Did my girls love their exclusive European dresses I spent hours looking for? Of course not!

It’s good to have friends in high places. My friend is a stylist for several children’s lines. When she sent me photos of a recent shoot, I quickly responded. Gorgeous! I’ll take everything.

Talk about efficiency. My children’s summer wardrobes were done before February.

Moments later she apologized; she couldn’t actually get me the clothing, she was just showing me what was coming in.

Couldn’t she just nab a couple of those stunning blue dresses for me? No, not even if I paid double. Turns out I don’t have friends in such high places after all.

She did, however, tell me where and when I could get them. “Go! And go early because they sell out fast.”

“But I feel like a loser to run after those dresses!” I responded.

“If you get them, you’ll be a winner!” she rejoined.

I wasn’t convinced. But one morning I found myself on the other side of town for an important errand, and once I was there, I decided to stop in the children’s store and look for the blue dresses. According to my friend’s info, they should’ve just come in.

I confidently strolled into the shop and halted. The store was a madhouse. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one with inside information.

When I finally made my way to the racks, there was one piece left in a size two. Women were balancing stacks of clothing in their hands, and the line snaked around the store. I wasn’t sure what was more maddening: The chaotic store, the dresses gone within 30 minutes of opening time, or the fact that I was standing there, part of it all. I quickly slipped out of the store empty-handed.