I was in denial for a long time. I thought Emma’s head was itching because she has sensitive skin and she dyes her hair various colors with cheap hair dyes that she buys with her allowance. Rose was complaining about her head itching, but I couldn’t see anything. It sounds selfish and stupid, but I didn’t take it seriously until my head started itching.

Our entire house is infested with lice. My husband, with his buzz cut, seems to be OK for now.

I have outlined an 11 part plan on a big piece of butcher paper and hung it up in the front hall and secured family cooperation.

The bicycle ride for the day has been truncated into a 25 mile tootle, so the initial steps can be completed, today, which are:

1. Everyone washes her hair with insecticide shampoo.
2. All hair implements, ribbons, bands, etc (we have lots of these with three women with long hair) will be plunged into a large pot of boiling water
3. The beds are all stripped of all bedding. Our PJs, pillows, sheets, pillowcases, and any bedding that can be washed on hot, are washed on hot. The remaining bedding is bagged and sealed.
4. The bedrooms are thoroughly vacuumed
5. Insecticide is sprayed on every unwashable surface that has contact with our heads (bike helmet, car head rests, etc.)
6. Everyone’s head is combed out for nits.
7. Any remaining unboilable, unsprayable, small, non-essential items that may come in contact with heads will be bagged (such as headphones)

1. All heads will be combed out for nits nightly
2. Every pillowcase washed on hot nightly. If I need to buy more pillowcases, so be it.