I feel like a fucking failure. The teenage brigade got lice at the end of September, and after a lot of freaking out, cleaning, and my brother's wife having to nit comb us, I thought we were clear.

Silly.... silly stupid me.

We've both got them again, and I am about to pull my hair out and burn the god damn earth to the ground. I feel so fucking useless. I thought we were keeping up on things. I was spraying her hair, I wash ponytails after 1 use. I washed her plushies and rotated out ones in storage for the ones that were at risk. But no. Somehow. SOMEHOW we got them again. Now, most of you parents might not think this is worth a full blown nuclear meltdown attack, but yea. The problem is, I CAN'T FUCKING SEE THEM. Last week Wednesday, I could see the one adult I got out of her hair, and thought hey I'm doing well to get a few eggs. Nope. Our heads were just full of eggs and a few lice. I am just sick. Sick.My sight is so poor that I can't even fucking properly take care of my own child. We have to go to my brother's house, his wife has good vision, but they also have 2 school age children and one infant. So I'm putting Them at risk too ! And they did battle with the fuckers in the early school year, too, as there was an epidemic.

I can't clean her properly. I have been daily, DAILY putting all of the bedding through the dryer. Anything clothing we wear gets either put in the dryer or washed, depending on dirty factor. I don't have rugs or a couch, only a fabric desk chair that's been sprayed and I haven't used in over a week now. Last week we treated her head and mine with cetaphil as well as the lice shampoo and tea tree oil, I'm going to be doing round 2 of cetaphil on us today, and getting more shampoo. I sterilize and spray our hair brushes daily. I'm going to be getting more vinegar and lemon juice because I read those are good daily defenders, but I am just... I don't know. HOW did I miss something ? I spray the BED ITSELF every few days now HOW DO I STILL HAVE EGGS HOW HOW HOW.

Cutting our hair off isn't an option, it just isn't. The first time, I'm fairly sure she was just a victim due to spending time w/ the elementary school age cousins who had it, but this time, the only thing I can think of is school aquatics, where they use communal towels. I of course told the school and of course because this is a small town with a huge prejudice against us being who we are, "No one else has said they have lice" the problem is we have LITERALLY NO SOCIAL LIFE. NONE. SHE GOES TO SCHOOL, BASKETBALL PRACTICE AND HOME. THAT'S IT. CHURCH ON SUNDAY. THAT'S IT. I DON'T GO ANYWHERE. We maybe see cousins once a week, and other than us, NO ONE in our very very small social circle has them. Sure, other kids might not admit it, OR their parents because they can see well are dealing with it quietly.

I'm just so sick inside, I don't know what I'm missing, I don't know what to do. The last week what, Thursday, her basketball coach took her into the athletic office room and WITH THE DOOR OPEN checked her head, so now I also get to worry that now it'll become known and she'll be made fun of. I'm really upset that they didn't at least show her some dignity and close the door to check. Doing it with the door open was hopefully an oversight, but it still bothers me that neither the coach nor principal who looked gave her privacy and dignity.

I don't even know anymore what to even do. Also, yes, I bought specific towels she's going to use for the remainder of aquatics, just so no one can say we're spreading it, which I am fucking trying to not do because I don't need to be the mom who isn't caring for her kid and "letting" lice spread AND be the disabled mom, too. I'm just so so done. I want to just lie down and cry.

I'm so sorry you're going through this :( I really hope you can beat this nasty little fuckers.

There is a girl who I go to school with who is mentally handicapped and she works as a work study student in the library. The history department is on the second floor of the library and the girl started using our bathroom in the beginning of the semester. She was leaving the bathroom a hot mess and smelling horrible. I went and bought a can of febreeze and left it in the history department for the other girls to take in the bathroom with them. A few weeks ago, my friend discovered dead lice on the toilet seat after the girl had left the stall. She told our adviser and we got the bathroom sanitized. Last week, the same friend went into the bathroom right after the girl left and she had left a bunch of hair in the sink with live lice all over it. After that, we called to have the bathroom sanitized again and I went and talked to the librarian about getting this girl some help. I believe it's been handled and I hope so.

dead... dead lice... on the toilet OH MY GOD that's so even fucking nasty oh god. Isn't anyone taking care of her to notice ? I feel bad for her because she can't keep up on herself because of being slow. That's not her fault, I hope someone can look after her better, and find out where it came from.

I just feel so fucking isolated without having any kind of visually good social network aside from brother's wife who's sketchy sometimes and .... well we've had issues.... but she sees well so, and she hasn't picked at the teenager (She has before). I'm just so so afraid to go anywhere now, and so afraid I'll give it to her kids again or anyone, really. I'm so afraid to ask for help, or even WHO to ask for help, because I just... don't have anyone reliable or friendly enough, and I'm just bleaugh.

Fuck them. Fuck them and fuck ticks, too, for added measure. This planet doesn't need them. They serve no purpose and I hate them with every core fiber of my being.

At first we thought they were crabs. Dead crabs. We were ready to set the bathroom on fire. She doesn't have a roommate because of her poor hygiene. One of my friends said she used to be in Blue-Gold club, which is something in Delaware that pairs special needs grade school students with college students but I don't believe she has one anymore since she's in college. I do feel really bad for her and when I went to talk to the librarian, I said I wasn't trying to be mean. I just wanted her to get some help. And I believe my friend said she knew the girl's former partner and was going to reach out but I'm not sure if she did. I just really hope they were able to get her some help.

I can't imagine how you feel and your daughter feel. I hope you're able to get rid of them soon and people forget. And yes, fuck them and fuck ticks. They really don't serve a purpose. Same with mosquitos

She's upset, and moreso because she hates the treatments because they smell bad. Well, child, do you WANT to be bald ? Because if we don't treat it you'll literally LOSE YOUR HAIR which causes the classis 16 year old whinefest of noooooo and whyyyy did I have to get them moooooommmmm but aunt cleared my head whyyyyyy

Because. I. Don't. Ever. Want. Them. Back.

As someone who lives where mosquitoes grow big enough to saddle, yes. They can burn. BURN. But the bats do eat them, and bats are chill.

I can definitely understand why she hates the treatments but sadly it's something she has to do so she doesn't lose her hair. And she has to keep doing it so you guys can get rid of them.

YUCK. Bats are awesome.

I used to get them every few weeks when I was in elementary school. My "locker friend" always had them and never treated herself. My mom got fed up. She tied my hair, added gel all around my hairline and a shower cap.

Saved my life because I was turning bald.

She understand that part, but she's also 16 ... It's tough, but shaving isn't an option, sooooo treat away.

Oh god. Jesus Christ and the school did nothing ? Here if you have lice/nits everyone gets checked and sent home until they're gone/treated with permetherin/lice killer shampoo because it's so bad. CLEARLY PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING IT I just can't understand people who don't take this seriously. Jesus Christ.

What happened to your daughter .. it happened to me. I was pulled aside by the principal and was throughly checked in his office. Then he always promplty took out his glove and either said "clean" or "you have to go home". The damn girl in my locker was the damn "house-fest". She had a party on her head, literally. It took weeks and week to get something done, mom decided to home school me until they took their head out of their asses.

I started to have eczema and crust full of puss and inflamation on my head because of the repeated treatement.

Yeah, it's a rough age. And this is something no one would go through

That's awful. That poor kid, I don't understand people who don't take care of it, the teenager has sores, well red spots on her scalp from itching/bites and her dandruff, and three bites on the back of her neck (That are healing, thank god). I'm angry because I can't take care of it as well as normal people can, why would someone just .... not.... Meanwhile I feel like a worse parent too. Logically I know I'm a good mom, but, this makes me feel horrifically inadequate, and almost agree w/ the people who say disabled people shouldn't be allowed to have kids, because if you can't properly raise 'em, you shouldn't have 'em.

We used to put my pillows/comforter in garbage bags for 10 days. Don't dry hair with hot blow, it helps spreading the lil bastards. Baking soda is also good to remove the eggs. Pour some on her hair, massage the cranium and then rince it off. Just some stuff that used to save my life. Don't feel bad about it, it happens. I'm pretty sure your daughter can do it by herself too.

- I heard blow drying helps because it dehydrates them. I went out and bought my first hair dryer because of that, plus, it's part of the cetaphil instructions. We've never used one before this past week, ha.

My mom has borax and suggested that as well, if I can get over there to pick some up, and I'm going to be vinegar washing our hair daily, too, that or lemon juice whichever I can get from the store today, depending what I have money for. I can't even begin to imagine what my electric bill next month will be because of running the dryer daily all day. It's a small apartment dryer, and there's a lot of stuff to dry daily with bedding.

A few drops of Teatree oil added to your normal shampoo will help keep re-infestation from occurring. They actually have preventive shampoos on the market and that's pretty much what they are - normal shampoo/conditioner with Teatree oil added. You can also add a few drops into a sink full of hot water and soak all hairbrushes and combs.

Good luck! We've dealt with the problem on more than one occasion with our kids, it's not fun for anyone involved, especially when the problem keeps coming back!

I hate that I keep getting lice at my age just because I have a younger brother and sister. It's sooo annoying. Usually my Mum doesn't treat me now that I'm older so I have to treat myself instead, and it makes my hair feel greasy even after I wash it.

What's worse is that I've been close to my boyfriend, who has long hair, which means I must have given them to him (Unless his hair is too greasy for them to live in) and he can't really be bothered to treat himself with stuff unless I decide to make him...he doesn't even brush his hair, so combing it won't be fun.

It sounds like you're doing the absolute best you can do right now, and no one could accuse you for not caring or trying to take care of this for your kids. Lice are persistent bastards and they can be a nightmare to get rid of. The pillows and comforters in garbage bags is a good idea, and just keep washing your hair with tea tree oil. Try not to get discouraged, you really are a good mom. My mom is disabled too, and while she was physically limited in a lot of ways, she is still the greatest mom and I couldn't ask for a better one. I'm sure your daughter feels the same way about you :)

&& I am going to get my own bottle of tea tree oil, then. I have been doing vinegar rinses on my hair this weekend, and we were both treated again Saturday w/ Cetaphil and the actual lice permetherin paste, and tonight I'll be vinegar rinsing both of our heads again (The teenager had an away basketball game, no time to soak her head last night).

I know I'm a good mom, for being poor and everything else she always has what she needs and mostly what she wants, but I know how easily these spread, and don't want/need the added bonus of being "They were spreading lice, too " I'm fighting so hard to contain this and destroy them for good, and hopefully taking preventative steps to a further reinfestation. I'm just praying when my brother's wife does a mid week head check there's still no eggs or anything after all of this, because I will cry if we still have anything. I have fought so hard.

- Does... does he not CARE how bad these are ? Jesus christ you're in for a worse time than I am, I'm doing battle because we don't want them again, and someone will just 'not' bother to maintain their head ? Dude, I'd be a screaming fishwife.

If you knew my boyfriend you'd understand that he can't be bothered with a lot of things. He's kind of depressed, and as a result, is very lazy. But maybe one day I will make him do it, when his bathroom's finished being done (People are working on it right now).

- Offer to wash him ? Ugh. I just can't imagine them spreading, well I CAN .... just, ugh. Good luck... Maybe get the tea tree oil too to keep you less prone ? It's a thought. Yea I do know about the remodeling/fixing stuff nightmares, too. My trailer will never be done, sigh. That's less of a worry though, it's usable, just not finished, ie tiling/painting.

I would really look into placing all of her stuff animals in garbage bags, for 10 days or more, the lice that are currently there will suffocate and die, which will help prevent them from spreading. My mom would go so far as to place all of our stuff animals and all bed sheets, blankets, clothes, anything that was not being used or could be without for a certain amount of time. Lice can and will jump on and hide in items like those, keeping them in large garbage bags until the infestation in our hair was completely gone always worked. After it was determined that the infestation in our hair was gone, she would wash each bag one by one, but she would never open them at the same time.

And my mom had to deal with this with 4 girls who all had long hair. i know how much it sucks and I dread the day my daughter might get them, but taking into consideration the preventative steps around the house will also help. And as crazy as this is going to sound, lice are attracted to CLEAN hair, my mom would give us the treatment shampoo and then slather our hair with mayo, to give it that oily feeling. The oilier the hair is, the harder it is for the lice to lay their eggs, thus making it harder for them to spread. You don't have to use mayo, but any product that can make the hair oily will work.

Also I think you are doing an amazing job, with the situation, its okay to have a complete meltdown. Lice are one of the most annoying things to get rid of [next to bed bugs, now that is a nightmare >_<] But don't let what anyone says get to you, your doing whats best for your child and your doing the best you can on top of that. Lice don't go away over night everyone knows they are hard to get rid of, and if they don't want to see all the work your putting towards getting rid of those nasty little buggers, then thats their fault, but your doing great!

I don't think you have much to worry about, with him catching him if you say his hair is as oily as it is. Like i said Lice are attracted to Clean hair, I had a friend in grade school who had oily hair, like nasty oily hair never washed it, and in a class of 30, he was the only one who did not have lice.