A Lesson in Trust

My husband and I have discovered a new kind of "bonding time" this week: home haircutting. In our quest for frugality, we are trying anything and everything to save money. We realize not everything we try will prove to be practical or sustaining for us, but I try nevertheless in the name of research.

Normally, I would pay $63.00 every 2 to 3 months for a haircut and color. Seth normally pays $20.00 every 1 1/2 months. Because my mother-in-law has always cut her husband and sons' hair, I asked her to teach me how to cut my husband's. One afternoon, she let me serve as her apprentice, and although I am most defnitely a novice, I now know that I can cut my husband's hair.

But what about my hair?

Lately I have been asking my sister (who enjoys doing hair as a hobby) to color and cut my hair whenever I travel to my hometown. I quickly realized that I could not possibly make it home at exactly the times my hair stood in need of a touch-up, so I asked my husband to try coloring it for me instead. He did it with success! When I then asked if he would cut my hair, he was VERY reluctant, but eventually conceded when I reminded him of the money we would save and when I quoted my grandmother, who told me, "The difference between a good haircut and a bad one is two weeks."

Today was the day! After trying to back out one last time, my husband did cut my hair, and I think he did a wonderful job. He even tapered it around my face in the front. But this does not get to the heart of my post.

After updating my status on Facebook, where I told my friends about my husband's triumph, one friend responded, "Now that is trust!" The more I think about this experience, the more I believe that this was most definitely an exercise in trust for both of us. Could I let go of my perfectionism enough to believe my husband could do a decent job on my hair? Could he rely on the fact that I would not be upset if the cut went badly? For that matter, could he trust me with his haircut, when the only other time I had attempted it was with my mother-in-law at my side?

Well, the answer to all those questions is a resounding "yes!" In stepping out of the box and trying something new, my husband and I found that we enjoyed this quality time together. We talked and laughed and flirted shamelessly. Who would have that a high-risk haircut would become bonding time for us? Ladies, if you want to add a new dimension to your relationship, home haircutting may be for you!