I called an exterminator the next morning.
$280 for the initial visit.
He put out poison bait stations throughout our house. Told us the mice would eat the poison, go back to their nest, and die.
"Give it two weeks," he said confidently.
Two weeks later, I found fresh droppings in our pantry again.
I called him back. He came out again. Another $180.
More poison. More bait stations. More promises.
The mice didn't care.
In fact, they seemed to be getting worse. I was finding droppings in new places now. The living room. The garage. Behind the washing machine.
I spent $387 on traps, sprays, and DIY solutions I found online:
❌ Peppermint oil (they ignored it)
❌ Ultrasonic plug-ins from Amazon (didn't work)
❌ Steel wool in the holes (they chewed right through)
❌ More poison (terrifying with a toddler in the house)
My daughter started asking questions.
"Mommy, why do we have those boxes on the floor?"
How do you explain to a 4-year-old that your home is infested with mice?
I felt like a failure.