On Outsourcing: Why It’s Ok To Miss Your Kids’ Barber

Having to do stuff we have no time or desire for can be a stressful experience. Particularly when it needs done.

My friend is overjoyed now that her cleaner is able to come round once a week. She and her husband both work – he works full-time and she works part time, but she (like so many parents) home-schools her school aged child while running after a pre-schooler.  

She has no time to do housework so outsourcing the cleaning makes life that much more bearable.  

I have not been too bothered about cleaning my flat - it gets done once a week when the kids are at Dad’s.

This might sound weird, but I really miss proper haircuts for my two little boys. I long for the day when I hear the barbers will open again.

I take my two to the Turkish Barbers in Kelso. Not only are they skilled in cutting hair, but I quite like the all male atmosphere: Where older gents get their ear fuzz burnt out with a flame, (much to my 5 year old’s wonder). And young working lads call the boys ‘mate’ and have a laugh with them, although the wee fellas haven’t a clue what’s so funny. There is something about a male presence that gets little boys to behave.

That, and the bumper tub of fruit flavoured lollies offered as a bribe. 

But I digress. More importantly, they can cut hair. I decided, nay vowed never to cut my kids hair. This was due to a bad experience with a wonky fringe inflicted on me by my well meaning mother. She had nine kids, so keeping up with regular hair cuts and the logistical and financial challenges that entailed was probably a struggle, in retrospect.  

Nonetheless I was determined to keep their nappers sharp.

Alas, during lock down this has not been possible. So of course, it falls to me to cut the boys’ hair.

So far, I managed to trim one side of the youngest’s hair before he complained I was ‘evil,’ because I kept catching and pulling his hair. I haven’t been able to convince him to sit for me again, so his ‘do’ is getting shaggier by the day.

My older son was more willing. I did a nifty job of trimming round the ears and the nape. Unfortunately, I got over-confident and cut a huge chunk out of the back. 

Oops.

This week I am planning to tackle this most mysterious and anxiety fueling art once again. 

But you know, I have heard so many people tell me that writing fills them with similar dread. That they procrastinate over starting any sort of written piece because they feel they can’t do it. It’s too hard.  

Clients come to me, not only because they don’t have the time to do it themselves, but because they don’t think they can write their marketing material.

Personally I believe this is not so, as like hairdressing I think any skill can be learned. The bad news is this takes time and hard work. And maybe getting over some past trauma - like me with the homemade haircut horror.

But if you don’t have the hours to dedicate to gaining an effortless facility with words that sell your business then you might find my copy writing service comes in handy next time you need to write your web content or draft a newsletter your customers will not only want to read, but move them to use your product or service. 

Email me to find out more about the ways I can save you time and make your business more money. rachel@rachelhunterwriting.co.uk