Without missing a beat Kellen emerges from around the
corner, both hands violently scratching his head. “Oh shit”, I mumble to myself
as I glance towards the head-lice notice tossed atop of the stack of yesterday’s
crumpled schoolwork. My gaze snaps back to Tramp, the stuffed dog now laying in a heap on the floor at Kellen's feet. For an instant I debate not investigating further. “If I
pretend I don’t see what’s happening, it will just magically disappear,
right?!”
Wrong.
A step closer is all I need to see the speckly, black,
infamous dots.
A postpartum wave of emotion that had been lingering just below the surface suddenly enveloped me.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck”, I state.
“Mom, that’s a bad word”, Kellen responds.
“Fuck”, one more for good measure.
So that’s how day 5 went.
Thankfully, I have an amazing support system who not only
talked me off the first-time-finding-lice ledge, but showed up at my door
within 5 minutes, lice-comb in hand, to pick through my licey-kid’s head #truefriendship
#thankssteph.
Being one-week postpartum is hard. Being one-week postpartum
with three kids is next level hard. The silver lining of finding lice on my
5-year old with a 5 day-old in my arms was that it instantly obliterated the
unrealistic expectations I had unknowingly placed on myself those first few
days.
In those first few panicked moments, as I stood in my kitchen
trying to determine whether I wanted to scream or cry, I couldn’t help but
reflect on the first few days home from the hospital. Why was I attempting to
prepare home cooked meals? Why was I chopping vegetables I would have to nag
anyone to eat? Why was I policing the amount of TV being watched?
Finding lice on my 5-year old allowed me to fully endorse the
no-care attitude necessary to survive the immediate postpartum period. Having a baby this
time around not only came with engorged boobs, hemorrhoids and typical new mum
sleep deprivation but also meant dealing with:
Breastfeeding jaundice
Sibling jealousy
And, now. Head lice.
Something had to give.
So, for the last 4 days we have watched copious amounts of
TV and ordered-in almost every meal. Along with pizza, and Timmies breakfast
sandwiches we have eaten at least 3 different types of take-out rice.
Not having to prepare meals has been a refreshing change of
pace. I’ve been able to focus on getting to know the newest member of our family
while appreciating and enjoying the unique ways the kids have adjusted to life
with a little brother.
So, to summarize, how has the first week home with Malcolm
been?!
Jaundice and lice and all kinds of rice.
But all things considered, it has been exceptionally nice.
Welcome to Mummyhood, round three.
