i have not the words, part 417
We sent our kids back to school yesterday for the first time in two weeks. My son, my husband and I have not had… I can’t say the word anymore. The situation. We have not had the situation do a little merry buggy dance on our heads. Although if you asked anyone at the school or in our neighborhood, they’d tell you, oh, yeah, they all four had it, it was terrible.
No, it has just been one problem scalp here.
My girl — my girl who refuses to let us shave her head, or clipper cut it — my girl has been clear of the situation since Tuesday, April 10th. That’s when she was clear of adult bugs, nits and anything resembling them. My girlfriend L, and really, God love her for doing this, picked eggs off my daughter’s head on Monday, April 9th. She had a couple of dead nits on her head on Friday, April 13th.
So technically, as of yesterday a.m. we have been “situation-free” for thirteen days. That’s 13. Can I say that more LOUDLY? Almost two weeks. We were in okay shape. I thought. I combed through her hair yesterday with tea tree oil, found nothing, braided it and sent her off. The school secretary (because our school nurse is only there two days a week) checked her out, thoroughly. All clear.
She comes home with an adult louse on her head, several nits and lots of eggs. (The Internet, in unison: Duh.) The principal refuses to check heads, refuses to send a “we have lice” letter home, (although they did send home a generic “here’s what to do if you have them” letter), refuses to pick up the phone and call parents.
We’re not going back to school this year.
, 
.
can’t imagine I have anything useful to say, either, except I’m sorry.
If it is any encouragement, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your stories of “interim homeschool” during those many days, and think you do a great job with your kiddos at home. God speed in the weeks until summer break for everyone, so they can hang out with their friends again.
April 24th, 2007 | #
Oh how awful. I remember those nightmare times growing up: mountains of laundry, stinky shampoo, constant vacuuming. Ugh
So far I’ve been blessed with boys and I will not hesitate to use a clipper on their heads if it comes down to it.
I dread those days. Good luck.
April 25th, 2007 | #
Wacky Mommy,
This was a hard day. I am so sorry. But I also have secret delight that you have joined the ranks of longer term homeschoolers. Welcome. I see really fun, louse free fieldtrips in our future.
One of the many deciding factors for me (other than the fact that PPS closed my daughter’s school) was the day the principal looked in my eyes and promised me that she would make sure that no kids were eating peanut butter in my daughter’s classroom because the cafeteria was closed. (My daughter has life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other things and we had spent hours and hours developing a 504 plan to prevent her exposure. She had a peanut free table in the cafeteria, but it was closed that day, as I mentioned.)
I walked into her classroom, a little late to lunch and multiple kids were eating peanuts all over the classroom. I was furious but deep inside I knew this was a system that was seriously broken.
I had a similar reaction when I read that they had misplaced your daughter’s inhaler at your school.
You are a wonderful, creative, loving mother who is doing the right thing.
April 25th, 2007 | #
” Kids change your thought patterns around. That’s good for your brain”
Susan Lunquist, biologist, is a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator, a member of the National Academies of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the 2006 recipient of the Sigma Xi William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement. And a mother of two kids.
April 25th, 2007 | #
Oh, WM. I am sorry!
You’re doing the absolute right thing!
((Hugs)) and XXXX kisses!
April 25th, 2007 | #
Thanks, everyone. Still doing way too much laundry, but bugs seem to be under control, ie — there are none. Keeping fingers crossed.
April 25th, 2007 | #
WM, so so sorry, although like other commenters I must admit I have enjoyed your wonderfully wacky writing on the whole subj. I especially love the image of you, in long shapeless denim gown, feeding the chickens out back. If, while you are daytime shopping with kids and someone says alittle too brightly, “Aren’t they in school?” just fix that person with a beady glare and say, “Me and Bubba just learns ’em at home. Works real good!”
April 25th, 2007 | #
I’m so sorry. You have gone through too much with this. I’m all itchy over here–hopefully it’s just me being neurotic, but my youngest had a friend over on Sunday. Turns out her friend has “the situation”–revealed on Monday. The girls played in one bedroom and outside. So far I’ve washed all the bedding and stuffed animals and vacuumed–the room. Now I’m thinking about vacuuming the yard….
April 25th, 2007 | #
Wow, this is what I have to look forward to? Hmm I once was checked for lice and they made the mistake when i was in 5th grade that I had it!
April 25th, 2007 | #
Holy moly! I’m sorry! I can’t imagine how frustrating that is. But I’m also curious how the homeschooling goes. I always think I want to do that… this kind of reinforces it.
April 25th, 2007 | #
Hey, I saw this and thought of you:
http://aroundtheisland.blogspo.....ntion.html
God help me if my boys bring home lice.
April 27th, 2007 | #