There is a four letter word that sends a chill down every moms spine! It still gives me nightmares...
When I was in junior high a younger sister (I won't mention which one...) had long beautiful hair. It was the kind of beautiful hair that you just wanted to touch... and unfortunately a friend with that four letter word did touch her hair. In a house full of girls the disaster was inevitable... and that sister shared her new friends... LICE.... with all us. There is nothing worse than being in junior high and getting lice. I remember very vividly getting my hair chopped. All of us sisters sat in a line as the scissors made the rounds. It was horrible. Everything was wrapped in plastic and we had to sit for hours as our hair was combed through with those awful combs. I don't know how my mom survived that, but just the thought of it makes me cringe!
Now I am a mom of a daughter with long beautiful hair. Every day as I brush through her hair I remind her to NOT let ANYONE play with her hair. I think I may have scarred her to the point of thinking that lice is as bad as the plague... which as far as I am concerned it is. She doesn't listen to much of what I say, but this is one of the few things that she has internalized. Whew!
On Wednesday Alexis went on a field trip. They were in smaller groups with a chaperone. During the course of the day her ponytail had fallen out. Her chaperone offered to put her hair in a braid so it wouldn't be in her way. Alexis then proceeded to ask the chaperone if she had lice and explained to her that if she had lice, then she couldn't touch her hair. I can only imagine the dismay of this poor mom. When Alexis returned home with a braid instead of ponytail she was so worried she would get in trouble for letting someone touch her hair. She made sure I knew that she asked about lice before letting the mother touch her hair. Talk about being mortified.
So to the mother who was interrogated about lice this week... sorry... But at least maybe that four letter word will never find its way into our home.
4 comments:
I know how you feel. I had it twice! Once in kindergarten and again when I was 15! It gives me nightmares too. Whenever Abigail gets that awful letter from school stating that its going around in her class, I throw her in the shower immediately upon entering the house and give her a reminder about how gross lice is and to not touch anyone's hair. So far, so good. I will literally break down, if the girls ever get lice.
I never had lice. I don't know how I missed. Maybe God figured I had enough on my plate already. However, I don't think you should apologize. Congratulations for teaching your daughter to stand up for herself politely. She didn't make a scene. She asked a very reasonable question and even explained her concerns. Well done! You are doing an awesome job.
Oh lice are so gross. Casey had it last year. Her friends actually had the bugs. She just had a few eggs in her hair. We went through the whole process of disinfecting and it was a mess! My head starts itching just thinking about it.
I had it and I so understand. Now when the preschool kids get checked so do I. Hugs to sweet daughter with long hair for protecting herself. Hugs to you for teaching her.
Post a Comment