Sista Beehive confesses her nervousness about transitioning from working outside the home to a stay-at-home mom.
Many of you don’t know that in my real life I am a hairstylist. Over the last 16 years I have been helping to beautify the women and men in Utah one highlight, relaxer or haircut at a time. Everyone knows that stylists aren't just people who provide hair care, we are the people that you confess your sins or someone else's sins to. We provide you with advice and sometimes it's actually beneficial to you and your loved ones.
What I'm really trying to say is having your hair done at my salon was an experience that most of the people that I have come in contact with seemed to enjoy. In urban communities the church (no, not the Mormon church) and salon are main sources of information and news. Even God knows that people will miss church before they will skip out on a hair appointment...backsliders! Even people who don't attend church still need access to the information that is important to the community that they are expected to contribute to. I tried to make it my personal goal to know what was happening in our community so that I could pass that information on to the men and women I had the pleasure of serving.
These past few years have been a wonderful journey for me, I've met a lot of people and developed some very close relationships. I have always hated referring to the people that I worked on as clients because while most of them started off as clients, we've developed deeper relationships. I would consider them my friends and some of them are even as close to me as some members of my family.
That is why deciding to close the salon has been such a difficult decision for me.
The past year has been an exciting one for Sistas in Zion (SiZ). As a multi-media entity we have grown and continue to grow. We are in the process of writing our first book which will more than likely be a New York Times Best Seller (keep your fingers crossed). I guess what I’m trying to say is that this past year trying to maintain the salon, SiZ , be a good mother to my children, and a woman who is present in her marriage has been a real struggle for me. It’s a wonder that my family didn't fire me and hire a new mom/wife (lol). It was time for me to let something go because trying to hold on to everything meant that something or someone was suffering. Those of you who know me know that I’m telling the truth.
Ultimately the driving force that pushed me to make the decision was my family. SiZ affords me the opportunity to work from home so that I can spend more time with my kids while they are still young and some of them still like me. The majority of my friends know that I have never been a “stay-at-home mom” (SAHM). I’m asking you, (all of you whether I've done your hair before or not) to please pray for me. I have no idea what I am doing. I don’t know how to hang a picture up on the wall, if you come to my home you will find most of my pictures leaning against the wall and there are no family pictures hanging, not because I’m not proud of my BEAUTIFUL family because I am, just look at my Facebook. I’m just afraid of hitting a stud or missing a stud, I don’t know, I’m going to YouTube it, I’ll figure it out.
I’m worried because the 3 meals that I make the best are: Tacos, Top Ramen, and Oatmeal. Please don’t send me a recipe unless it’s so easy that a 3rd grader can do it because I don’t follow instructions well and if I mess it up I might have a nervous breakdown. I know I've already asked, but please keep me and my family in your hearts and prayers. As I transition into this next phase of my life even the title is somewhat intimidating (“Familial Law Enforcer and (or) President of the My Kids Fan Club”) so the thought of what the actual job entails is already overwhelming. However, when I see the women on reality t.v. shows and how they behave with their children I feel optimistic. I know that I should be ashamed for the comparison, but I’m not.
If I could say anything to the people in my community that have trusted me with their children, family members, and secrets, I would say THANK YOU!! To say that I appreciate you is an understatement. I am grateful to you for your support! Thank you for patronizing my business over the past 16 years. You are the reason that I was so successful, you made me love what I do. I know that me closing the salon is going to change our relationship some, that scares me a little. However, much of our relationship was limited to our interaction in the salon and now that can change.
I hope that you will continue to extend invitations to me to join you for those special occasions in your life, more than likely I will have time to attend now. I will be certain to extend invitations to you. You have provided me with a lifetime of memories that I will cherish forever. THANK YOU! You guys have been a wonderful source of love and strength for me! I love you for all your support with the salon, and thank you for your continued support with SiZ. Check back with SiZ occasionally so that I can keep you updated.
"When one door closes, another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." ~ Alexander Graham Bell
Got any tips for a SAHM that doesn't have a clue what to do? Remember, no recipes unless a 3rd grader can make it!
Pray Always,
Sista Beehive
