Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The roundup

It's been quite a challenge, these last few weeks.

Sick kid, sick kid, sick computer, sick kid, sick kid....not all at the same time. Not really all with the same illness. Capped off, of course, with sick Mom.

Which is definately not allowed.

Everyone seems to finally be on the mend. (knock on wood-- cross fingers-- buy vitamins)

Just when I thought I could get back into the water, Audrey hands me a note afterschool, with the heading: "Letter to Parents Regarding Lice."

I almost dropped the page it was printed on immediately.

Ew ew ew ew freaking ew!

I'm still shuddering. I find myself checking her head every five seconds. Any minute now, I know I will throw her in the tub and scrub her to pinky-cleaness with a vigor that would make Shrimpy Nana proud.

I know it's probably not a big deal and the school has to send these notes home. But have you ever watched little girls play? All the hugging? All the handholding?

Resisting the urge to put panic in her, but unable to stop myself, I told her: "No hugging. No holding hands, no sharing jackets, no sharing ANYTHING."

(Come on. You cannot tell me that you haven't reached up and scratched your head once since reading this. I know at least one of you who's squirming right now. Because lice, they're really just head-ants, right?)

Lice are just one of those things I may have no control over, and I know from personal experience. I was a victim back when I was Audrey's age, and it cost me my long hair.

My Mom tells me it was the hair or her sanity, and I can't fault her for making that choice, especially when, now that I am a mother myself, I know what a beautiful, fragile thing sanity can be.

My hold on it slips by the minute, as I sit here and feel......itchy.

5 comments:

Robin said...

Now I feel itchy!!!!

Bridgett said...

I buy a rosemary shampoo from the place I get my kids hair cut. Everytime there has been a lice outbreak, my kiddos have stayed in the clear. Rosemary is a natural lice repellent. Gotta love it. :)

But yes, I had lice once as a child too...and I hope I NEVER do again. Aggghhh!

XOXO

Missie said...

Yes, I'm now itchy. I hope she doesn't have lice. I think girls are more prone to get them because they also share hair accesories.

Missie said...

I changed the name of my blog. I took my name out of the title. I didn't want anyone to be able to find me so easily by just typing in my name.

New name is: A middle aged mom's upside down world.

New address is: http://amiddleagedmomsupsidedownworld.blogspot.com

If you're a follower you should get updates as you're all still listed, but to be on the safe side, you could delete and re-add yourself if you just have me in your favorites and follow that way, you'll need to add my new address and delete the old.

Missie

Anonymous said...

i'm scratching my head as i read. lice makes me crazy!