Motel therapy
3 May 12
Earlier this week, David took himself off for a sanity break and spent two nights in a local motel by himself. Feeling rejuvenated, he was inspired to invite us all to spend a couple nights in a motel — particularly so he could play with his girls in a spa pool!


This has been a great place to shampoo the girls’ hair as I continue to battle our lice infestation. It’s a challenge to get everyone’s hair washed at the same time, but the privacy of having our own room and bathroom makes it a lot easier.

We don’t usually pay for accommodation, and so although the motel is not cheap, it’s the first time we’ve paid to stay somewhere in months! So I figure that the cost averages out to something quite affordable and meanwhile, I’m enjoying the electricity and soft beds!
1 · Madcap · 4 May 2012, 02:13
Olive oil with several drops of tea-tree oil, rubbed all over the hair and scalp, covered with a shower-cap and left for a couple hours, assiduous combing. Repeat daily until you don’t find any more nits. The oils smother the adults. The shampoos never worked in our house, and they’re incredibly toxic. I’ve also heard of something called a Roobicomb, which zaps them, but I’ve never tried it.
I’m trying to imagine having 5 small kids, lice, and a husband who takes off to a motel in the midst of it.
2 · momma · 4 May 2012, 04:25
YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING! what about your sanity, were is your break. and did i read the other post right. you loved him through him being intimate with another woman. is he crazy or are you? I LOVE reading about your adventures but this is one adventure i’m sure you shouldnt go on alone!! I am not judging either of you its your life but…….
3 · youknowwhatmama.blogspot.com · 4 May 2012, 06:43
I take it as a sign of some sort that I just received an unsolicited email about the best way to remove head lice, the same day I read your post. Here’s a copy/paste of it. Hope it works. I’ve never used it.
ADD MAYO TO THE LICE. In my area, head lice are a real problem. There is one home treatment that seems to work. Starting at the top of your child’s head, lift a small section of hair and apply regular mayonnaise onto the scalp. Continue until the entire head is covered with mayonnaise. Then, wrap cotton from a roll or gauze around the hairline and top with a shower cap. Leave on overnight. The next morning, have your child stand in the shower and rinse the hair with warm water. Follow with dishwashing detergent (this helps to get the oils out of the hair), and then finish with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
One treatment should do it. But if not, just repeat. This home treatment has no harsh chemicals, and the hair gets a nice shine from the eggs in the mayonnaise. This is cheaper than the chemical treatments, and it’s nontoxic, too. Cindy, email
4 · Lucky Dip Lisa · 4 May 2012, 14:57
I admire someone who can admit they need a break and I admire the person who lets them even if it’s at there own personal cost. What goes around comes around as they say… and it’s better in a motel than at the pub!
Here’s hoping you get a break from the nits! We struggled for years, tried everything and in the end did hand picking over any lotions. The girls seem to have grown out of them as it’s no such a problem now they’re older.
I read your unchurching/leaving church but not god posts. I identified with so much of what you said.I was horrified by others! What you say is from my experience true. I think it is important to have fellowship with others of like mind but I don’t think it has to be at a church. God hears us regardless of where we are. Church, home or bus/truck.
Happy Days to you!
5 · Marcia · 4 May 2012, 17:21
i know that the lotions are very toxic but in our case we only had to shampoo once and comb once and it was over. (we used an over the counter bottle) it may be worth the cost and exposure to get rid of them as im sure you know they just hop from head to head…The motel will help as you can do this just before your ready to leave and then leave them behind. ;-) Good luck!!
Still have you all in my thoughts every day…Wow Calista is looking more and more like her big sister every day!! Check my blog – Ill have the first pics up on my blog ever today incase you want to have a look see :-D
6 · Erin · 4 May 2012, 20:00
I’ve had headlice only once —after a trip to India. My hair was very long, so at first I thought I’d have to cut it off. I treated it initially with a lice shampoo from a chemist; I’d never do that again as it was too harsh! The thing that ended the ordeal was an offer from a patient friend. I sat with my head hanging over a bath while she sat beside me, poured half a bottle of conditioner over my head and worked it through my hair. Then she painstakingly combed out every strand of hair, removing the nits. After she finished, we ran a clean bath, rinsed my hair in it, and repeated the process once more. It took three hours, but it was totally worth the trouble as that completely ended the infestation. The only other precaution I took was that of washing all my bed linens. Like others have said, hopefully your motel stay will give you the space you need to defeat the lice! Thinking of you all…crazy times! :)
7 · Tracy · 8 May 2012, 20:16
We just got rid of our infestation. Didn’t want to use toxic chemicals so I blasted them with a hair dryer and it worked! A straightening iron would work too. The heat kills the eggs and crawlers. Easy!
8 · Sarah · 8 May 2012, 22:18
my mum used to put teatree oil in the shampoo and conditioner bottle to prevent lice (not sre how well it works when you have lice already). the only time I ever got lice was right after we moved and mum couldn’t find the old shampoo and conditioner or where she’d packed the oil so she washed our hair with normal stuff and hey presto… lice.
9 · Tania · 11 May 2012, 04:21
Mayo can work, heat kills so a straightener works well too. Vinegar, coconut oil, and listerine mouthwash are all also common tips. I have also read Kerosene works, but never tried it because of the obvious smell and fire concerns :) Just look up online and you will get numerous tips and tricks! Hand picking is still the best! I am concerned for you though with your dreads!
10 · Manou · 11 May 2012, 11:54
Reminded me of a great holiday we all had at Grand Bassam….. fun and games but the mozzies were atrocious!
Love to all,xxxxxxxM