Wee Beasties & Paranoia

This last weekend I learned something about people and myself. I've been filling in during the week for a former co-worker who's out with an extended illness. Therefore, my children have spent the last few days under the care of babysitters. Saturday morning after washing my youngest, 18 months, I was combing through her hair when I discovered that she had a case of head lice. As soon as I saw the little bugger move I knew what it was. I immediately began the delousing process with the shampoos, the washing of blankets and bedding, checking the other two kids (they were negative) and spending hours that day picking through her soft hair for every little foreign object. I jumped on the internet and read up on the subject. By midafternoon I was comfortable with the idea that I'd done everything reasonably possible to rid her of the wee beasties.

My next step was a difficult one but one that I felt was necessary. I decided to call the other mothers who had tended her that week, not to start a blame game or determine a source because I knew that was nearly impossible, but to warn them to check their children to avoid a possible outbreak. I was deeply apologetic and had I known that she was carrying these critters, I would have never asked them to take her into their homes. The response from the other mothers was a little expected, but disturbing. Mass paranoia!!! I was forced to educate each of them about the truths of head lice and dispell the myths (which were nearly unanimous.) One of the mothers came to me at least three times (and I found out she'd had other people look also)over the next few days to have me "check her" for lice because she felt itchy all the time and was sure that she'd "caught them."

It's been five days now and we've not seen a single egg, nit, or lice. I think we were lucky and found them on the first day. A few of the mothers have calmed down now and even thanked me for warning them even though it was humiliating and forced me to miss several days of much-needed work to stay home with her. It appears that my little one was the only reported case as well, which was a major relief for all of us. One mother even agreed to tend her again since she obviously doesn't still have the beasts.

What I learned from this whole experience was to be honest even when it was difficult and that education is invaluable! What on earth would we do without this wonderful internet!? It's hard for me to imagine the ignorant state of society with such a tool in our lives. People need to read more.