Recovering from a cold, excited that a R.I.P.P.E.D. class was completed despite congestion issues. A beautiful sunny day promising to be cooler. Errands begun when the dreaded call came in.
The call from the school we all dread where in that moment you are confused, angry, disgusted, and panicked.
My child was being sent home with a nit in his hair. The nurse assured me it wasn't too big of a deal, but precautions must be taken immediately and he must come home. Okay, I can do that, right? By the time I made the twenty minute drive I had already made two other phone calls of warning to those who had been in contact with us. A battle plan was forming along with even more panic.
I arrive at the school and the nurse explains that this little problematic nit hasn't hatched and that there are only two. Wow! She seems so optimistic, so much more positive than I think anyone should feel at this news. I look around us and see a lot of frazzled staff members and think to myself that this is a temporary thing that shall pass, but when? The kind nurse checks my daughter and I and we are clear! The optimism in the nurse's voice rises a notch at this revelation.
In my mind I am thinking how my afternoon of quietly napping is ruined. That now I must run these two kids to the store immediately and all semblance of normalcy is over for us, but for how long? My poor little son is distressed over having bugs in his hair and when can we get medicine? Along with this is the questions "Why can't I play Pokémon while we are out?" "When can I play with my tablet?" All the while on the inside I am freaking out!
I have now called and messaged one good friend who can talk anyone down from a state of panic, and one essential oil friend. The plans are forming. I begin to relay said plans to the troops, I mean kids.
Once at the store I realize that the Friday before Labor Day is not a great afternoon in this smallish town to attempt an incognito trip for the remedy. Before I have passed beyond the bakery and their free cookies, I have already been spotted by an old friend. My son stands patiently by but I can see his agitation rising. I know that the clock is ticking. My oldest son is coming, I am starving, it is time for the kids to eat as well, and then there is this mess.
A few steps later as I am frantically trying to grab a few groceries on the way to the other side of the store, I am once again stopped and we chit chat for just a second. I see my third friend just after snatching sour cream, milk, and eggs from a shelf. And that is when my son states clearly, "Ms. K, I have bugs in my hair and we are going to get medicine for my hair in order to kill the bugs in my hair." Now if you have ever been around a child with hearing loss, you know this wasn't stated quietly, add to the fact he is very likely a Sensory Processing Disorder child, well you get where I am going. Fun times!
We finally made it through the entire store, and even having to ask the Sales Lady where to find the stuff, then make a choice, it wasn't too overwhelming. The Cashier was chatty, and explained that she had seen numerous parents purchasing this same product throughout the day. Well, isn't that nice to know? So in a cataclysmic way, I begin thinking maybe I should just not go anywhere with the kids for days on end since this could be a wide spread issue.
Once home I begin barking orders and the kids are complying through tears as favorite stuffed animals and blankets are the first for the hot water bath. Then I begin applying treatment to the kids. I have one terrified and crying hysterically as I wash out the stuff from his hair over the sink. Another who is excited and laughing and squealing at this odd procedure. Timer set, hot dogs put on the stove top, more bedding, blankets, and pillows piled onto the floor in the kitchen. More crying and squealing. Our little Chihuahua sits quietly on the couch observing the madness, almost gloating that the kids are getting a bath in the sink instead of him.
Ten minutes can be a long, long time.
Heads rinsed, a pile of towels and washcloths in the kitchen floor. The dreaded spray and combing begins as kids try to eat hot dogs on a bun with ketchup. I kid you not, this is the real deal.
Somehow in all of this madness, my Dad and Sister have stopped by and my oldest son has arrived. My Sister jumped in and began helping me give my daughter a bath while I checked my son one more time after his bath. Dryer is loaded and washer is loaded. The non-stop sound of laundry being done is in full force.
Thankfully my Dad offered to take my oldest son out on the town for a little while. At first I was sad and annoyed because I was still thinking he could start mowing the grass, but then I consented. Shortly after they left, I realized that I needed to eat. I found a boring show on the television ate a tiny snack and crashed on the couch for two hours. Upon waking I realized the two kids at home would need to eat, and I called in another favor to my Dad. So thankful for him. He brought cheeseburgers.
By this point, I have washed and dried all stuffed animals, all of my daughters bedding washed, now in the dryer, extra blankets, towels and some of my son's bedding are in the washer. It is now time to tackle the yard.
This was an experience in itself. My son said he could do this easily but the minutes ticked off as the mower is started and stopped and in between he is talking about what? I have no idea. Through my mounting exhaustion and annoyance I have hit a point of just moving. Somehow in the melee of getting cars moved around from the driveway to the road my son accidentally backed into my older car, sending it rolling a few feet down the hill. Lucky for us all, no damage. God is Good! He is always with you even in your darkest hour.
It was heartbreaking to watch my son breakdown in tears overwhelmed by the moment and the accident. All the what ifs came flooding in. My Dad and I telling him every dumb thing we have ever done behind the wheel. He is so shaken up he can't even finish mowing the grass. And now this morning it is a haphazard mess of half cut grass beckoning to me from beyond the window. Believe me, it can wait for now.
By ten o'clock I have two of the three beds put back together, all the laundry that was washed before the madness is also put away, and my bedding is finally in the washer with more towels. I have finally taken my after the gym shower and I am nibbling on apples with peanut butter. A movie with my son and my last blanket comes out of the washer at 1 a.m.
The madness is over. I had made a call to my mom earlier in the day to make sure I was doing everything right. It was a chore for sure getting pillows dried while other stuff washed. It was difficult trying to maintain a sense of calm while my son was crying hysterically. But I had gotten down on the floor looking him in the eyes and explaining that we are in this together. And getting back up was so difficult because my knees were crying out in pain and I grimaced and struggled up and he gave me a big hug. It was okay. I had even called one of my Aunts that works in a daycare. After summing up the situation for her, she assured me I should be okay. Today my son's head will be shaved, if there is any doubt that will most likely take care of the issue.
Just remember that God will bring you through it all. Even the crazy over emotional disgusting stuff. God is there for you.
Have a blessed day
September 3 2016
Bonnie that is what is great about you-you see the good and the not so good in such a way that leaves us laughing! Def a great choice made by God to give you this ability to see things like everyone should see them. This is a daunting task to deal with and one of the hardest ones! Great job!!!!
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