We never shared anything when I was growing up. My mother was a hyper germ conscious old-school nurse and she oversaw our hygiene habits like a military operation. We did not drink out of the same glass, or use the same utensil in an emergency cake eating situation. We did not put our hands into a potato chip bag (you had to pour them onto your plate). Toothbrushes! Well, without passing any judgement on others, that would have never entered my mind anyway. But we were also

In the past, when someone called us and wanted us to treat one of their kids for lice, we usually said, 'we also recommend checking everyone in the household'. However, we recognize that in today's world, home may be defined as being 2 households or even 4 households. When you have an active case of lice on a kiddo that regularly goes between multiple households, if everyone in all households does not get checked, you leave a window of possibility that the unchecked members o

This fantastic creature is sporting the perfect example of a low pony tail. This is Taks, the leader of the Danish visitors in the exhibit "Trolls, a field study" at the NC Arboretum. If you have not been to see Taks and his siblings, do not delay. Maybe delay a week, since this week we have time warped into the Arctic Tundra....The Trolls are a traveling exhibit created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, known for his global collection of sustainable art creations. The babies (T

Two weeks back in school after the new year and your child has ended up with lice. AGAIN . Family curse? Karma? Voodoo doll? Sigh. No, just the way it goes. You seem to be a frequent flyer with your local lice clinic and now, the lice is gone, but not forgotten. But OMG-- next weekend is the sleepover birthday party of your kiddo's bestie. And seven long-haired children from their class will be there. With all their long hair worn down and loose. And of course, there will be

If you talk to most young people with long hair between the ages of 7-17, most of them will say they wear their hair down 95% of the time. And when you share with them, that wearing your hair up is the best way to reduce your chances of picking up lice from your friends and your peer group, they give you a withering look. Such a conversation was the impetus for these photos, post lice treatment. They exhibit what I like to call, the curtain of opportunity. It is really impos

Teenagers don't get lice. People with short hair don't get lice. We really need one of those red 'NO' buzzers in the clinic. But truthfully, one of us would probably get tennis elbow from hitting it all day long as we dispel the misconceptions stated above. Teenagers indeed can and DO get lice. People with short hair can also get lice. In fact, they can be the ones who bring lice into the household. In this day and age, we have to let go of that old idea that the pre-K to 5th

Lice vary in size based on age, but not really in color; they are always translucent.