Sunday, September 19, 2010

Making my skin crawl

September.
Back to School.
Back to Work (at school).
Back to Reality.
Routines.
Colds.
Germs.
Kids.
Head Lice.

Those last two words make me crazy! I mean... CRAZY. Being a teacher, head lice have been a regular part of my teaching days; throwing my hair up in a ponytail, washing my hands a million times, getting itchy at the mere mention of a case of head lice in our school. I've coped. I've survived unscathed.

But this year is different. My daughter is a student at the school. She's in the field, at the front line of the little creepy, crawly, stigmatized creatures. That makes my skin crawl more than usual.

It only took 2 weeks for head lice to darken the classroom door; my daughter's class. The head checks started. I had a vague idea of what I was looking for. I read the pamphlet that came home with my daughter. I've googled, and googled and googled some more. (example) I've checked, re-checked, and checked my daughter's head again and again. Nothing yet.

We've got the tea tree oil shampoo on the go. We have tea tree oil itself. We've got the lice comb. I even have the treatment just in case.

Sadly, I've become obsessed. Every itch, scratch, windswept lock of hair is under my scrutiny. When I'm driving, I'm checking the visor mirror to make sure I don't see any little friggers crawling anywhere on my own head. Each trip to the washroom has me stopping at the mirror, doing a "quick check". I feel like my skin is crawling...

It's consuming my life and I can't stop!

I know it's inevitable that my daughter gets them. I know it's a normal part of life. I know it speaks nothing of cleanliness, status, well being. I know when she does get them, it will be annoying and a lot of work, but we'll deal with it and cope just fine -- just like every other family has in the past.

But what I know more than any of that is...
I'm completely grossed out, spooked and scratching once again. I'm in a sad state.

Anyone have any pointers/tips for me?