7 STAGES OF LICE INFESTATION YOU’LL RELATE TO!
Welcome! It’s lice to meet you. As a mother of parasite-prone children, I have tons of lice experience. In fact, I’m just itching to show off my “lousy” resume and if necessary, I can supply three nitwit personal references too. Letter of recommendation? Yep! I’ve got a truly hair-raising one written by a nymph, (an immature, teenage louse) herself. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
But let’s skip the formalities and dive into our Parenting Corner. Here, you’ll find a mix of humor, support, and the comforting knowledge that you’re never in this alone. Remember, we’re always in your corner, and we’ll navigate through this together. After all, as they say, “Nit’s a small world, after all!”
To help you cope, let’s revisit Psych 101, particularly the Five Stages of Loss & Grief.
- SHATTERED INNOCENCE: (Spotting the Signs!) Those official-looking lice notices seem to be everywhere at school (even though lice don’t actually fly!). You catch snippets of hushed conversations about lice between mothers, followed by awkward throat clearing. “We meant ‘sLice,’ as in pizza day.” Gotcha! Then there’s the slumber party with tales scarier than “Bloody Mary” chants, all revolving around eggs in a popular child’s hair. And who can forget that fateful episode on Arthur where Muffy gets lice? Could it be an omen?
- DENIAL: (Brushing It Off!) My little one’s allergies are acting up, must be that new hair gel. Let me take a closer look… (gasp) “Sweetheart, did you happen to do a craft project with glitter today?” Lice only happen to other families and Pam What’s-Her-Face on The Office. I’m a stellar mother, wife, homemaker, hygiene advocate, Girl Scout leader, (insert role here), and I buy all organic. So, it simply can’t be lice. It’s just dandruff.
- BARGAINING: (Making Deals!) I’ll volunteer for Room-Mother duty, handle field trips, and even assist with art class. Sure, I’ll kick that “eating Nutella with a spoon” habit. I’ll quit griping about buying knock-off purses at Target. Just let me wake up and realize these Super Lice were a bad dream.
- TERROR: (Jumping to Conclusions!) Life as we know it is officially over. We’ll forever wear Scarlet L’s on our chests. Hugs will become a thing of the past. All moms will think we started it. And goodness! The bugs are everywhere – car seats, sofas, Cheerios boxes, they’ve infiltrated drywall, and our shag carpets are practically bustling with them. Did I just say “bustling”? Who even uses that word?
- ANGER: (Letting It Out!) It was definitely that kid at school with the peculiar attire, whose mother still hosts Avon and Tupperware parties, mark my words. Don’t even think about sitting in the lice-free zone formerly known as the family room! You’ll stay in that bathtub for a full two hours while I concoct a mixture that could rival a cobb salad on your scalp. Forget the washing machine… let’s incinerate all the linens and clothes. Are we up-to-date on our homeowner’s insurance? Great. Bring the matches and some kerosene!
- SPECIAL CELLPHONE OUTBURST: (Blaming Technology!) Selfies are nonsense! Who hovers their head next to their BFF’s long hair 167 times a day for pictures that vanish in 10 seconds anyway? What’s the point? If you want a photo together that badly, just cut their face out of the yearbook and paste it next to yours. I remember when we only had cameras and wristwatches. Where were all the lice back then?
- RELUCTANT ACCEPTANCE: (But No Giving In!) Take a deep breath. It’s just a paper towel from that super-absorbent roll I bought last week… with three squirming, filthy critters on it. Well, there’s the proof. I’ve scoured the internet for hours, and here’s a fun fact – did you know that in 1100 A.D., a Rabbi said it was okay to deal with lice on the Sabbath? Now I can pun with the best of them. Listen to this… “I’ve got a new lease on lice” and “No more Mr. Lice guy.” You know what else? I carried this child for nine months, labored for 28 hours, and needed an emergency C-section – so if you think you’re getting a piece of her, you’ll have to go through me first!
POST-LICE PARANOIA: (Unusual Habits!) Temporary Neat Freaks, unite! In this final stage, you’ve never seen your house so spotless. Well, by “you,” I mean your significant other. You might even bring in the person who played Tangina in the 1982 film Poltergeist to declare, “This house is clean!” Your daughter is prohibited from playing beauty parlor with Katie forever. If they’re bored, they can braid each other’s fingers. You say things like, “Who needs to sleep with their head on a pillow? It’s bad for the spine.” And you’re constantly shouting, “Kendall! Tell me I didn’t just see you scratching?!”
So there you have it. No matter what stage you’re in, if you’re feeling like it’s a “no-win nituation,” take comfort in knowing that countless others have navigated these familiar phases before you. They’ve all emerged just fine, perhaps even sharing a laugh or two in hindsight.
Until next time, I’m Debra Dé Louse (and no, we can’t blame my mother for the name. My father was the one who chose ‘Debra’), reminding you that sanity can prevail in a nit-driven situation. Just reach out to Lice Clinics of America – Las Vegas for guaranteed results, non-toxic treatments, and the endorsement of pediatricians.
About Lice Clinics of America – Las Vegas
Lice Clinics of America – Las Vegas has successfully treated over 950,000 cases. With over 300 clinics in 35 countries, it’s the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers. Serving the Las Vegas, Henderson, and surrounding areas, Lice Clinics of America – Las Vegas is open seven days a week by appointment. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (702) 718-7387, email info@liceclinicslasvegas.com, or visit LiceClinicsLasVegas.com.
