When it comes to germs and dirt, I tend to take a relaxed approach (some might say lazy). My cleaning abilities are pretty subpar, and I don’t adhere to a strict all-organic, non-GMO diet (grocery shopping is already a challenge for me). Just last week, I may or may not have devoured a half-eaten candy bar I found in my car while waiting for my son’s practice to end. (I was hungry!)
However, despite my general indifference toward germs and the messiness that comes with kids, I completely lost it when I discovered lice crawling through my children’s hair. As easygoing as I am about questionable food choices, seeing live bugs in my kids’ hair was a whole new level of horror.
Let’s be real: lice are the epitome of unwanted pests. But here’s the good news—you’ll get through this. It’s going to be a rough ride, but you will come out the other side.
Here’s how my first 24 hours unfolded after discovering the lice:
After nearly gagging at the sight of those horrid little creatures, I dashed to the nearest pharmacy to stock up on RID and bombarded every parent I knew who had dealt with lice with frantic texts pleading for assistance. Yes, there was a lot of cursing involved.
Next, I called a local lice treatment center, begging for an immediate appointment. Unfortunately, the earliest they could fit us in was the following morning, which sent me into a tailspin of panic—what if our home was overrun by a battalion of lice overnight?
I scrubbed both my kids’ and my own heads with RID shampoo until it felt like we were about to peel our skin off. I snapped at my husband, poured myself a glass of wine, and popped a Xanax for good measure.
In a frenzy, I began to scour the house for anything that could potentially harbor lice. Stuffed animals? Gone. Throw pillows? Don’t need those! Soon, my laundry room was filled with coats, hats, and backpacks waiting to be sanitized.
The next morning, we arrived at the lice treatment clinic early, desperate to rid ourselves of these pests. (If you have access to a lice treatment center in your area, I cannot recommend their services enough.) Two and a half hours later, we left the clinic, lice-free and donning hair nets with a sticky substance designed to eliminate these invaders.
After fifteen loads of laundry, I finally felt a sense of relief.
In the chaos of our lice crisis, I learned several valuable lessons:
- First, lice infestations are incredibly common. Almost everyone I know has had some experience with them.
- Second, lice are truly disgusting creatures. They feed on human blood—eww! Their saliva is what causes the relentless itching—double eww!
- Third, the nits (or eggs) are the real troublemakers. Killing the adult lice is manageable, but those nits cling on for dear life.
- Fourth, nit-picking is a nightmare; hiring professionals to handle it is worth every penny. The staff at the lice clinic were knowledgeable and incredibly calming.
Finally, you will survive this ordeal. It might involve a few panic attacks, several glasses of wine, and complaints to anyone willing to listen, along with nightmares about bugs crawling on you. You might even find yourself yelling at your spouse, “Don’t act so smug! You could be infested too!” Oh, and expect your head to itch for days; even hearing the word “lice” will trigger an involuntary scratch.
But rest assured—you will make it through this challenge.
To further support your journey during this time, consider exploring more tips on fertility and home insemination. The experts at Women’s Health offer excellent resources on pregnancy, while Intracervical Insemination can provide insights into your baby’s expected arrival. For additional information on boosting fertility, check out this guide on fertility boosters for men.
In summary, lice might feel like a nightmare, but they are manageable, and you will come out stronger on the other side.