17 Comments
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Christopher Ma's avatar

Spray them down with Fabreeze when they are sleeping?? Genius! Why didn't I think of that. Mine used to smell like a six year old jock strap worn by a Yeti in mating season. He never did discover fragrances. And after reading this? I'm thankful...his wife now hoses him down every couple of days, I hear...

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Sar x's avatar

BAHAHA the Yeti in mating season took me out 😭 Honestly, I should start a Febreeze holster line for parents—quick draw style. Glad to hear he eventually found redemption via a wife with a hose and standards 😂 Here's to surviving the teenage funk—one spritz at a time!

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Kim's avatar

OMG this was so so funny

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Bear Wiseman's avatar

I used to buy snake plants for my adoptive son's room. He was good with bathing but his room was a dank cave of 23yo bod smells.

I got him a snake plant (and frankly, I should have gotten him twelve more). Snake plants are one of the most powerful air filters in the houseplants realms. You could seal yourself in a room with 16 of them and still breathe. He liked the way they looked and they are also basically cacti so it didn't matter if he casually forgot to water it for 3 months 😅

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Sar x's avatar

Okay, this absolutely sent me 😂 A “dank cave of 23yo bod smells” is honestly the most accurate description I’ve ever heard. Snake plants to the rescue! They’re the real MVPs—low maintenance, hard to kill, and apparently heroic in teen habitats. Might need to invest in a forest of them at this rate. Thanks for the tip and the giggle! 🌿💀

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Bear Wiseman's avatar

There's a really specific smell that I remember from my youth that I had only ever before encountered when I went into my brothers' rooms. It's... yeah, a very special sort of funk, haha. I'm surprised they don't grow mushrooms.

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Apr 15
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Bear Wiseman's avatar

That's why you often see them at malls and airports. I hope it helps!

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Karen Sellers's avatar

Oh how I remember the Axe phase. And the basketball gym bag (although my daughter’s dance show bag could give his gym bag a run for its money! Have hope—it does pass!

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Sar x's avatar

Haha yesss, the Axe phase — truly an era of its own! 😂 And I love that your daughter’s dance bag could compete in the “scent Olympics” too. That gave me a solid chuckle! Appreciate the hope—clinging to the belief that one day my house will smell like not a teenage locker room. 🙏🧼💪

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A Not Quite Starving Artist's avatar

I’m dying. My 12 year old boy and I the other day:

Me: You need to take a shower

Him: I just took one!

Me: When

Him: …the..other day?

Me: Was that day today? No. Go take a shower. 😂

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Sar x's avatar

Omg stop 😭 This is peak teen logic. “The other day” could mean yesterday or six months ago depending on the vibe. 😂

Honestly, at this point I’m considering investing in Febreeze stocks or just setting up a shower reminder app with a siren.

Bless them… but also, go take a shower. 🙃💀

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Robin I's avatar

Omg I'm not even a parent and this had me giggling. Now I have something to look forward to in my future 😂

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Sar x's avatar

I’m glad you enjoyed it ❤️

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Hunter's avatar

https://open.substack.com/pub/huntermc/p/the-only-thing-real-is-reality?r=5i2o2u&utm_medium=ios

Loved this—your energy and message really hit. If you get a sec, I’d be honored if you checked out my latest post too. I think our content aligns in a meaningful way!

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Sar x's avatar

Appreciate the kind words, Hunter! 🙏 I actually read that piece yesterday and already dropped a comment! You had me nodding along hard. Always down to vibe with folks writing with heart and chaos in equal measure—so seriously, if you’ve got something new cooking, send it my way anytime. Thanks for sharing the love!

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Aaron Sorensen's avatar

Me: (walking past teen-aged son) Wow, you stink! You need a shower.

Daughter who doesn’t even like teen-aged son: THAT was mean.

Me: (confused) I was just stating a fact.

Jheeesh, you just can’t win with some people. I figure his peers were going to be less nice about it…lol

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Sar x's avatar

HA! I’m crying 😂 That’s the exact brand of brutally honest parenting we’re running over here too. You try to help the stinky ones and somehow become the villain. Kids these days… zero appreciation for scent based truth bombs. 🧼👃

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