How Not to Panic

By Dawn Eleanor Ramsay

You've just arrived, put your children in school, most of your everyday stuff is out of boxes, your electricity is working, you have a flush toilet, and no one has awaken with hyper-thermia...yet. You are doing okay.

Then the note comes home from school, "LES POUX ONT ATTAQUES L'ECOLE! SURVEILLEZ BIEN LA TETE DE VOTRE ENFANT!" On top of that you have a 5 year old that turns 6 in a week and wants all her friends from school over for a party, plus... a rabbit, black and white, please....

PANIC... No wait, don't. My motto since leaving my high-stress job in California has been "take it as it comes." So far, that has meant a lot of 5 minute calming sessions to talk myself out of the pre-panic stomach butterflies. Followed by long periods of guilt for pro-crastination. If that doesn't work, I've found that a good Bordeaux usually does the trick....

Step One: What on earth do I do about the shocking attack on the school by head lice? If they've attacked, I must attack back. Right?
Step Two: Figure out a way to give a satisfactory birthday party without actually inviting anyone- especially from the lice infested class!
Step Three: Find rabbit cage, rabbit food and rabbit- black and white, please.


Step One: France, like everywhere, has frequent head-lice problems in the schools. It is taken in stride. The children all come home with a note, the mom heads to the pharmacy for the solution, and the dad sits calmly watching TV football.

If you have no experience with this, do head for the pharmacy. Take the school note if you are not sure of the French, and you will walk out a few minutes later 10 Euros poorer but armed with a solution to put on your child's head, a special comb and directions written in so many languages that English makes the list.

If you fear putting chemicals on your child, you can also head for the bio-boutique. These are health food shops often selling everything from eggs to organic flea treatment for your pets. Mine offers many natural remedies. Household items such as vinegar, olive oil, or essential oils can be effective treatment apparently. Regardless of the treatment you pursue, the success is generally guaranteed with the comb. I was even told that some essential oils repel the lice in the 1st place- geranium and lemongrass extract in particular. Good news, as since children aren't required to stay home until nit-free, there are frequent re-infestations.

Step Two: A non-party, party solution...Plan, Postpone, Pray.

I realized 10 days before my daughters birthday that there was simply no way I was going to pull off a party. I didn't feel settled, my daughter still refuses to respond to French adults when spoken to, and in front of me responds in English when asked a question in French. Not to mention, I had no time to research what would be expected on the entertaining front by the locals.

Since she has had a party every year until now, I was worried that this would create homesickness, and disillusionment about our "adventure" to France. There was a teacher's training day 4 days prior to her birthday that allowed a special trip for the two of us. I planned a special outing for us that included a drive in the country signing silly nursery songs, a trip through the largest weekly market within an hour's drive where she was allowed to buy a silly bauble I normally wouldn't allow and a stop at a bakery for a special treat. During our time together, we had a talk. I explained that I couldn't invite her friends from school, just yet. Amazingly, she took it right in stride.

I offered to plan another party, later in the year, or in summer, to be decided by my daughter. This she has eagerly agreed to. She has a started a guest list, and is saving up pictures of things she would like at the party - cutting them out of the hyper-marche circulars.

Step Three: bunny cages, bunny food, bunny - black and white, please.

By far, this was the most time consuming, expensive solution of them all. First, I located a vendor at one of the local markets that had lots of bunnies, all the time. To do this meant several trips to several markets in several towns. (Later, I realized I could have just gone to the small animal supply shop and asked where to buy them.)

I surveyed the supply of rabbits. I told him it was for the "anniversaire de ma fille," and was shown the collection of dwarf "pet" rabbits. He assured me he was at the market each Monday, and always had a supply for 15 Euros each. I asked him where to find an outdoor cage for 2 rabbits (part of the point is having bunnies for Easter to sell - my daughter's idea.)

"Cooperative," was the answer. Through much pointing, I understood what I was looking for, and off I went. The "Gamme-Vert store, next to the agricultural cooperative. Now, had I planned ahead enough to order an outdoor metal cage "cage a lapins" (soon to be installed in our little garden shed) I wouldn't have had to drive 30 kms to the store that had one in stock. But then, I probably wouldn't have gotten the free nest attachments for the babies, or the 15% discount because she wanted rid of it to make room for winter garden supplies either!

The Monday before the birthday, I was off with a friend bright and early to choose the bunnies. We were there on a slow market day, the bunny man hadn't even taken them out of his truck. I got to pick from about 24 dwarf rabbits, all in excellent health, in all colors imaginable. We settled on a tan and white one to go with the "black and white, please" bunny requested. It turns out we made a good pick.

I woke my daughter up early on her birthday. Put a huge box - slightly bouncy, on her bed with a card from California and a pair of new Barbie socks from me on the top. She actually put the socks on, read the card, stretched and yawned before taking notice that the box on her bed was moving!

Once the box was open, I was informed that the tan rabbit was Sam - and he wasn't tan he was gold and white. As for the "black and white, please" bunny? She is Angel - and exactly what she wanted.

I got the "best Mommy ever" rating that day, and didn't even have to apply head lice solution or throw a party for 20 children in my home!

Ask us anything, we will do our best to help. To contact us...

Get a recent copy of the newsletter -