Smelly mom driving people away

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Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: My mother is a sweaty woman and I know she can’t help it. She has tried a few “natural” ways of controlling her underarms, such as that rolling crystal thing, but nothing really works. It’s too bad — she smells wild, and not in a good way. I avoid her if I’m not up to having my nose assaulted.

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Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/11/2015 (3977 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: My mother is a sweaty woman and I know she can’t help it. She has tried a few “natural” ways of controlling her underarms, such as that rolling crystal thing, but nothing really works. It’s too bad — she smells wild, and not in a good way. I avoid her if I’m not up to having my nose assaulted.

She refuses to wear deodorant or the stronger antiperspirants, and doesn’t bathe enough. How can I get her to change her views on the danger of underarm chemicals, so she can keep people around her as friends? She is getting older now and doesn’t have that many friends — and my sister and I know why. I can imagine people who are her friends, but don’t love her as I do, avoiding visiting, too.

— Loving Daughter, Fort Garry

 

Dear Loving Daughter: Do some online consumer research on the efficacy of all the products on the market and hit the natural-food stores yourself. Bring your mom the three top choices and have her do a little research testing with you. Warn her she has to apply the product right after a bath, shower or thorough “birdbath” (washing and drying under the arms with a clean facecloth) or it will ruin the experiments. Tell her you’re doing the same experiment at the same time and it will be a fun thing to do together. If she still can’t be bothered, you’ll have to tell her outright that her body odour is so strong it keeps you — and possibly others — from visiting as often.

 

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6

 

Miss Lonelyhearts

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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