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Someone from Sears has Stepped up

A very nice gentleman from Sears read my blog and has offered to help.  I am encouraged that some humanity still exists in this company that we have supported for so long.  I have emailed him and we will see where this leads.  I will keep you guys posted.

Still in Disarray

Nope, no repairs have been done and we are still living la vida loca...

Thanks Sears, you guys SUCK!

Sears Sucks

My nightmare began about three weeks ago when I set my dishwasher to wash, right before bedtime, like I always do because it's the most energy efficient time.  The next morning I woke up to ankle-deep-water in my fist floor and my basement was raining.  As I was coming down the stairs I wondered why my home smelled like a log cabin, you know, kinda musty.  It wasn't until I stepped into cold water that I realized why and then it took me about a minute to process and a few seconds to start screaming and crying. My two middle kids cried along with me and then we ran upstairs to wake my oldest son up.  


When my teen came downstairs we called my husband, who instructed him to shut off the main water valve when the one under the sink didn't stop the water from gushing out of my dishwasher.  We then tried to clean up the mess with towels which was a never ending job.  I am so proud of my son.  He worked hard that morning without complaining and when I told him to take a break he said "I can't mom.  I have to clean up our home."  


When my husband came home he tried using the Shop-Vac to help clean up, but it was useless.  I then called my best friend to pick up my two middle kids and then my home owner's insurance to report the damage.  My home owner's insurance sent a company to clean up the water. I must write a review on this company, ServePro, because they have the NICEST men working for them.  These guys were so courteous, respectful, and sympathetic to what we were going through.  They had to rip out our NEW floors and leave these huge dehumidifiers and fans to dry up the water.  Oh my, the next few days were a nightmare.  My home reached a temperature of 95 degrees because we were not allowed to turn on the AC or open the windows.  There was dust everywhere and the noise level was crazy.  We had to shout just to hear each other. 


Anyway, in the mix of all this I called Sears to come repair the dishwasher.  This happened on a Saturday and the earliest appointment for them to come out was Tuesday - not my first choice, but not unreasonable.  What was unreasonable was their repairman trying to blame my water for a faulty valve and then not having the part to fix my dishwasher.  He said hard water was at fault because the mineral build up disrupted the valve from closing.  This makes sense and is a reasonable explanation.  However,  there was no proof of this.  When my husband asked why he came to this conclusion, the repairman was at a lost for words and said it was a "hunch." In my development everyone has the same water and yet, I am the only one whose dishwasher failed because of it.  We aren't talking about a 20 year old dishwasher.  This baby is only five years old.  Not only that, but we splurged for stainless steel, not just the outside, but the tub too and it's an "Elite" model.  There was no sign of mineral build up on the valve or anywhere in the dishwasher. The repairman said that he could not do anything else without the needed part and put an order in for it from our home.  We asked when the part would arrive and he replied, "next Tuesday."  My husband then had to ask if a rush delivery could be requested.  We were told yes, and a delivery date of Thursday was given.  The repairman said that if we received the part before Tuesday that we could call him for an earlier repair appointment. 

Thursday came nothing. Friday, nothing. Weekend and Monday, nada. Finally, it was Tuesday evening and I hadn't heard anything from Sears, so I called.  Mind you that my entire home is in disarray and repairs are at a standstill until the dishwasher is repaired.  My home owner's insurance will not proceed until the repairs are done. So when I called Sears, the first two people I spoke to gave me the run around. The third person, told me that she would put a request so that the "Parts Department" could call me. An hour later the Parts Department called me to let me know that the valve was out of stock and would not be available until May 31 st!  Seven weeks from that day!  Almost two months!  I couldn't help, but cry.  I asked to speak to a manager and from this point on I spoke to about 5 different departments.  I pleaded with them.  I explained that I have four children, including a newborn baby.  I explained that my husband is a Fire Fighter and in the military, that I am mostly alone dealing with a house that is not function-able.  "Sorry Mrs. T***** all we can do is give you a $50 gift certificate."  Are you kidding me?!  That's like telling a gunshot victim, "here, put this Band-aid on."  I told that person "Fifty dollars?  Ma'am, I have no floors what is a fifty dollar gift certificate suppose to do about that?"  I asked if there was any way that I can get a new dishwasher since the part was almost two months away from being available and I was told that my warranty would not cover that.  The only way I could get a dishwasher issued to me is if the old one is "not repairable."  So we paid the extra $200 + for a warranty that is basically useless.  I am so frustrated.  My home owner's insurance cannot go after Sears because in the state that I live in we have passed the statue of limitations. 

I feel that Sears is a heartless company, that they would allow four children to live in a home, under these conditions for two months.  I am so upset.  I am sure that if I were the daughter of some top Sears Executive I would have had a new dishwasher the very next day.  My husband and I were loyal customers of Sears, not anymore.  
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Turn the Other Cheek?

It's been a little tricky and difficult to find the right thing to tell my children when it comes to being bullied. In the one hand, I want them to be a wonderful Christian example and take what is dished out and stand up for themselves with prayer and kindness.  However, I come from the Bronx.  I know that this is not realistic and doesn't always work.  Where I come from, you put a stop to negative behavior ASAP.  If you show fear they will continue to pick on you.  If you have to knock someone out, you do that to protect yourself and to put a stop to something that may otherwise continue for many years.  If a bully sees fear in you, they will always pick on you - it's not until you stand up for yourself and put a little fear into them that they stop.

I, unfortunately, learned this first hand.  I was bullied beyond belief in the sixth grade.  It was the first time that this had ever happened to me and I didn't know how to deal with it.  At first I tried ignoring it and hoping it will go away, it didn't.  Then I tried telling my teacher, it made it worst. I tried my mother's sweet-nice-Jesuslovesyou-approach and I got laughed at and then picked on even more.  I was pushed, shoved, kicked, mushed, and worst, told the most degrading things on a daily basis.  It was relentless and more kids joined in as time went on.  It was horrible.  I faked illness in order to miss school and went into a deep depression.  My sister who is older than me, overheard me talking to a friend about what was going on in school and she told me, "Don't listen to mom.  You need to stop this.  You better go to school tomorrow and kick someone's (donkey).  If you don't, I will beat you down."  Ummm,  I was scared of my sister when she was serious and so the next time they picked on me I turned around and punched one of them.  I remember being so scared.  I fought the fattest black girl of the group at Poe Park after school on a Spring day with a bunch of kids watching and screaming "fight, fight, fight."  I was a skinny girl, so she could have demolished me.  I guess I was so scared of losing that I gave it my all and won.  Let's just say that there were hair extensions everywhere and I was never EVER picked on after that.  As a matter a fact, we became friends after that fight.  After that day I NEVER allowed anyone to pick on me.  The minute I saw it happening I put the person in their place.  Sometimes it was with stern words, a killer look, and at times I had to fight.  Growing up in the Bronx was awesome, and it wasn't as bad as people think, but I did run into some very tough people and very tough situations and I was happy that I had street smarts when I did.

With my own children I have struggled with what to say.  Finally, I have been telling them to ALWAYS use kind words first, if that doesn't work, use stern words with a stern tone, for example, "Please, don't put your hands on me."  If that doesn't work tell a grown up.  If it continues, you do what you have to do to defend yourself.  If you have to get tough and they hit you, you hit them back.  You will never get in trouble with me or your Papa if you tried all the nice / right things and it didn't work.  So, far this is working out.  I don't know if this is the right thing for everyone, but in my world it is.  I have very sweet children who can be easily picked on and I don't want them to ever be the victim of any punk.

I know many of my friends and family will disagree with me, and I am sorry.  My children are great kids who would never pick on anyone or make anyone feel poorly.  They have been taught to treat everyone with kindness, and to stick up for those who cannot stick up for themselves.  They will always use kindness first, but if that doesn't work..."Let's get ready to RUMMMMMMBLE"

Kindness

Sometimes kindness comes when you least expect it, and sometimes from a surprising source.

Teenagers are known for being self-indulgent and sometimes clueless :)  Yes, I have seen these traits in my oldest son once he hit "those years." At times I question if I am parenting the right way.  However, despite the clueless-ness I know that a loving, bright, and selfless young man will one day blossom.  Last night I got a huge glimmer of what he is becoming and it makes me proud.  My son overheard me talking to a friend about how badly I want to read this new Christian book called, "Heaven is for Real," written by a pastor about the accounts told by his four year old little boy about meeting Jesus and going to heaven during a near death experience.  I told my friend that I had the money to buy the book via my Kindle, but then had to use the money on my daughter's lunch account.  I was bummed out, but that's life as a mother :)  Well, later on that night, right after I had tucked everyone in bed and said "good night," there was a knock on my door.  It was my son, holding out a ten dollar bill, as he said "Mom, here you go."  "Honey, what's that for?" I said with a confused smile.  "I want you to get that book you want to read.  You deserve it."  My heart swelled and I fought back tears.

I didn't take the money, but I told him how grateful I was.  His act of kindness was exactly what I needed after a long day and I'd take that over a book any day.
Daisypath - Personal picture

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