I was excited to have my 13-year-old granddaughter, Lily, stay for the summer, expecting our time to be filled with fun. However, unpacking her suitcase left me shocked—crop tops, makeup, and platform shoes weren’t what I anticipated. When I called my daughter, Emily, to express my concern, she reassured me, “Times have changed, Mom. It’s just self-expression.”
Watching Lily in her trendy outfits, I worried about her growing up too fast. Yet, as we baked apple pies and shared stories, I realized she was still the same sweet girl. “I’m still me, Grandma,” she told me softly. She was just navigating her way in a world different from mine.
That summer, I learned that while her appearance had changed, Lily’s heart hadn’t. Her clothes and makeup were part of her self-discovery, and as her grandmother, I just needed to trust her. After all, beneath it all, she was still our Lily, finding her way with love and laughter.
