April 15, 2009
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Don’t let the bed bugs bite
Good night, sleep tight
Don’t let the bed bugs bite
If they do
Take a shoe
And beat them ‘til they’re black and blue
Oh yes, it’s a violent way to say good night I suppose but it’s fun to say. This is something that my grandparents and my parents used to say to myself and my sisters when we were little. I even taught it to a lot of the kids I babysat for back in high school (I’m sure their parents really liked that, lol). I have no idea where it came from. Is anyone else familiar with that little poem?
Growing up, I never really knew what bed bugs are. I believe that my mom told me that they weren’t real but on the other hand, she also told me that chipmunks were baby squirrels (I believed that for a long time) so I wasn’t too sure about her answers…
Unfortunately in the paper this morning, there was a story about bed bugs. They exist and there is apparently a resurgence of bed bugs in places like college dormitories, homeless shelters, hospitals and even hotels. ICK!
I suppose I’ll be sleeping with a heavy shoe perhaps even a heavy boot on my bedside table. You’ve gotta love when the things you learned as a child actually prepare you for the real world!
Comments (17)
my mom used to say just the first two lines.
@lilms_sassy - that is all I had ever heard as well.I did know that bed bugs existed. I just live as though I will never experience them. I would rather than worry myself each night when I am trying to sleep. But if I ever have that problem, I will remember to beat them with a shoe! lol
I was watching something about this on the news this morning. I didn’t realize they can give people huge wounds! Luckily they aren’t known for passing diseases.
I guess I never knew the second half of that rhyme…it is pretty violent!
I suspect since many places battle roaches and rats and mice, we shouldn’t be surprised, eh?
I saw pictures on the internet of someone sueing a hotel because of bedbug bites. The pictures were disgusting.
Ok! I have not only heard the rhyme but have also had experience with the bed bugs. Numerous times, as medical students, we had to study them. but more importantly, they were seen in homes that were unkempt and had poor hygiene. Some of these homes had no beds as such but would use coir latticed cots. The bugs would lay eggs in the coils of the coir and when a person awoke in the morning, he or she would have bites and areas of swelling around the bites. They are flat, ugly deep brown thingies smaller than a flea. Was that a good education Meg?
I didn’t mind this one as much as Rock-A-By Baby! Was that one written by a masochistic parent who was tired of being up all night with a collicky baby?Cute post!
Eek!
i didn’t know until i was in middle school. GROSS.thanks for reminding us about bedbugs in real life… hotels? ewwww.
My parents used to say the first two lines to my sisters and I. Count me as an other who never knew there was a second half or that was so…violent. After reading every ones comments all I’m going to be thinking about tonight is actual bed bugs…
Yea, real bed bugs are nasty things! I’ve never heard the If they do Take a shoe And beat them ‘til they’re black and blue
LOL! Yep- I also knew bed bug were real (well, not all of my life though, maybe the last few years). I think you’re more likely to get them from used matresses, old matresses, and matresses that have been passed down. I wouldn’t be super afraid, unless your matress has been around forever unused. I’d think your fine;)Hope your week is going well.
I saw the story covered on the Today Show yesterday as I was getting ready for work. It grossed me out. I wanted to change my bed sheets on the spot, but was running late for work (as usual).
An infestation is pretty much a death sentence for your mattress..once they are there they are there for good…. thankfully something I’ve not had to deal with.
@lilms_sassy - @der_lila_Stern - @buckeyegirl31 - @AlterEgo909 - @WakeUpLaughing - You know, knowing my family, they could have made up the last two lines. Such is life @Roadlesstaken - I still hope never to meet one!@i_was_there_and_back_again - Probably not. I still don’t like to think about it! Eek!@ItsWhatEyeKnow - Oh no! I’m glad I didn’t see those pictures.@ZSA_MD - My stomach is turning a little @AnamcharaConcepts - There’s a lot of poems like that. Ring Around the Rosie is apparently about the Black Plague!@cash_presley - I second that!@TheBigShowAtUD - I had to share it so I wasn’t the only one in pain @karen_lynn - I just really hate bugs!@BigToePeople - Yup, I definitely changed my sheets after that!@sir_spamalot - I hope to never have to deal with that!
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