, I asked "Mom, do you use deodorant?" instead.
(This conversation is from 1981. I remember this commercial so well. I was only 6.)
Deodorant is one of those essential things one must not forget when getting ready in the morning, but it seems so often people do. Take my masseuse at an upscale spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for example. He apparently forgot his Speedstick. I was lying on my stomach ready to receive a "Swedish massage" when all of a sudden I was hit in the face with the scent of donkey breath. It kept wafting my way. It didn't take long to realize that this smell occurred each time Swedish Massage Man lifted his skinny, hairy arm. He just talked away about the massage and flapped his arm up and down like a dingdang chicken while I willed my face and nose from contorting into an awful "WHY DO YOU SMELL LIKE A DONKEY?" face. Maybe the Swedish don't use deodorant and that was part of the experience?
(CONFESSION: Sometimes when I run out of deodorant, I will borrow my husband's until I have a chance to go to the store. Every now and then, I will glance behind me expecting to see him and then realize it's because I've got on his Old Spice Deodorant.)
Since that conversation with my neighbors yesterday, deodorant has obviously been on my mind. I'm thinking I've got to start putting my face right in my son's armpit every day. He's 7. Too young, right? I just can't have him going to school smelling like a yak's wet fur! I've got to catch it as soon as it happens. So, tell me...
When did you start using deodorant? Did someone have to let you know you smelled like a hot yak's wet fur? Was it traumatic like my friend's experience? Do your kids use deodorant yet?
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I honestly don't remember when I started wearing deodorant. I do remember being mortified as I asked my mom if I could start shaving my legs. Her response? Go ahead, I don't care. These days I'm the world's laziest leg-shaver, so I guess I outgrew my earlier notion that I had to shave my legs every single day.
I don't remember when, but since I grew up in this hot, humid climate, I'm sure it was early. The story about your masseuse was so funny because I had a similar experience- and what can you do? You are trapped on the table!
I think I'm incredibly lucky that I've never had to use deodorant!
I can't remember that far back!
Buwahahaha...that commercial! I had completely forgotten that thing. Hilars.
I dont remember when either.
I do know, I rarely run out, but the hubs frequently does, and he uses mine. Flower power!
Our public schools have talks with the kids every year in the "growing years." I think my son was in 5th grade when he came home from school with a miniature stick of old spice. I don't know a 5th grader that wants to smell like the old spice guy!
My mom leaned over to me, in church, when I was 14, and told me I smelled. Wow, talk about mortifying. I already was super self conscious. Didn't need that where I couldn't do anything about it.
Deodorant, in my family, has always been like a Holy Grail. I saw a Secret Roll-On (remember roll-on? Ack!) commercial when I was ten and told my mom that I wanted it. She conceded.
The Twins both asked about it last year, when they were nine. Twin A loves her Degree-Just Dance, and Twin B is an Axe man. They are thrilled. But I did put my foot down when The Small One claimed that he wanted some, too. He was only SIX, for crying out loud!
Alison never has had to wear deodorant? Show-off.
A friend I grew up with was adopted (I swear there is a point to this story) and we were almost thirty before she found her birth parents. It turns out that bio mom's family is totally weird and they all live up in Northern Idaho... not that there's anything wrong with Northern Idaho. I lived there and I'm not weird but I didn't live in some crazy bomb shelter thing like these people do. Anywhoo... they raise yaks.
That's the point of my story. Hope you enjoyed! ;)
That commercial is sooo bad! And so, so funny too.
All of my kids are now officially using deodorant and if they smell, I'll ask a question like, "have you run out of deodorant?" I'm passive aggressive like that.
I remember in 4th grade- my teacher said that we were all starting to get older and when you are older and it is hot outside you start to stink. I don't remember if I started wearing it thn or not- but do remember that talk she had with our class
I just stopped reading in the middle, went upstairs and reapplied. I'm back now. I smell much better.
I don't remember, exactly. I do know that until I could convince her of the need, my daughter stank far worse than my son ever thought about stinking!
donkey breath! omg!
---I've used Mr. Liverpool's Old Spice for so long that I've started buying it for myself! Serious. I love the smell. :)
At age 11, I bought each of my boys their own stick: one to keep at home, one for the backpack, and one for the locker.
I said, smell yourself every day, if one day comes and you "think" you smell something...trust me, you smell something.
Apply every day.
I don't remember when I started! I'm pretty certain I started well before I needed it because I was THAT weird little kid. Wanting to be grown. Shaving under my arms way before I had hair there and all that.
My big worry though? That my deodorant will stop working and I won't know it because we get used to our icky smelly. Scary!
I'm DYING over that commercial! That marketing company should have been fired! As far as deodorant, I can't really remember... I only remember the BIG things like periods, shaving & pantyhose. ;)
Interesting post! (LoL) Can I show it to my daughters boyfriend? Or would that be a little too blunt? LoL
I announced one day to my 6th graders: If you do not use deodorant, you need to start now.
Just sort of out of the blue. They all cracked up.
And a few days later, the class was less stinky.
I don't remember when I started wearing deodrant, so it must not have been too traumatic.
I used to borrow my boyfriend's occasionally, too. It was Axe so I guess men are immune to it's attraction smell.
I'm not gonna lie, I sorta got stuck on this:
"like a dingdang chicken"
a. dingdang. chicken. Priceless.
I have no idea when I started wearing deo, but I do wear men's deo as a habit. When my arms move, an I smell it, I call it a little Man Puff.
My boys are 6 and 4. They think they want it, because we wear it. I let them, but they don't need it yet.
Now if you wanna talk feet stench, well, Wet Yak indeed.
You had me guffawing!
1 - people in Santa Fe who work in upscale spas rarely wear deodorant. In fact, most of Santa Fe smells of donkey.
2 - I steal hubby's deo occasionally, too, and I also am temporarily fooled into thinking he is standing nearby on those days.
3 - My 10-year-old told me he smelled like teenager and that he didn't like it.
4 - I grew up calling the stuff "fu-fu" because of my mom. No clue why she called it that, but that's what we call it in my house now.
Funny, I don't remember when I began either. Probably about the time I grew huge knockers and uh, "became a woman." So, 11?
I do remember forgetting to wear it in 7th grade though. Mortifying.
As a teacher, I always had the "please deodorize your pits" conversation with my entire class at the beginning of the year. There was always that ONE kid who never listened. Yuck.
Hmm I don't think it was b/c I had smelly armpits but b/c everyone had already started using it. Maybe 7th grade?
I dry heaved at wet yak fur.
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