I am currently in a third-party battle with a big box retailer I recently purchased a washer and dryer from, and the third party I had to involve is the Better Business Bureau. I have never had to call in the BBB’s re-enforcements like this, but that is how mad and frustrated I have gotten over this mess!

Short Story–made Long: Like most people waiting for a new purchase I was given a window of time. The time the first go around was not the issue, this time my appliances were delivered without the essential parts or manual, so the hook-up for the steam feature could not be performed. I was told I would need to call the store and get the parts and then reschedule.

I did what they said, and mentioned I should not have to pay for the incomplete delivery and installation. I waited for parts to be delivered, (over a week and a half), then I called to schedule delivery, and give the manager sales check numbers so I could be reimbursed , he claimed to not know what I was talking about. Eventually he relented and told me the delivery department would call the next night to give me my window of time for the next day. They never called. I called the manager the next day. He said he messed up it was the following day from 8-10 AM. Then late the same day I got a call that it was 3:30-5:50 that day instead ( are you following any of this???It gets worse!) So Saturday a little after 2 pm, I am told it will be between 5:30-7:30! 7:25 PM comes and still no delivery. I call the central number and I am told they are still coming! 9:14 PM comes and still no delivery! I again am told they are still coming???? What???? It now is Saturday night…and I am not letting some strange men into my house!!! I ask to talk to a supervisor and am sent into on-hold oblivion and then eventually kicked back to the company’s “dot.com” website!

I lost an entire day, was jerked around all day, and still don’t have a working dryer!!!

The men/women in the white hats—the BBB—have it now. I will update you as I know more! Have you had this experience? It feels awful!

My partner in crime, Dino, is absolutely giddy over the beginning of March Madness. I love the basketball showdown too, but I wonder if the craziness surrounding it would be as bonkers if it were in another month. For instance, if it were November Madness and closer to they holidays, would it get lost? Is this lull between Christmas and the beginning of summer just prime for the picking and that is why we are all so desperate for a little mid-spring action? I’m just asking because I need to reason away my psychosis when I start rooting loudly and embarrassingly for the Buckeyes! Surely it’s not me; it’s the calendar!!

This week I had to make a difficult decision: whether I wanted to put my kids on a plane to fly alone for the first time to vist their Nana and Papa in Florida for Spring Break. This would mean traveling without Mom!! I struggled with this one. I am always with them when they fly. They need me with them..right? What if they had a problem? Who will make decisions and protect them? Surely, that’s my job and a necessary one at that!

So, I posed the question to you, our listeners, and you convinced me that they would be fine and I should quit clipping their wings and let them fly, both literally and figuratively. My logical mind says you are right and that they should go. My mommy heart says they grow up too fast and I want them to always need me. I know I NEED to let them go, it’s just that I don’t WANT to let them go.

Ultimately, they will be on a beach in no time without giving me, nor the flight, a second thought. As for me, I will pace until they return and then pretend that it never bothered me at all. Grin and bare it! That’s what I do. I’m a mom afterall!!