My head Lice stigma rant

Having been in the head lice eradication field for well over 10 years I find myself blown away by the stigma that still exist regarding this issue. I run into it all the time. Be it at a party or social event or in my everyday life and business dealings. When I'm asked what I do for a living, I almost don't want to say it anymore. How many times do I have to explain that YES there is enough head lice out there to build a business. Yes it's a viable business and no I don't get lice all the time. Yes I love what I do and no its not a dirty poor person issue. I visit the finest of homes and people.

I have not had lice since I started this company, thank God, because it is a pain in the you know what. That is the very reason I began this work. Yet battling the stigma associated with lice is almost as painful as having lice itself. Speaking of which, it took me several months to even get insurance for my business as no insurance company had heard of what I did and did not know how to underwrite this kind of thing. The phone company would not give me a head lice category and just recently I was turned down a commercial rental space because the owners did not want a lice business near their other stores as it may somehow infect their businesses. I get laughed at in my car which has a wrap saying Got Lice? Lice Squad needs to be in your head. I get funny looks from people who walk by my office and to top it all off, I can't do a thing about it.

So whats a girl to do? Well I can rant a bit sometimes to get it off my chest and then I switch my focus back to helping the many people who depend on my business. I continue to hold my head up high as I drive by the snooty woman who thinks she and her kids could never get lice. Sure people may laugh as my van drives by but I bet the minute they get lice they will remember me and promptly call for help. I continue to look at the many testimonials that people leave on my web site ever reminding me of the good work that we do and how much help like this is appreciated. Who takes the time anymore in these busy days to let you know what a great job your doing? I can also stop getting so discouraged by the closed minded ignorance of those who have an attitude of intolerance and superiority. You know who you are and it's not nice to tease. Did they not teach you that in kindergarten?

If anything I am glad that my company can be a part of the solution and not the problem. Sure it's an old cliche but the stigma is getting old too and if I can help it retire sooner rather than later, I've done a good thing.