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Original poster

To be miffed after this phone call from DS school

406 replies

GypsyWanderer · 03/02/2022 09:57

So DS is 14. I just got a phone call from a woman at the high school (I don’t recognise her name and not even sure if she is a teacher or whatever) and she tells me several members of staff and students have noticed my DS smells! I am mortified obviously. He has regular showers and deodorant etc.

I guess I’m miffed because I don’t know what to do about it except tell him every day to have a shower and deodorant which I do anyway with all the kids. I’m just shocked that several students and teachers have noticed when me and DH haven’t. Also kind of wish they had sent me an email rather than an embarrassing phone call Blush

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5
ufucoffee · 03/02/2022 13:19

Don't be miffed. If they've noticed other people will have too including those pupils in his classes. They were doing both of you a favour by letting you know and it must be really bad for them to contact you. No school staff want to make these calls.

ramonaquimby · 03/02/2022 13:20

I have been putting off a call/email to the parents of one of my students for a while. He has the most horrendous breath. Noticed by all adults. I just have no idea how to word it without offence being taken. I know he isn't brushing his teeth. haven't read all responses, hopefully there are some good tips haha

Vloggamamma · 03/02/2022 13:20

On the upside he could have a budding career as a rapper? Maybe he wants to conduct his class when he points to his underarms he says rewind the class says bo selecta

To be miffed after this phone call from DS school
Original poster
GypsyWanderer · 03/02/2022 13:22

@Bouncebacker

That wasn’t a teacher - that’s another kid making the phone call, surely!
Definitely someone from the school and it was the schools phone number.
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Original poster
GypsyWanderer · 03/02/2022 13:23

@Vloggamamma

On the upside he could have a budding career as a rapper? Maybe he wants to conduct his class when he points to his underarms he says rewind the class says bo selecta
😂 actually on New Year’s Eve we had a family party with music and I was rapping with my eldest and DS came along and started rapping. Literally had no idea he even listened to rap let alone could do it 😆
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LIZS · 03/02/2022 13:24

If you use washing pods or liquid try powder. I find liquid residue on clothes makes them more sweat prone.

mummabear18 · 03/02/2022 13:26

@polkadotcatears

School staff can't win, can they? Maybe other parents would have felt that an email was impersonal or a cop out and complained about that.

Or the staff member would have talked to the child directly, and the parent might have complained about that.

Or they wouldn't have said anything, and the child faces being shunned or bullied, so the parent complains about that.

You're being unreasonable. They did a nice thing to try and support your son.

This ^

I wouldn’t be complaining about a phone call. It’s a personal issue and a call is a personal touch.

Sick of people constantly whinging.

Vloggamamma · 03/02/2022 13:27

@GypsyWanderer 😂there you go clear case of jealousy ! They are trying to sabotage his rapping talents 🥰

mummabear18 · 03/02/2022 13:28

@ramonaquimby

I have been putting off a call/email to the parents of one of my students for a while. He has the most horrendous breath. Noticed by all adults. I just have no idea how to word it without offence being taken. I know he isn't brushing his teeth. haven't read all responses, hopefully there are some good tips haha
He could also have tonsil stones or halitosis. Maybe start with a concerned medical approach and suggest they see a dentist?
user94747295 · 03/02/2022 13:29

@GypsyWanderer I have just read through this thread and I must say you seem like such a great mum! (And person!)

I have to say that a few of my friends have dogs and I can really smell it when I'm around them. Despite them all being clean and having clean homes etc. I know that they don't smell it on themselves.

Good luck!

Momijin · 03/02/2022 13:32

Some people are just smellier than others. 2 of mine I've had to tell them a few times when they have smelled (they shower/bathe daily, wear clean clothes and deodorant) and the other 2 never smell. The ones who smell also sweat in bed a lot more and since being little I've had to change their bed sheets more often than the other two. It's no a hygiene issue, just biological imo. Weirdly they both caught covid and both lost their sense of smell.

Vloggamamma · 03/02/2022 13:32

@ramonaquimby

I have been putting off a call/email to the parents of one of my students for a while. He has the most horrendous breath. Noticed by all adults. I just have no idea how to word it without offence being taken. I know he isn't brushing his teeth. haven't read all responses, hopefully there are some good tips haha
Get a dental nurse in to speak to them about dental hygiene. Could also send home leaflets about halitosis failing that the old obvious one of giving him a hamper full of dental products or even try dressing up as a toothbrush ?
Original poster
GypsyWanderer · 03/02/2022 13:33

[quote user94747295]@GypsyWanderer I have just read through this thread and I must say you seem like such a great mum! (And person!)

I have to say that a few of my friends have dogs and I can really smell it when I'm around them. Despite them all being clean and having clean homes etc. I know that they don't smell it on themselves.

Good luck! [/quote]
Thank you I appreciate your comment x

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Original poster
GypsyWanderer · 03/02/2022 13:33

[quote Vloggamamma]@GypsyWanderer 😂there you go clear case of jealousy ! They are trying to sabotage his rapping talents 🥰[/quote]
😂

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Clymene · 03/02/2022 13:34

Does he have to wear his blazer walking to school? I'd imagine 4 miles a day is going to make it stinky pretty quickly.

Clymene · 03/02/2022 13:35

I hang blazers outdoors when they get in and wash every week. Teenagers are smelly creatures

Thatkid · 03/02/2022 13:35

If its the blazer that reeks instead of hot washing it and ruining it, get some of that antibacterial laundry liquid stuff.
It's the only thing that works for school blazers in this house, and if anything works better on a low temperature wash.

School shirts get worn once and then get a 95 degree wash. I find that when you've got teenagers you never get more than one day's wear out of a school shirt.

Original poster
GypsyWanderer · 03/02/2022 13:36

Actually I don’t constantly whinge but if something makes me feel like a shit person for whatever reason I feel I have the right to have a complain and a moan to a group of strangers, many who have actually made me feel much better. Unlike your reply which has added nothing to my post whatsoever.

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Original poster
GypsyWanderer · 03/02/2022 13:37

That comment above was to @mummabear18 sorry it didn’t quote for me.

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Vloggamamma · 03/02/2022 13:40

@ramonaquimby

I have been putting off a call/email to the parents of one of my students for a while. He has the most horrendous breath. Noticed by all adults. I just have no idea how to word it without offence being taken. I know he isn't brushing his teeth. haven't read all responses, hopefully there are some good tips haha
Definitely dress up as a toothbrush and do a full lesson on dental hygiene. Draw a mouth and teeth on a large board and make exaggerated movements as you show how the brush should move around the mouth, then get all the students to pretend they are toothbrushes. Ask them what superpowers they have as a toothbrush, but definitely don’t imitate the poo wand off the apprentice as shown recently. wiffy the toothbrush I believe they called it, quite fitting considering your student.
To be miffed after this phone call from DS school
To be miffed after this phone call from DS school
blyn72 · 03/02/2022 13:42

@LIZS

If you use washing pods or liquid try powder. I find liquid residue on clothes makes them more sweat prone.
Some of the more perfumed detergents smell awful, especially the biological ones. I could always tell when a colleague used Ariel for example. It is best to use something that is unscented or has minimal scent.
MimosaFields · 03/02/2022 13:47

I would wash that blazer. Even when they say dry cleaning only, I always wash my blazers. They might not look as pristine as they do after the dry cleaners, but at least I know they are clean. Rather wrinkly than smelly

redbigbananafeet · 03/02/2022 13:50

@GypsyWanderer

Actually I don’t constantly whinge but if something makes me feel like a shit person for whatever reason I feel I have the right to have a complain and a moan to a group of strangers, many who have actually made me feel much better. Unlike your reply which has added nothing to my post whatsoever.
Are you going to tell him about the phone call when you talk to him?
mummabear18 · 03/02/2022 13:53

@GypsyWanderer

Actually I don’t constantly whinge but if something makes me feel like a shit person for whatever reason I feel I have the right to have a complain and a moan to a group of strangers, many who have actually made me feel much better. Unlike your reply which has added nothing to my post whatsoever.
How does an email make you feel any less shit as a person? It’s in black and white, forever in your inbox.

You’re just trying to have a moan because you don’t like what you heard. She did you and your son a favour.

Pamlar · 03/02/2022 13:55

Are you sure it wasn't a prank call?