My Lice from Hell
May you never have an infestation of lice in your house. That is what I’m wishing for you. May your children never attend a school where, when lice breaks out (and they break out everywhere — rich schools, poor school, private and not. They are geniuses at surviving. That is why lice will live and thrive long, long, long after I am gone) — if and when lice does break out — may the nurses, staff and parents at your school CHECK HEADS, SEND LETTERS HOME, MAKE PHONE CALLS.
And may they not roll their eyes at you and treat you like you’re some unreasonable crazy bitch.
That’s right. Me. I am a bitch in many ways, but this is not one of them. Wanting this to not happen to someone else is a kindness on my part, a bit of community service. It’s not me being unreasonable. Supposedly a letter is going home. None of the parents I’ve talked with has seen one yet. The school nurse checked the kids in my daughter’s class, but none of the other classes.
This is irresponsible and wrong. I’m keeping the kids home next week, too. I found three more teeny tiny live bugs on my sweet daughter’s noggin yesterday, and none today. I would pick the eggs off if I could see any. They are microscopic tiny, nearly invisible. I combed through her hair with tea tree oil and picked out a couple of bits that looked like eggs, but weren’t.
Internet, I’m a little glum over here. Good news — my sister is braving our home and is stopping by this afternoon to bring us videos. But no hugs. Everyone is at arm’s length. Who can blame them?
My in-laws canceled their visit — they were supposed to get here today. Again, who can blame them? In-laws get a bad rap. I like mine and am sad we won’t see them now for probably a few months.
On a bright note, we’re getting groceries delivered tomorrow. Sure, my husband could do the shopping, but that would be an extra hour he was away from us and not picking through my hair for non-existent bugs. (So far Wacky Girl is the only lice victim in the house.)
“You’re fine, baby,” he told me last night, then, under his breath, “I think the lice are frightened of you.”
Crazy, no? I can’t stop itching, and feeling invisible crawlies.
Crazy, but not a bitch.
, 
.
You are fine and not frightening. Kaiser told me that the school you go to has a rep for being lousy, in you know, the louse way. Guess this is why. Bummer about your in-laws being scared off. ((Hugs))
April 12th, 2007 | #
Thanks, Mallory. It’s lousy to be lousy. Maybe if they let people know when there was an outbreak, we could avoid this. Maybe if they checked heads, and sent home protocol for treatment. Not that I’m an expert here or anything. Oh, wait. I am now.
April 12th, 2007 | #
So sorry to hear about the in-laws. They sound like beautiful people, and rare (I think) to have such a wonderful relationship with y’all.
Is there a bright side? Well, I suppose you have had some amazing writing material lately, which is a gift to all of us! My offer on laundry still stands.
April 12th, 2007 | #
Now that, my friends, is a true friend.
April 12th, 2007 | #
I’m itching now too. Sympathy Itch; a well-known medical condition.
I’m with mamatoo (not on the laundry offer)–you are getting some great posts out of this. Surely you are also developing character or, uh, something.
April 13th, 2007 | #
[…] Of course my children don’t play in the dirt (much) and I make them wear shoes (most of the time). For us, life here really isn’t more dangerous than in the US; we live in a Western-style house with running water and electricity that works most of the time. The whole family’s gotten intestinal parasites on village trips but it’s no big deal; you just take some pills, drink Sprite, spend a day or two on the couch watching TV. On the other hand, in this dry, hot climate, we rarely get colds or flu. I read your blogs—you get sick more often than we do, in damp climates, with lice infestations. […]
April 16th, 2007 | #
Courage, I have unfortunately been there and then a couple of months later was there again, because there is always one parent that doesn’t treat their child’s head right and the problem keeps coming around.
April 16th, 2007 | #