Literally. Lord you owe me big on this one. I was hard pressed to keep from gagging. For love of you I offered it up, but I kid you not Lord.....one soul for each nit. I have never been so horrified in my whole life. Sure, Lord, I love creation, but I am not a bug person and you know that. Clouds, trees, stars, the moon. Gorgeous. But when my daughter said, "Mommy, why did God make headlice?", I was struck dumb. "I don't know honey. I don't know why." "But, Mommy, you said everything has a purpose?" Yeah. That's right. I did tell her that. Maybe their purpose is to drive mothers crazy. Of course, I didn't say anything except, "It's not your fault, sweetheart." I got a big magnifying glass. "Mommy, if you find one, I DON'T want to see it." Right, the mommies get that honor ;)
This is the first time this has ever happened to us, thankfully. Every year there are outbreaks and my daughter has managed to escape it. Not this time. I got a call from the school nurse yesterday telling me that Michaela had headlice. Poor baby. Blond hair and lice just don't mix. The combs that come with the kits don't work either. So, I treated everyone's heads just in case and then spent six hours nitpicking. I scrubbed my house from top to bottom, washed everything in the house with hot water, boiled all the brushes and combs, vacuumed carpets, couches, chairs, and bagged all stuffed animals. Poor kid's the cleanest kid in the country, bar none. I can vouch for that... 5 baths later.
St. Therese, I got you beat on this one. Clicking teeth is nothing compared to nitpicking. God have mercy....once is enough. My guardian angel was snickering over this one I'm sure, I guess I needed to eat some humble pie :)
Another good reason for homeschooling kids if you ask me.
I remember those days, and the horror the first time. It all seems to end at about age eleven..........
ReplyDeleteCreation as a whole took/takes part in the fall, so even earthquakes and such maybe part of the fall manifesting. I look on headlice in a similar frame.
The good thing is, that all creation also declares the Glory of the Risen Lord!!!
Look out for that too, in nature.
"Mommy, why did God make headlice?"
ReplyDelete"So that parents' love may shine through!"
God bless.
P.S. (I blame it all on Noah ... he had the opportunity when he had the only two in a jar somewhere on his boat!).
fyi, make sure you do another treatment in a week or else all your hard work is in vain. We live in a climate that lice thrive in. I have to treat our children at least once a year. Last year, we had them three times.
ReplyDeleteI said to my children that lice were not made by God but a result of the fall of man and boy do I believe it.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteI can sympathize! I had a case of this vile plague when I was in college. My room mate had it(caught it from her little brother who was visiting) She used my brush before she knew she had it, and so on...
All I can say is you have my prayers and I hope those vile creatures vacate the Michaela's precious head soon!
God Bless!
Oh Mary, I just can't imagine! We've escaped that bug in our house so far by the grace of God. When my kids were in public grade school, I used to be a volunteer head lice checker. Yuck. Humiliating for the kids I think, to all have to submit to the biannual inspection.
ReplyDeleteHead lice and cockroaches, those are my two big "what purpose could these possibly have God?" questions.
My prayers for you and Michaela!
Victor,
ReplyDeleteI got a great laugh at your comment! I offered it up for the victims in Haiti. Though I posted about lice, I realize I am incredibly blessed. I'd nitpick for weeks if it would help and who knows...with those little buggers I may have to ;)
Anne,
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, I knew your heart was huge! To actually volunteer to do this is beyond me. My stomach was nauseated all day. And here I thought we were finished with the bugs in our house [stomach bugs, that is] and we get real ones :) At my daughters school I think they get checked weekly.
Thanks, Karinann :) Michaela went back to school this morning after passing the nit test. I got an A+ from the nurse for a job well done!
ReplyDeleteTherese,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, I will redo it in a week. AH! So you know what an ordeal this is. Yes, I agree, the fall is to blame!
Shadowlands,
ReplyDeleteI hope it ends before eleven! Michaela is only six! You're right, it's horrifying but nothing compared to God's glorious creation :)
"One soul for each nit" ... I love it! Great attitude :)
ReplyDeleteOh, how awful! You poor dear! Yes, that is definitely a benefit of homeschooling!
ReplyDeletepip,
ReplyDeleteActually I asked, "And if You are feeling particularly merciful [which of course He is], then I ask for as many as your infinite Mercy will allow. By the flooding of the Holy Spirit, I can tell that He is feeling very merciful indeed and can expect more than one per nit;)
Elena,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have to admit to a weak stomach. God bless Mother Teresa, she accepted all these things with great equanimity. I am a bit faint-hearted :) I had to pretend that it was no big deal for my daughter's sake. I could tell she was upset.
UGH!!! I have never experienced head lice & after reading your post and these comments I am even more thankful for not experiencing it than I was before!!!
ReplyDeleteSending prayers your way....
Mary,
ReplyDeleteUgh with a capital U is right. When I thought about it after, though, all I could think is:
After what happened in Haiti, I guess lice is a big nothing. Having said that, I do hope this never happens again. The girls in Michaela's first grade class trade hats and I told her never to do that again. Thank you for the prayers :)
Oh my. Never have I had to deal with this. Growing up and going to Catholic school we were always cautioned never to swap hats, share combs or any other personal items. Now the great evil is bed bugs which are an awful plague taking over New York City and other places.
ReplyDeleteI love your "a soul for a nit". Really, it's humorous but yet wonderful. St. Therese would be really proud of you. Just another opportunity to grow in virtue.
Barb,
ReplyDeleteAs much as I joked around about this it didn't really bother me, things could be far worse:) It didn't cross my mind to warn her, I only have one child and am not up on these things. She knows now, though.