In the rush of a hectic morning, I found myself stepping up in a way I never imagined—taking care of my granddaughter Ellie, who, let’s just say, didn’t come with a user manual. It’s not that I didn’t want to help, but Mira always claimed I wasn’t exactly “modern parent material.” Car seats were like contraptions from another planet, and baby bottles came with features I couldn’t quite fathom. Still, I was determined to give it my best shot when Mira needed me.

After a whirlwind crash course on naps and snacks, she handed me Ellie, kissed her goodbye, and rushed off to her interview. There we were, just the two of us. We ended up at Taco Zone for some peace and quiet, where Ellie, still too young for words, became enchanted by my flip phone. In that moment, I felt needed. Until a woman barged in, accusing me of kidnapping my own granddaughter. With my heart racing and Ellie on the verge of tears, the situation turned absurd. But just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, Andrea, a neighbor, stepped in and cleared things up.

The lesson? Sometimes, all a kid needs is your presence, not your perfection.