Speed Stick in Kindergarten

It's been a while since I've visited some of my favorite blogs or their Blog Frog communities, but the other day I decided to post a topic over on McMama's forum. I had been thinking about it for a while, and I wanted to get some feedback from moms over there before I wrote about it over here. The question I posed went something like this:

"Within the last month or so, I have noticed that my son has had that smell at the end of the day - you know the one - when you know it's time for the good ol' deodorant! But here's the thing: he's only six-years-old! It's not a typical, need a bath smell. It's that distinct, body odor, I don't want to sit next to you smell! Doesn't that seem early?"












There were a variety of responses, all of which were women who had children who also had to begin using deodorant at an early age. On one hand, it made me feel better to know my son was not the only kindergartner on the planet who had to use Speed Stick! But it also made me very sad.

I had often heard about the hormones in our foods making children mature at an early age, but I had only associated it with girls and periods. That is probably even more upsetting to me. Like this comment on my post: "My daughter's classmate started menstruating at age 8. I found this so cruel. Not a child and not an adult and she still believed in Santa." Can you even imagine? A small girl, still with so much innocence, still believing in Santa, and having to understand such a womanly thing. I agree with the one who wrote the comment - so cruel.

What do I do now? The "early maturing" has already began in Caleb, and that means Sarah is next. Can I reverse this for them? Is it too late? I feel like I've let them down by the choices I've made for them. I understand some of the changes I could make, but if you've ever seen Food Inc. (which I would HIGHLY recommend) it's almost like we're fighting a losing battle.

But something just has to change...