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Original poster

Someone said I stink

430 replies

Jen871 · 14/09/2021 09:19

This is more like a rant. When I'm doing the school run I wear the same clothes as I work 12 hour nights 8-8 and my son starts school at 8.45. I wear the same clothes to work because I work in a factory and I don't want to ruin good clothes.

The other day I was waiting for the teacher to open the door with some other parents, when I heard one of the parents say to the other that I stink. This annoyed me but I didn't say anything.

The annoying part is that these women don't work. They drop their kids off to school and then god knows what, they have no idea the 12 hour shift I've just done and how hard me and my husband work to be able to afford the luxuries we have.

I don't want my son picked on at school because parents are going around saying I stink. It's annoying as hell. I can't get changed after work because there just isn't time.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

windmill26 · 14/09/2021 10:31

If I was in your shoes I would keep a deodorant in the car and spray it on profusely just before getting out of the car for the school
drop.Something like Nivea or Dove .
It will be hopefully enough to mask the odour for the short period needed.

Kitchendrama1 · 14/09/2021 10:31

Wash in the morning, with soap, arm pits, ass, neck, face…. Put on CLEAN CLOTHES.

Do this at night as well.

You won’t stink.

Kitchendrama1 · 14/09/2021 10:32

@windmill26

If I was in your shoes I would keep a deodorant in the car and spray it on profusely just before getting out of the car for the school drop.Something like Nivea or Dove . It will be hopefully enough to mask the odour for the short period needed.

Change the top she’s wearing.

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LightDrizzle · 14/09/2021 10:33

It really might help if they know why you smell and what it is, I’m a townie now but lived rurally most of my life; if a pig man pops into the shop you know why he whiffs of pig, which they do even out of overalls and boots until they’ve showered thoroughly and changed, and we cope with people in white decorators overalls honking of solvents, I think unexpected or unexplained smells are more disturbing and there will he evolutionary reasons for that.

It doesn’t excuse their behaviour one bit but as you have the school gate to navigate for years to come, it might help.

GoWalkabout · 14/09/2021 10:34

They are gits and not an issue but this could cause embarrassment to your son so make sure he knows that you are earning a good living and coming straight to drop him and it can't be helped. As long as he is fine with it and you respond to anything he is bothered by then you are ok.

LiamGallagherIsHot · 14/09/2021 10:35

If theres nothing you can do about it, then you’ll just have to accept that some people might comment on it. They don’t sound particularly pleasant and I wouldn’t say it, but what can you do.

diddl · 14/09/2021 10:37

Well it's obviously not you but your clothes.

It really is a shame that you can't leave old clothes at work & get changed at the beginning & end of each shift, althought I appreciate that that might make it too tight to get your son to school.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 14/09/2021 10:38

I had initially thought that you must be able to make some effort to freshen up etc. before the school run, but having read all your posts it seems that you really have no choice if your son is to arrive at school on time. I'm so sorry for you, it's true that children can be cruel but grownups can too and they should be called out on it. If you're brave enough, could you put a message in the class WhatsApp group or similar, saying something like "I overheard parents commenting on my appearance and smell when I dropped xx off the other morning. I would just like to point out that I work a 12 hour shift that finishes at 8am and I literally rush from work to my driveway to collect my son and get him to school on time, so I have absolutely no opportunity to freshen up in between. Believe me it's not ideal for me either, but I have no other option and would hate for anyone to think that this is an accurate representation of me at any other time" or words to that effect. Keep it polite but factual, no one could argue with that and it might shame them enough to be more understanding next time. You're doing the absolute best you can for your family, that's what matters

tickledtiger · 14/09/2021 10:41

They were rude and out of line to say that, people should be more understanding of each other. Even though those mums can fuck off, I’d be worried they might say something to their kids and this might lead to your child getting picked on.

I know smells like that are awful to get rid of but I assume they’re mostly stuck to clothes and hair. Can you cover your hair at work? I would try that and changing clothes to something fresh before leaving work if I had that little time.

redtshirt50 · 14/09/2021 10:43

@Plumtree391

Presumably you are clean when you do pick up in the afternoon.

You said: "...how hard me and my husband work to be able to afford the luxuries we have."

Is there no other job you can do during the day that would pay as well? I always worked but no way would I have worked all night in a stinking meat factory.

Your last comment is just as insensitive and rude as the people commenting on the OP's smell.

Yogsgirl · 14/09/2021 10:43

Do you wear clean clothes to work every day?

After a 12 hour shift you might not be the freshest but you shouldn't 'stink' if you had clean clothes on, wore deodorant and were freshly showered before you started your shift.

I would comment if someone actually stank- it's only natural to want to turn away from smelly people.

DearFatties · 14/09/2021 10:43

You’re doing a fantastic job. Ignore everyone else, so what if their noses are slightly offended? It’s not a big fucking deal and anyone here telling you to cover the smell needs to reasses their priorities. Christ it’s a brief moment of a strong smell. If I were you, next time you see whoever it was I would talk to them. Tell them what’s going on, tell them it isn’t polite to comment on others and hold your head up high.

Screw everyone else. You do what’s best for you and your family.

Kittykat93 · 14/09/2021 10:44

Obviously they were ridiculously rude and should keep their gobs shut. However, I think you could easily have a clean top in the car and some wipes and deodorant ready to quickly do before drop off at school. It's not nice to do the drop off smelling really bad every day, your son probably will end up being picked on.

DearFatties · 14/09/2021 10:44

@Yogsgirl

Do you wear clean clothes to work every day?

After a 12 hour shift you might not be the freshest but you shouldn't 'stink' if you had clean clothes on, wore deodorant and were freshly showered before you started your shift.

I would comment if someone actually stank- it's only natural to want to turn away from smelly people.

@Yogsgirl you really need to look at yourself if you think it’s acceptable to tell a total stranger that they smell. I hope you would turn away, as people like the OP don’t need nasty, judgemental idiots like you in their lives and they will be all the better for it.

StopThrowingCitrusFruitFFS · 14/09/2021 10:45

A grown adult making comments about someone else's smell in the school playground is utterly ridiculous. How old is she? What a child.

If you can't do anything about it, you just can't. I really hope the adult making the comment has the wit never to say it in front of their kid.

SleepingStandingUp · 14/09/2021 10:45

@Kitchendrama1

Wash in the morning, with soap, arm pits, ass, neck, face…. Put on CLEAN CLOTHES.

Do this at night as well.

You won’t stink.

She finishes work at 8 am. DS has to be in for 8.45. Op has said it's tight to drive home, get kid in car and get to school.

When exactly do you propose she has time to wash her arse and get changed?

SleepingStandingUp · 14/09/2021 10:47

@queenMab99

Who are these people saying they can change and spray in 30 seconds? And if it were possible, the OP would be doing it, she nowhere mentions in her post that she hasn't got a brain. I think some people just can't visualise being in such a situation, so think there must be an answer that the OP hasn't thought of yet. It is horrible of these people to speak like that, without considering, or not caring, why there is a smell.

It shouldn't take much more to pull a top off, put a top on and spray.

Mrgrinch · 14/09/2021 10:47

To be honest I don't think there's any reason that you should stink so much that other adults are commenting on it. You're an adult and should be taking care of your personal hygiene, do you wear and reapply antiperspirant?

Many people work 12 hour shifts and nobody is going to smell particularly fresh after that, but I doubt many smell this bad. Do you sweat excessively? If so then you can see the GP about it.

I took your post to mean that you re-wear your work clothes, surely not after 12 hours?

Thethreecs · 14/09/2021 10:47

Very mean of them saying this. I think though in a small way you now know, and rather than be left wondering why people are giving you funny looks etc you are now aware of the smell.

I've had a few different jobs throughout the years, in my late teens I worked in an abattoir, I would get the bus there and back. I would be on the bus for nearly an hour after work and I didn't want the person beside me getting a smell. We wore special clothing and our hair was netted and we wore hats but the smell really got into your skin and hair.

I had a locker and I kept leggings and top in there and just changed into them, I sprayed body spray all over and I would throw my head forward and spray a light hold hairspray and shake the fuck out of my hair, I was delighted when dry hair shampoo was invented as that was much better and nicer.

If you don't have a locker room you could use the toilet. It's just temporary till you get home and can shower properly. Keep a nice cheap perfume in the car and squirt just as your getting out of the car, eat 3 airwaves chewing gum, cos I swear the smell was in my mouth too. We get use to smells when we're working in them all the time.

It's unfortunate that we can't just go about our business but I find myself sometimes commenting on smells and not stopping to think about what people are going through.

Anotherbrokenairer · 14/09/2021 10:47

As pp suggested change your top when you're whipping off your overalls. Cover your hair with a scarf then I'm guessing your hair net. I'm sure there's some traffic lights in your route use your red light to run a wipe over your face and neck and hands. Buy some hair perfume and give it a spray while you're in your car. Keep a spare fresh coat/ cardigan in the car and throw it on while you're walking from the car to school.
They are very rude though.

AperolWhore · 14/09/2021 10:49

They are ignorant and rude so you can either rise above it and ignore or try to combat it in the time you have.

Can you wear a different coat when you do the school run and spray a bit or cheap perfume just before you leave the car?

Personally I’d do both and make sure I said hello to them and give them my best smile every god dam day!

DearFatties · 14/09/2021 10:49

@Mrgrinch RTFT - she isn’t talking about sweat, she’s talking about a meat smell from her job.

Mrgrinch · 14/09/2021 10:50

[quote DearFatties]@Mrgrinch RTFT - she isn’t talking about sweat, she’s talking about a meat smell from her job.[/quote]
I've read it, she wears overalls to work which she removes so I don't think it is.

HarlanPepper · 14/09/2021 10:50

I'm very surprised you don't get full PPE to do a job like that and that there aren't shower facilities at your work. I have worked in very similar environments and these have been standard.

Wolfiefan · 14/09/2021 10:51

They were bloody rude.
But if total strangers are pointing out that you smell then I would consider that you really do. There must be something you can do in a couple of minutes to reduce the smell. It’ll be worse in warm weather.

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