The life cycle of a head louse is short – only about 6 weeks; this being from the time the egg is laid until the adult’s life comes to an end. Below is a mapping of this life cycle.

Once you completely understand this, you’ll be able to work more comfortably.

I just joined your list and how ironic it is that in your first message you mention the two books that changed my life. You see when I was 32yo I visited my much older sister in Texas while on a business trip. Physical distance—I lived in New England—and expenses had kept us physically apart over the previous 12 years so we didn’t really know each other. Fortunately over the next several months I had many business trips to her city and I always stayed with her family the weekend before and after my week-long business trip.

On one visit she wanted to know why we didn’t have any children. I shared that from my viewpoint siblings never got along although her two were the exception to that rule — you see she and I are the only two of 5 siblings that speak to one another — and why should I have a child who wouldn’t want to talk with me. She advised me to read Faber and Mazlish’s books so that I could see a different approach to parenting before I wrote it all off.

Once home I picked up both books and read them cover to cover. I cried, I laughed and I finally understood why all my siblings dislike one another as I saw my parents portrayed in the “What not to do” comic strips.

A few years later we finally became parents to Michael and then to Mark. Over the years these two books have been reread many times and they still remain by my bedstand for me to glance through as a reminder of how I should be parenting.

My boys are now 14 and 10 yo and I often hear from others about how lucky I am to have two kids that will talk easily to their mom and get along so well with each other. It isn’t luck just the constant use of Faber and Mazlish’s approach. I have often given the “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen,…” book to first time parents and “Siblings Without Rivalry” to second time parents. They should be required reading in my book. too for every parent.

Yes their books really changed my life.

Carole
Middletown, DE