I've been unfaithful

I kept going back, like a woman keeps returning to an abusive lover. I think,"this time it will be different", "they can't all be bad", or "THIS one is in a swanky neighborhood, how bad can it be?". Where in the name of Mike do I mean? Well, it's a place who's name I shall keep on the down low to protect the innocent, but it rhymes with Great Clips.(stolen Bossy device there)

One of the major flaws in their system is that you do not get to pick the stylist, you get whoever is available when your name comes up. Years ago, I was picked by some old guy. I hesitated, but figured, he's probably got a lot of experience??? I optimistically sat down and described in detail what I wanted done. It was not long before I realized that this cut was going very, very wrong. Only then did I notice the small sign at his station that read, "Please speak up, I am hearing impaired." Crap. I left and went straight to another stylist to try to mitigate the damage. Changing stylists isn't an issue with these places, cuz each cut is basically a follicular one night stand.

6 years ago though, I found her. We were set up through a mutual friend, so I thought I'd take a stab. The place was pretty cheesy with black, white and red 80's hair model prints on the walls and dusty silk plants and the name was no better... Classy Lady. In my experience, most things that are self-described as "classy" are, um, not. But she, SHE was the Cambodian mother I always wished I had! Kindly, honest, a little pushy, but in a good way and YES- good at styling hair! Oh, did I mention cheap? And CHEAP!

So, for 6 years now, I have faithfully gone to her time and again and brought my children to their new Cambodian grandmother for reasonably priced cuts, free advice, and yes, all the lollipops my kids can eat. While we wait, my kids take turns sweeping the hair and painting each others nails in her manicure booth. I have confidently sent many friends her way, she is too great to not share!

Then, last spring... my eye began to wander and I asked a woman at church,"who cuts YOUR hair?" This woman I am speaking of always looks AWESOME. I have admired her hair for years but... I was in a committed relationship. It turns out, her daughter is a stylists AND coincidentally, her daughter had donated a haircut certificate to a fundraising auction at church and guess who won? Where "won", means stand up, blocking every one's view and waving my paddle furiously at the auctioneer. ME!

At first, it was just one cut. When I pulled in to Classy Lady after that for my daughter's appointment, I suddenly panicked, because Kim is going to notice that I got my hair cut and she will know that SHE didn't do it! I pulled up my collar as though guiltily covering up a hickey from my parents and went in, mumbling something about a free haircut from someone at church. But, I could see it in her eyes.. she knew there was someone else.

Well, the girl from church just lives down the street and cuts in her kitchen. So, next thing I know, I am taking my daughters there (see pic of 11yo new stylish do)because it is so convenient and also CHEAP aaand, as much as I love Kim, my new hair crush is young and more up to date in her techniques and knowledge of current styles. And so it goes...until one day, I turned over Kim's business card that I keep in my wallet because I couldn't look at that black and red embossed 80's hair model embossed at the top without cringing with guilt at having strayed.

But, really, she has tons of clients... she isn't going to miss me or notice I haven't come around... it's not like we were exclusive.. right? Uh, wrong. I checked my voicemail the other day and my Cambodian mother had left me a message in her broken English. "Margie, I no see you and the kids this summer... school starting, they need cut...I miss you." I literally teared up. She MISSES me. I feel genuinely guilty. I am a haircut whore, I follicle philanderer, a stylist slut. The truth is, I miss her too, but not enough to go back. What do I do?