Anyone else tired of the smelly neighbor kids?

[stopbush]

What is it about some people with their kids?

I've got two of 'em (6 & 10), and they often play with kids in the neighborhood. Now that the weather's gotten cool, they've been having some of their friends into the house for play sessions etc. And that, Mr Anderson, is when I noticed...

the smell.

It's the smell of clothes that haven't been laundered...the smell of a pair of jeans that was propped up in the corner for a few days rather than being washed...or a sweater that was washed when taken out of storage a month ago, has been worn every day since and probably won't be cleaned again until next spring.

Then, there's the hair that gets washed, oh, once a week, whether it needs it or not, not to mention the odor of last night's dinner lingering in the (h)air. I swear, when some of these kids finally leave you've got to spray the room with something heavier than summer mist.

I just don't get it. How can people treat their kids in such a fashion? My kids' school sent home the "note you hate to get" about a week ago - a confirmed case of head lice (no one we know, thank the heavens).

This is a middle-class neighborhood where everyone seems to have a car & and an SUV in the driveway. The kids are generally nice and repectful. What's the problem?

[NicoleM]

1. I had some relatives like that.

Except they were upper-middle class and had two SUVs in the driveway. One parent worked all the time and the other one couldn't be bothered to take care of the kids. Eventually the kids hit adolescence and started bathing regularly and wearing clean clothes for social reasons.

I guess the answer to your question is that some people are crappy parents. I don't know why.

[tnlefty]

2. Tired of my kids are you?

Just kidding. I'm not trying to really make excuses I just know what goes on around here.

The first couple of days of any break from school my brood wants to avoid anything that resembles the school routine: homework, dinner, shower, read, go to bed. Sometime into day 2 or 3 I screech that if I have to hog-tie them they will take a shower, etc.

My middle child has a couple of shirts that he hides to keep them out of the laundry as they are his favs and he swears that they feel better when they are dirty. Again, it gets to a point and I have to have a slight fit and let him know in no uncertain terms that the shirts will be washed before he wears them again.

Are you just catching them on off days or something or is it like this day in and day out?

[kanrok]

3. The problem is:

Their parents are probably Freepers.

[NJCher]

4. might be something to that

Maybe little kids just hate to wash. One of my father's favorite stories about my brother when he was a kid is that he was sent to the bathroom to wash his hands. They were visibly grimey since he had just come in from the outdoors and playing football with his little kid friends and dog.

So my father hears the water running and then out marches my seven-year-old brother with still-grimey hands. Guess he thought the water running would fool everyone.


Cher

[populistmom]

5. That's gross

If you can't take care of your children- don't have them! :eyes: I need to do about 12 loads a week, so you know what? I do it! Ultimately, these kids are going to be stigmatized with their peers and make fun of and it's the parents' fault. Yes, parenting can be overwhelming at times, but we have to take care of our responsibilities.

[Booberdawg]

6. It sounds like they are being neglected

Sorry but the same filthy clothes every day and hair not being washed but once a week sounds like just plain neglect to me. They must be going to school without a bath too.

I would have been embarrassed to send my kid out or to school that way. He had to be in the same condition I would want to be in when I went to work.

[Logansquare]

7. My mom gave one of our neighbor kids a bath

and washed his clothes, too. That was over 30 years ago. Now days, you'd probably get accused of child molestation if you did that.

[GURUving]

8. If you smoked and drank more alcohol

you wouldn't even notice! Have to adapt, don't you know.

:)

[Skittles]

9. this is a very serious problem

children who don't receive/learn proper hygiene get mercilessly teased about this. If it is too awkward for you to discuss it with your neighbor, try to find out who their teacher is and discuss with him/her.

As far as lice goes, don't jump to conclusions about a child who has lice - lice like clean hair just as much as dirty hair.