Really random comment from dcp

[adelaide]

So today, out of the blue, my one and only dcp who's been amazing thus far, told me that some days my house smells like poo. :o We weren't talking about anything related to smells to diapers or anything - she just comes out with: "Adelaide, I have to tell you, some days when I come here, your house smells like poo." And just to help you with the tone of that, until she said the word "poo", I honestly thought she was going to say that it smelled like something good. I was a little shocked, especially when her son hadn't had a dirty diaper today, I had taken out the trash AND I have a scentsy going all day in the kitchen (right near the door) so I don't know why my house should smell bad. I was also shocked because I don't think I'd ever say that to someone. I've babysat at places that do smell like diapers and I've never said anything. I feel insulted. I asked my husband when he came home if he thought our house smelled like poo today or any other day because I thought maybe since I'm in the house all day that I don't notice it but he said no. I just don't get it and find it very bizarre. Again, otherwise, she's been amazing so I just don't know how to take this. Any thoughts? Maybe I'm missing something?

[Other Mummy]

I would have been very insulted. I would have had another trusted friend or family member come over and see if they could smell "poo". I don't know how I would have answered her. Especially since your hubby didn't smell it. That is so strange:unsure:

Really...she called it "Poo" I hate that word. :blink:

[mimi]

If my house smells like poo, and yes sometimes it does, I do notice it. I'm sure you would too especially when you are coming in after being outside with the kiddies. Maybe she is just someone with a very keen sense of smell. When the weather permits, I am always airing out the daycare area. I prefer not to use spray scents or any other smell cover up as they bother me. In the winter, I keep the furnace fan going all the time (using the same energy as a low wattage light bulb) which helps with all odours. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it, it is just part of the business. :)

[Mamma_Mia]

That's when my "smart-ass-mouth" would have been used...

"Adelaide, I have to tell you, some days when I come here, your house smells like poo."

"well, YOUR kid is here....all day long!!" smile smile

5min before 1st parents are to arrive I light a oil candle by the entrance just in case but in any case, that's just rude! Considering I'm changing their kids smelly "POO" (eyeroll)

[Inspired by Reggio]

Wow ... ok I will admit that 'poo' or stale kid pee smell is something I am very sensitive to smell ~ I do not even keep the diapers IN my house the minute I change the diapers they get put in a plastic bag and once they are all changed it gets tied up and thrown outside in a bin which at the end of the day is transferred to the outside garbage pail

Once again this is one of those times I wish more people would ask before they speak 'is what I am about to say helpful or hurtful statement' because honestly what was the 'motive' behind sharing that with you ... what did she expect you to say or do with that?

If she had said something like 'Hey Adelaide I just wanted to let you know I am a wee bit concerned because it ALWAYS seems to smell like poo in the house and while I get that sometimes it will cause the kids have just pooed and it takes a minute for that to diffuse it really seems to already smell like that even in the morning and well I was wondering if you needed a new Diaper genie cause I have a spare maybe that would help' cause a statement like THAT would still be RUDE but at least it would have been in helpful manner ~ aka she was offering a solution at least instead of just being down right rude and unhelpful?

But seriously we work with young children who are often not trained so of course sometimes our house smells like POO ... if a child has JUST pooed no amount of candle or Scentsy ( which BTW I love myself) is going to immediately diffuse that :rolleyes:

[Momof4]

I would have said 'well good grief, part of my job is changing poopy diapers so I guess that makes complete sense' Then I would have wanted to say 'don't let the door hit you in your smart ass on the way out'!!!

I use Scentsy too and have it going right near the door in my 1/2 bath all day long because my kitty litter is down the hall and up on the landing. Nobody can ever tell I have a cat or smell the litter. But I go into my kitchen where I've been dropping off the poopy diapers all day long and almost pass out from the poo smell by the end of the day and I get it out every night.

Do you have the Scentsy spray? It's really concentrated and covers all other smells so maybe you should give a shot of that just before this not-so-nice-woman picks up her child?

[BrightEyes]

Is she pregnant? lol When I was pregnant I could smell EVERYTHING. The only reason I could think of for her rude comment would be if she is pregnant and the "smell" makes her nauseated. Not that it makes it ok.

[Mamma_Mia]

Wow ... ok I will admit that 'poo' or stale kid pee smell is something I am very sensitive to smell ~ I do not even keep the diapers IN my house the minute I change the diapers they get put in a plastic bag and once they are all changed it gets tied up and thrown outside in a bin which at the end of the day is transferred to the outside garbage pail

I too don't keep diapers (not even my daughters) in the house! They go into a extra green 'food' bin that has a garbage bag inside which is in the garage! Not fun changing that bag when it's full :laugh: poor DH!!

[Mamma_Mia]

Is she pregnant? lol When I was pregnant I could smell EVERYTHING. The only reason I could think of for her rude comment would be if she is pregnant and the "smell" makes her nauseated. Not that it makes it ok.

OOOO....good point! That = me right now!! lol
I ws never a good smeller...I was a "hear a pin drop" person, so I'd have to physically check each bum every so often to see if they pooped. Now I'm like a hound dog! It's gross

[Spixie33]

That's incredibly rude and also my worst nightmare. I am always worried how my house smells when dcps arrive for pickups. i don't want it to smell bad.

Sometimes my hubby comes home and says the house smells like wet chicken or something bad. I know that sometimes I am simmering something on the stove and it can make a strong smell when people walk in.

I also try to air out throughout the day and make sure bathroom fans run a few minutes after each child is in there.

I would have been mortified. I guess she felt she was being helpful by telling you but I can imagine it would be really awkward and feel horrible to hear.:no:

[kidlove]

Too Funny! Too bad you couldn't have thought up a "smart-a**" comment like.......oh sorry, been so busy chasing after all the kids, didn't have time to take a break so I crapped my pants instead. :) ha ha !!!!! What in the world do you say to a comment like that?...Thanks? :huh:

Maybe you can get a really strong room spray and just before she walks in the door each day...give it a squirt. There, smell that!

[adelaide]

Other Mummy: yes, she called it "poo" - I'm not a fan either. I did ask my sister in law who was also here yesterday and has been here multiple times the last 2 months if she noticed anything and she said she didn't.

And I have smelled it before, but it's been in the middle of the day, in my bathroom at the back of the house where I dump the diapers until I have a chance to bring them outside. The other thing is (and this is why I feel even more insulted) is that her kid is the only kid I have at the moment and as I'm usually pretty good to take out the garbage regularly, there's no reason my house should smell bad and if it does, it's definitely her kid's fault, lol.

Mamma Mia: what I did end up saying is "Oh...well he hasn't had a dirty diaper today so I don't know why it would smell like that..." Hopefully that made her feel a little foolish for saying what she did.

LittleFeet: I did wonder if she was pregnant when Mimi mentioned a keen sense of smell. If she is, she hasn't told me. I'm pregnant and I don't smell anything.

So this morning before she arrived, I spritzed febreeze on every piece of fabric I could find in my living room and kitchen - so there - haha. It's just so bizarre to me because a)she's been great otherwise and b)that's not something I would ever consider telling someone, especially someone I'm not actually close to and c) a & b don't make sense together to me. Anyway, thanks for all your input - it's good to know that I'm not being unreasonable feeling the way I do about it and since this morning's drop off was business as usual, I'll maybe try to forget it ever happened. Besides, it's my house, she doesn't have to live in it and her kid doesn't seem to notice or mind.

[apples and bananas]

LOL, some people have no filter. I would have said "really???? Wow, it's almost like I run a home daycare or something. Gee... how in the world would my house smell like that... oh right... I have 4 kids in diapers all day.. that might do it. " LOL

[sunnydays]

That would have annoyed me too! I have a pregnant mom with a child in my care right now and she told both my husband and me that our garage smelled really bad the other day (my dcp's enter through my garage)...she was right...it was the day before garbage day and I have 4 kids in diapers here every day! My husband said I should have told her it's because of her kid's dirty diapers ;) Other than that, I've never had anyone comment and I know it does sometimes smell if I have just changed someone...this is a daycare after all!

[Mamma_Mia]

Maybe you can get a really strong room spray and just before she walks in the door each day...give it a squirt. There, smell that!


OMG!!!!! You made me laugh out loud!!! hahah

[Momof4]

Thanks for the giggles ladies!