We leave smelling like boys...

I love my job. I know I say it a lot, but it's true. In fact, let me tell you just one more time*: I. Love. My. Job.

This year, my room seems to be the place to hang out during lunch. I never get a minute to myself. I love it, though. There is a core group of about 8 kids who routinely come in early to talk, and just hang out. There are a handful of others who show up randomly. It all started with one quiet young man who comes in and works on his math homework. (When I say quiet, I mean quiet. He rarely speaks in class, even to the other kids. I've loved that he comes in early for lunch, because it's the only time I can get him to talk!) Then another kid came, and now, I've got a regular lunch bunch.

While I love my lunch crew, I noticed something the other day: they're all boys. Every single last one of them. It surprised me a bit because high school boys are typically too cool to be seen in a classroom by choice. It's only acceptable when they have no other choice. Not my guys. They visit every day. They crack me up. The majority of them scarf down their lunch, run to the gyms to play some basketball, and then come to my room to replay / relive every play of the game. I guess I am a good audience?

While I love all my students, I find it odd that so many boys like to hang out in my room. I also find it kind of gross. Have you ever had the "privilege" of hanging out with a teenage boy after he's played some intense basketball? Let me just say this: boys stink.

Eww. Ick. Gross.

Okay, not all of them stink. Some of them are conscious of themselves and will make a quick stop in the locker room or bathroom to make sure they don't stink. There are a few, though, who do. Honestly, though, it could be because sometimes boys just smell bad. (If you are mother to a son, I think you'll know what I mean. It doesn't mean they are any less wonderful people, it just means they smell bad.)

Yesterday, two boys were digging in a backpack, looking for something. P found what they were looking for, and pulled it out of his bag. He triumphantly held up the can, and told D "you can use it first!"

I looked up when I heard a spraying sound and smelled a foul odor. They were spraying cologne. I coughed, and said, "Hey, boys. I have pretty severe allergies, and I know other people do, too. Can you please take that into the bathroom?"

D said, "Oh, sorry! Okay, we'll go to the bathroom."

On their way out the door, P stopped, turned around and, in all seriousness, said to me, "We leave smelling like boys, we come back smelling like men."

Yeah, right.

1. Most men I know don't use cologne from an aerosol can.

2. Contrary to what the commercials would lead you to believe, Axe cologne does NOT smell good, and will NOT cause girls to follow you around. Axe also will not make them want to date you. Sorry, but it's true.

3. The theory of "if a little is good, a lot is better" applies to cheesecake, money, and books. NOT cologne.

4. A good friend once told me, and I agree, that your scent should be discovered and not announced.

5. You smelled better before you doused yourself in cheap chemicals from a spray can.

So, while you left smelling like boys and planned to come back smelling like men, you really came back reeking to high heaven. But thanks for the laugh!



*today...I can't make promises about tomorrow!