“I’m Not Picking Up Their Kids”: Dad Puts His Foot Down After Chauffeuring Son’s Smelly Friends
Parents have to juggle a dozen jobs at once. They’re therapists, chefs, chauffeurs, educators, cleaners and more. And despite balancing all of the responsibilities that come along with taking care of their own kiddos, they sometimes have to assist their children’s friends as well.
One father, who has been giving his son’s friends rides home, realized that nobody has stressed the importance of hygiene to these boys. So below, you’ll find the full story that the dad posted on Reddit detailing why he refuses to give them rides anymore, as well as some of the replies invested readers shared.
This dad has been giving his son and his friends rides home from sports camp
Image credits: Mint_Images (not the actual photo)
But he refuses to be their chauffeur anymore unless they all start wearing deodorant
Image credits: BasisTight9553
Most kids start developing body odor between the ages of 8-14
We all know how important hygiene is, but it’s easy to forget that this is something we had to learn about in our youth. We don’t just instinctively know how to brush our teeth, that we need to shower every day and that we need to wear deodorant to ensure that our friends and loved ones don’t have to plug their noses around us. But it is important for parents to keep a close eye (or nose) on when their little ones start getting smelly, so they can properly educate them about hygiene.
According to Kids Health, children usually start developing some body odor around the time they begin puberty. For girls, this is typically between 8 to 13 years old, while boys might not start getting stinky until they’re between 9 to 14. Odors can be controlled by bathing every day, especially after sweating, wearing clean socks and underwear every day and of course, starting to wear deodorant.
Kids Health notes that both deodorants and antiperspirants are safe for kids to use, but it’s wise to choose a product that they like. If a child has sensitive skin, certain products may cause rashes, so they should be sure to choose something that smells nice and doesn’t irritate their skin.
A variety of factors can impact how a person smells
While sweating is often blamed for body odor, the Cleveland Clinic notes that sweat itself is actually odorless. But it’s the way that sweat reacts with the bacteria on our skin that can cause a foul odor. And sweating isn’t actually the only thing that can cause us to get stinky. Other factors that might affect your odor are exercise, stress or anxiety, hot weather, being overweight and genetics.
While the bacteria on your skin might be causing you to stink, there are actually certain foods that might be making your odor even more pungent. If your diet contains a lot of onions, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower or red meat, you might be particularly stinky when you sweat. And if you’re sweating a lot, it might be because you eat a lot of MSG, spices like curry powder or cumin, hot sauce and other spicy foods, or drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol.
If you notice a change in your body odor, that’s something to be aware of too, as it could actually be caused by an underlying health issue. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, gout, menopause, overactive thyroid, liver disease, kidney disease and infectious disease have actually been linked to causing changes in body odor. Hormonal changes, like a woman being on her period, may also lead to smelling a bit differently than usual.
Body odor can usually be managed with a consistent personal hygiene routine
When it comes to reducing body odor, kids can follow similar personal hygiene routines to their parents. And according to WebMD, the first step to smelling fresh as a rose is to keep yourself squeaky clean. It’s also wise to use antibacterial soap to help eliminate odors. When drying off after showering, make sure that you towel off well, as it’s easier for bacteria to grow in moist places.
If you know you’re prone to sweating a lot and smelling unpleasant, you also might want to look into industrial strength antiperspirant. WebMD notes that you don’t need a prescription to get a powerful deodorant, so using one with aluminum chloride twice a day can help keep sweat, and scents, at bay.
And of course, keep your clothes clean. Don’t leave sweaty gym wear sitting in a bag all week before washing it, and change your socks and underwear every day. Watch your diet if you’re prone to stinking, and you may need to cut back on the garlic and onions if your partner notices that you’ve been smelling a bit more than usual. Put on deodorant at bedtime as well as in the morning, and try to keep your underarms dry as often as possible.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this smelly situation in the comments below, pandas, and then be sure to check out this article discussing personal hygiene!
Later, the father responded to some comments from readers and provided more info on the situation
Many readers assured the dad that he’s allowed to put his foot down
However, some thought he was being unfair to the boys
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The gratuitous mention of having an Audi makes it hard not to see OP as TA. Good thing they don't have hockey bags in tow or he'd have to 'downgrade' to a VW
I was kind of sympathetic until he mentioned the Audi…but, in my experience, I’d rather have musky BO than choke on Axe Body Spray
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As the father of a son who once played baseball, it doesn't matter if they showered in the morning, or use a lot of deodorant. After practice or a game, they are going to smell like an animal. Their shoes are going to smell when they get home! My son used to have to air his shoes outside. Now, if you're picking them up from some air conditioned place and they smell bad, okay, then maybe there's a hygiene problem. But if you're picking them up from practice, or a game, or a sports camp, Dude: wear a bandana like a bandit.
Yup. My daughter is 11 and showers and uses deodorant daily, and we're not athletes. It really doesn't matter; the adolescent body is a disgusting mush of hormones 😂
Load More Replies... He’s not being an a*****e until he whines at every possible suggestion or even explanation. He won’t accept any advice but also wants to complain. Whatever, this dude sorted this out a long time ago, it’s over a year old.
Im on the fence. I wasn't really a sticky kid but going through puberty made me self conscious AF. I'd probably laugh as reaction to someone not my parents telling me I stank. The fact that he felt the need to bring up that he owns an Audi makes me lean towards a*****e because who care about what car you own if the smell is your main issue. I also feel that the way he responds to the suggestions points to him kind of being an a*****e, as well. He doesn't want a solution and just wants to whine. So i really don't trust how he communicated his issues to the other parents. Either way then just stop picking them up then, FFS.
What suggestions? No one he responded top had a auggestion. Also I dont see how offhandly saying a brand name means jack all. Its a brand. So he's a bit proud of it?
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Hormones are no joke when it comes to BO. When I hit middle school, my feet started to sweat so much. My sneakers reeked. When mom finally figured out where "that horrible smell" was coming from, she made my leave my shoes OUTSIDE the house.
Don't do anyone any favors. That's what I get from all the nasty people's replies to this guy. Also, parents are lazy and can't be bothered to teach their children proper hygiene. I was washing my a*s and using deodorant/antiperspirant by nine years old. And the dude doesn't want his nice car to smell, so I say let the stinkers walk, or their parents can pick them up.
Exactly! Some of these people must have disgusting houses based on the fact they think odor can't be helped.
Load More Replies...
Yuck - some of you sound like you're justifying poor hygiene. Yes, I've been around sweaty boys and they CAN do something to help the smell. Stop making excuses for them. It's the guy's damn car and he can have whatever rules he wants. Did you miss the part where he's doing this as a FAVOR for other parents. They're welcome to deal with their own arrangements if they can't be bothered to actually parent their own kids.
I'm SO sure he does it purely altruisticly. Also you are absolutely wrong about it being preventable. They are boys going through massive hormonal shifts playing havoc with their body chemistry. Even in a fully grown adult with great hygiene, hours of physical activity is going to nullify any deodorants efficacy. Maybe take a look at yourself and examine why you are so derogatory over KIDS and yet defend a grown man openly insulting a bunch of kids when he cant even keep his own facts straight (contradicts himself about them clearly saying they DO shower and wear deodorant). Dude is WAY more concerned with humble bragging about his Audi than looking out for his kid and his friends
Load More Replies...
Yta for saying "my Audi" instead of "my car", cause its obvious you think that matters in this situation somehow. Get a few spray on deodorants and make them put it on before they can get in the car. Problem solved
My Audi smells just fine, until he farts in your face. You can't tell me he doesn't know what he's doing.
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I hate these ones. I can relate to the issue but the OP has ulterior motives for posting that are not relatable at all.
The people saying "YTA stop driving them" is utterly hilarious to me bevause thats the opposite of what he was asking and really demonstrates how CR*P peoples reading comprehension is. "AITA is I communicated to parents I'm not picking up their kids because they stink?" Like apparently he's just supposed to leave them stranded. Btw YES YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR ODOR. If you shower properly and use deoterant after exercise you wont smell. Alternatively they might just need better deoterant. I used to have really sh*t BO untill I found a line of deoterant that was absolutely amazing.
Yes and if the BO is really bad, normally you see a doctor. As a teen who can smell I figured out I needed roll on or cream deodorant, not spray, along with showers. I worked with my body to work out what I needed to stay in top of it. I did the same when I needed a lotion for my dry legs. I think it's more the fact no one is trying for the boys themselves that is the worst of the issue. No one is teaching them they can find alternatives and if nothing works, it might be fixable in other ways. No one is putting the effort to find out, they just brush it off or make fun of OP. When it's not even their house/car/nose to brush off. I have sensory issues, this would be hell for me. And I've still made time to be understanding back when it's been an issue for someone who was a friend. But I grantee both her and I at least tried. So did some of the friends I had were boys. It's less a hygiene issue and more a Not caring about what they put OP through.
Load More Replies... OP clearly says "they say they take showers and use deo", yet keeps arguing in comments that they dont. I call absolute BS. Not to mention none of that matters when its the end of a day and they've been very active. No deodorant would help that. Also his insistence they "aren't teens" as if that somehow means they shouldn't smell that bad. Kids are hitting full puberty way earlier now than even 10 years ago. My daughter started her period at 10, BO and need for deodorant was a dolid year or 2 before that. He is ABSOLUTELY an AH.
No they said they said pretty clearly in the original thing that they dont use deoterant. If you shower and use deoterant after being active you are not going to smell. Its simply impossible bevayse youve removed all the sweat and everything causing the odor.
Load More Replies...
My 14yo son bathes daily, wears deodorant, and regularly cleans his room and bedding(I do have to force him to do this part) and his room still stinks a bit. A lot of people have a pungent odor they can't completely remove in the puberty years. I'll try to not judge without knowing how bad these kids actually smell
Wow that's early for BO. Kids either don't bother or go to the opposite extreme and you can't drag them out of the bathroom. Also, I swear one of the deodorants my boys used smelt like wet towels.
When my mum told me I needed to start wearing deodorant when I was a kid I just said ok and did it. No big deal
Either don't pick them up or make them all a smelly boy package of hygiene products an explain them to the boys in a fun activity. Or to make the parents realize how stank their boys are just get them all each a can of axe body spray. I bet if you even left a can of that in your bathroom they would all try it. But sending them home with it would really make the parents notice that smell and then the stinky boys rooms and etc.
I thought my Granddaughter (L) smelled quite bad. Seems she didn't know how to properly apply underarm deodorant. Seems most people don't notice their own B.O. My daughter (A) saved one of L's t-shirts and after L showered and was clean and fresh had her smell her own shirt. It was a lightbulb moment. A demonstrated correct way to apply deodorant and lo and behold - no more stinky granddaughter.
I think they need to educate their own kids, and not assume that the friends have access to personal hygiene products, ??
They are doing extracurricular sports, that usually means they have at least some disposable income.
Load More Replies...
I get it; my grandson's friend left a smell in my car that lasted a WEEK. Being that age is ROUGH, though, and I wouldn't have said anything for any reason on earth. If it bothers him, he could have just made polite excuses about his availability, saving everyone the embarrassment. Absolutely TAH.
Five minutes drive? They should be able to walk that without daddy's help.
I say dad should go to Dollar Tree and buy each of the boys deodorant, show them how to use it and tell them to keep it in their gym bag and use it every time they finish showering or bathing. Maybe that will help. Back when I was a school athlete on the first day when you made the team they gave you a list of items that you must have at all times and the number one was deodorant. Coaches would come around to our lockers on Friday and check to make sure we had enough for the next week. If not you had until Monday to replenish it. They would send a note home as well.
Just tell them no girl wants to smell that. Do they want a girl to smell like that? I see incels in the basement being molded.
Even if those kids shower well and wear deodorant, there is still going to be stink from the dirty clothes and shoes. He should bring a stick of deodorant and make each boy use it before he gets in the car, he'll see it doesn't help that much. I get it's annoying but- put blankets on the seats and maybe keep a sealable box in the back for smelly gear -but you just have to deal with it. Kids are smelly and are still learning to care for themselves, there's only so much you can do sometimes. He can refuse to transport kids but if so, he's never going to get favors from the other parents when he is the one who needs it.
Spray deodorant. More hygienic for multiple people. He should just bring some baby wipes and spray deodorant. Everyone gets a quick wipe down and a spray before getting in the car. Even then they'll still smell like hell bc the sweat will be all over their clothes. He really shouldn't be carpooling after sports boys if he's this sensitive.
Load More Replies...
If those kids are only 10 years old, this guy will sufficate when they start to enter puberty.
The only thin that stopped stinknfor me 100% was Lume deodorant. If you shower, then apply it to any area you even suspect much sink. It prevents the bacteria on your skin from eating and pooping, which causes pit-rot and other stink. Unfortunately it does nothing about sweat. You won't stink, but you might get soggy still. Some ppl don't lift the way lume smells, bu5 they also have unscented and it works the same. Some days I use lume and then body power on areas I sweat a lot. The powdernis potentially messy, but helpful. I think company that makes lume, makes a men's version (mando [dumb namr imho], tho lume works for men too. My hubby has used it with surprisingly good results. Also, you can kind of ease your BO stink by upping water intake
Yeah, there's lots of alternatives. And for many sprays don't work as well as roll on/cream sticks.
Load More Replies...
Just...be an adult and don't run to the internet to whine and seek validation over every little thing?
My sons' dad brings them with his car. I don't have a car. They smelled once, so he told em to use deo and that was that. These parents are stupid to mock him. Now they can drive themselves.
Load More Replies...
The gratuitous mention of having an Audi makes it hard not to see OP as TA. Good thing they don't have hockey bags in tow or he'd have to 'downgrade' to a VW
I was kind of sympathetic until he mentioned the Audi…but, in my experience, I’d rather have musky BO than choke on Axe Body Spray
Load More Replies... As the father of a son who once played baseball, it doesn't matter if they showered in the morning, or use a lot of deodorant. After practice or a game, they are going to smell like an animal. Their shoes are going to smell when they get home! My son used to have to air his shoes outside. Now, if you're picking them up from some air conditioned place and they smell bad, okay, then maybe there's a hygiene problem. But if you're picking them up from practice, or a game, or a sports camp, Dude: wear a bandana like a bandit.
Yup. My daughter is 11 and showers and uses deodorant daily, and we're not athletes. It really doesn't matter; the adolescent body is a disgusting mush of hormones 😂
Load More Replies... He’s not being an a*****e until he whines at every possible suggestion or even explanation. He won’t accept any advice but also wants to complain. Whatever, this dude sorted this out a long time ago, it’s over a year old.
Im on the fence. I wasn't really a sticky kid but going through puberty made me self conscious AF. I'd probably laugh as reaction to someone not my parents telling me I stank. The fact that he felt the need to bring up that he owns an Audi makes me lean towards a*****e because who care about what car you own if the smell is your main issue. I also feel that the way he responds to the suggestions points to him kind of being an a*****e, as well. He doesn't want a solution and just wants to whine. So i really don't trust how he communicated his issues to the other parents. Either way then just stop picking them up then, FFS.
What suggestions? No one he responded top had a auggestion. Also I dont see how offhandly saying a brand name means jack all. Its a brand. So he's a bit proud of it?
Load More Replies... Hormones are no joke when it comes to BO. When I hit middle school, my feet started to sweat so much. My sneakers reeked. When mom finally figured out where "that horrible smell" was coming from, she made my leave my shoes OUTSIDE the house.
Don't do anyone any favors. That's what I get from all the nasty people's replies to this guy. Also, parents are lazy and can't be bothered to teach their children proper hygiene. I was washing my a*s and using deodorant/antiperspirant by nine years old. And the dude doesn't want his nice car to smell, so I say let the stinkers walk, or their parents can pick them up.
Exactly! Some of these people must have disgusting houses based on the fact they think odor can't be helped.
Load More Replies... Yuck - some of you sound like you're justifying poor hygiene. Yes, I've been around sweaty boys and they CAN do something to help the smell. Stop making excuses for them. It's the guy's damn car and he can have whatever rules he wants. Did you miss the part where he's doing this as a FAVOR for other parents. They're welcome to deal with their own arrangements if they can't be bothered to actually parent their own kids.
I'm SO sure he does it purely altruisticly. Also you are absolutely wrong about it being preventable. They are boys going through massive hormonal shifts playing havoc with their body chemistry. Even in a fully grown adult with great hygiene, hours of physical activity is going to nullify any deodorants efficacy. Maybe take a look at yourself and examine why you are so derogatory over KIDS and yet defend a grown man openly insulting a bunch of kids when he cant even keep his own facts straight (contradicts himself about them clearly saying they DO shower and wear deodorant). Dude is WAY more concerned with humble bragging about his Audi than looking out for his kid and his friends
Load More Replies... Yta for saying "my Audi" instead of "my car", cause its obvious you think that matters in this situation somehow. Get a few spray on deodorants and make them put it on before they can get in the car. Problem solved
My Audi smells just fine, until he farts in your face. You can't tell me he doesn't know what he's doing.
Load More Replies... I hate these ones. I can relate to the issue but the OP has ulterior motives for posting that are not relatable at all.
The people saying "YTA stop driving them" is utterly hilarious to me bevause thats the opposite of what he was asking and really demonstrates how CR*P peoples reading comprehension is. "AITA is I communicated to parents I'm not picking up their kids because they stink?" Like apparently he's just supposed to leave them stranded. Btw YES YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR ODOR. If you shower properly and use deoterant after exercise you wont smell. Alternatively they might just need better deoterant. I used to have really sh*t BO untill I found a line of deoterant that was absolutely amazing.
Yes and if the BO is really bad, normally you see a doctor. As a teen who can smell I figured out I needed roll on or cream deodorant, not spray, along with showers. I worked with my body to work out what I needed to stay in top of it. I did the same when I needed a lotion for my dry legs. I think it's more the fact no one is trying for the boys themselves that is the worst of the issue. No one is teaching them they can find alternatives and if nothing works, it might be fixable in other ways. No one is putting the effort to find out, they just brush it off or make fun of OP. When it's not even their house/car/nose to brush off. I have sensory issues, this would be hell for me. And I've still made time to be understanding back when it's been an issue for someone who was a friend. But I grantee both her and I at least tried. So did some of the friends I had were boys. It's less a hygiene issue and more a Not caring about what they put OP through.
Load More Replies... OP clearly says "they say they take showers and use deo", yet keeps arguing in comments that they dont. I call absolute BS. Not to mention none of that matters when its the end of a day and they've been very active. No deodorant would help that. Also his insistence they "aren't teens" as if that somehow means they shouldn't smell that bad. Kids are hitting full puberty way earlier now than even 10 years ago. My daughter started her period at 10, BO and need for deodorant was a dolid year or 2 before that. He is ABSOLUTELY an AH.
No they said they said pretty clearly in the original thing that they dont use deoterant. If you shower and use deoterant after being active you are not going to smell. Its simply impossible bevayse youve removed all the sweat and everything causing the odor.
Load More Replies... My 14yo son bathes daily, wears deodorant, and regularly cleans his room and bedding(I do have to force him to do this part) and his room still stinks a bit. A lot of people have a pungent odor they can't completely remove in the puberty years. I'll try to not judge without knowing how bad these kids actually smell
Wow that's early for BO. Kids either don't bother or go to the opposite extreme and you can't drag them out of the bathroom. Also, I swear one of the deodorants my boys used smelt like wet towels.
When my mum told me I needed to start wearing deodorant when I was a kid I just said ok and did it. No big deal
Either don't pick them up or make them all a smelly boy package of hygiene products an explain them to the boys in a fun activity. Or to make the parents realize how stank their boys are just get them all each a can of axe body spray. I bet if you even left a can of that in your bathroom they would all try it. But sending them home with it would really make the parents notice that smell and then the stinky boys rooms and etc.
I thought my Granddaughter (L) smelled quite bad. Seems she didn't know how to properly apply underarm deodorant. Seems most people don't notice their own B.O. My daughter (A) saved one of L's t-shirts and after L showered and was clean and fresh had her smell her own shirt. It was a lightbulb moment. A demonstrated correct way to apply deodorant and lo and behold - no more stinky granddaughter.
I think they need to educate their own kids, and not assume that the friends have access to personal hygiene products, ??
They are doing extracurricular sports, that usually means they have at least some disposable income.
Load More Replies... I get it; my grandson's friend left a smell in my car that lasted a WEEK. Being that age is ROUGH, though, and I wouldn't have said anything for any reason on earth. If it bothers him, he could have just made polite excuses about his availability, saving everyone the embarrassment. Absolutely TAH.
Five minutes drive? They should be able to walk that without daddy's help.
I say dad should go to Dollar Tree and buy each of the boys deodorant, show them how to use it and tell them to keep it in their gym bag and use it every time they finish showering or bathing. Maybe that will help. Back when I was a school athlete on the first day when you made the team they gave you a list of items that you must have at all times and the number one was deodorant. Coaches would come around to our lockers on Friday and check to make sure we had enough for the next week. If not you had until Monday to replenish it. They would send a note home as well.
Just tell them no girl wants to smell that. Do they want a girl to smell like that? I see incels in the basement being molded.
Even if those kids shower well and wear deodorant, there is still going to be stink from the dirty clothes and shoes. He should bring a stick of deodorant and make each boy use it before he gets in the car, he'll see it doesn't help that much. I get it's annoying but- put blankets on the seats and maybe keep a sealable box in the back for smelly gear -but you just have to deal with it. Kids are smelly and are still learning to care for themselves, there's only so much you can do sometimes. He can refuse to transport kids but if so, he's never going to get favors from the other parents when he is the one who needs it.
Spray deodorant. More hygienic for multiple people. He should just bring some baby wipes and spray deodorant. Everyone gets a quick wipe down and a spray before getting in the car. Even then they'll still smell like hell bc the sweat will be all over their clothes. He really shouldn't be carpooling after sports boys if he's this sensitive.
Load More Replies... If those kids are only 10 years old, this guy will sufficate when they start to enter puberty.
The only thin that stopped stinknfor me 100% was Lume deodorant. If you shower, then apply it to any area you even suspect much sink. It prevents the bacteria on your skin from eating and pooping, which causes pit-rot and other stink. Unfortunately it does nothing about sweat. You won't stink, but you might get soggy still. Some ppl don't lift the way lume smells, bu5 they also have unscented and it works the same. Some days I use lume and then body power on areas I sweat a lot. The powdernis potentially messy, but helpful. I think company that makes lume, makes a men's version (mando [dumb namr imho], tho lume works for men too. My hubby has used it with surprisingly good results. Also, you can kind of ease your BO stink by upping water intake
Yeah, there's lots of alternatives. And for many sprays don't work as well as roll on/cream sticks.
Load More Replies... Just...be an adult and don't run to the internet to whine and seek validation over every little thing?
My sons' dad brings them with his car. I don't have a car. They smelled once, so he told em to use deo and that was that. These parents are stupid to mock him. Now they can drive themselves.
Load More Replies... 
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