Just when you think things are running smoothly, then – BAM – you receive that head lice note from school. Which reads like this “please note that we have a suspected lice outbreak at school and so we would like to suggest that you check your child’s hair and treat if necessary.” Instead of being calm and handling the situation like an adult should; all hell breaks loose.
Look I’m not oblivious to the fact that kids bring bugs home when they attend school. I can handle it but what I can’t handle is the idea of lice crawling on my child’s head. Like seriously, the thought of it makes me squirm and itch. Touch wood; my kids have never had lice but I freak out and transform into a germaphobe when I receive these notes from school.
Believe me this is any parents worse nightmare and therefore I go completely OCD. I check my girls’ hair using a bright light, not leaving one strand unnoticed. Anything from fluff to dandruff is a suspect for nits and goes under a magnifying glass. I become so badass that this is the part my kids dread. Of course this exercise results in long crocodile tears as I inspect and reinspect using a fine metal tooth comb.
I then spray their scalps with an anti-lice maintenance spray to fend against any possible infestation. For a clear view of any crawling bugs on the scalp; two pigtails or two side braids are the required hairstyles. Not forgetting that during this process my own head starts itching and I request that my hair be inspected. This goes on for days until things have settled.
Bedding and pillowcases gets ripped off and washed in warm water. Same goes for towels, scarves, caps, school uniform and those poor stuffed animals. Then tumble dried on high heat and placed in a vacuum sealed bag. Should there be any crawling bugs, the living hell would be suffocated out of them. Soaking all combs, brushes and hair accessories in hot water too.
A complete spring clean takes place. Vacuuming mattresses, furniture, floors and cars. Disinfecting and sanitizing things that don’t require it but just to be on the safe side.
My kids are huggers and therefore I ban them from hugging anyone during this time just in case their heads touch. Head lice do not fly or jump but they crawl. They are highly contagious and we all know how quickly those buggers can spread. Therefore I also strictly instruct my kids not to share anything that came into contact with the head.
Some of you might think that I am over top in how I am handling this seeing that my girls don’t actually have lice. Ok maybe I am. But in my defence, who the hell would just let something like this slide. Can you just imagine how I will react if I actually discover those bloodsucking parasites crawling on my daughters’ heads.
You see head lice don’t discriminate. They not choosy of their victims. It is not a gender specific, dirty hair or poor person’s problem. So whether you wash hair daily, have straight, coarse or curly hair – they will make themselves very comfortable on your head. It is nothing to be embarrassed about but for some reason there is still this stigma attached to it.
Pay attention if your child starts scratching his/her head profusely. Start inspecting and look out for sores on the scalp, nits which look like tiny sesame seeds and can be mistaken for dandruff. It is easier to spot the aforementioned than actual head lice crawling. It is advisable to use a fine metal tooth comb when checking for lice. Check and recheck. And if you spot anything, start treatment immediately and clean hair accessories and clothing items. Head lice live off sucking the blood from the human scalp; and will die within 24 hours once off the human head. For that reason it advised to clean household items that came into contact with the head.
Oh and for goodness sake do not use remedies like mayonnaise, vinegar, butter and paraffin and heaven knows what else to rid of head lice. Regular shampoo will also not do the trick. Use specific head lice treatment obtained from your local pharmacy. Repeat treatment where necessary.
Please note that this is not a medical problem and does not require you to take your child to the doctor or emergency room. Unless of course your child has sores on the scalp that has become infected. Remember to notify the school or anyone your child has been in contact with immediately.
Good luck and remember it is ok if you go totally bonkers or choose to stay calm throughout the entire process – what’s important is that you bust the problem and become lice free.
This is the worst. We do ten million treatments, comb thru daily for weeks and then give up and pay the $200 to get them hand picked out at the place and I swear not two weeks later we start again. Someone just mustn’t do anything??? #TwinklyTuesday
And #Triumphanttales
Ha. We’re follwing each other around today! #Dreamteam
Author
It is a tedious exercise #TwinklyTuesday
Just reading this is making me itch! #itsok
Author
It has that type of effect on a person but hey as moms we get to deal with all these grossly things – I suppose it is what we signed up for 🙂 #itsok
We’re going through this at the moment! Adding insult to injury, they were given to me by my loving child! urgh….. Nit comb being used daily. Trouble is, just the thought of them makes your scalp itch!! #itsok
Author
Oh no – I feel for you at this moment. I wish you nothing but patience and lots of strength whilst you deal with this unpleasant task. All the best #itsok
My little girl came home from nursery with them and I was itchy for weeks afterwards. Now I check her hair constantly and panic when I see even the tiniest fleck of dust! #itsok
Author
Yip once they had it, you need to do thorough checks regularly. Hoping that it was just that one time and that she doesn’t have it again #itsok
I dread the day we get the note. My little one hates her hair messed with! #TriumphantTales
Author
Not nice when those notification makes the rounds – all the best #TriumphantTales
I used to be like this when my daughter was younger. Now that she is in senior school it seems to be a thing of the past (fingers crossed!). #TriumphantTales
Author
Oh so it gets better when they go to high school – hoping that is the case #TriumphantTales
I would go nuts, completely nuts! Probably a good thing I don’t have kids, I would shave them bald to avoid lice 😉 #DreamTeam
Author
Hahaha that thought crossed my mind should they come home with lice #dreamteam
I nit comb the children every week to keep them away! Anya usually has her hair up as well to help avoid catching headlice. Thanks for linking up with #globalblogging
Author
I’m currently doing the same – just can’t take the chance #globalblogging
haha … this did make me laugh. Only because I think I would react exactly the same way. And tears don’t work on me.#itsok
The moment we get the ‘some children have got nits’ note, I’m filled with fear! So far we’ve escaped them but I’m prepped ready for the moment that might change! #twinklytuesday
I’m dreading the moment nits enters the house – apparently boys are harder to get them though so fingers crossed!Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back tomorrow for the final chapter!
We had a close shave with this last year. Nits and the pox – the worst letters to come home from school! #notok!!!Thanks for linking up to #itsok
aaah! I just want to throw up when I hear about lice! My children’s school has an outbreak at the moment. I have been washing their hair with a preventative almost every night! And then spraying hairspray on the kids hair before they leave for school. A hairdresser once told me that the nits can’t stick to the hair then. We have never had lice an I am hoping my luck doesn’t run out! #itsok
Author
Good luck Jacqui – hoping your kids don’t get it #itsok