A Florida grandmother's cherished playtime with her young grandson has become a source of stress and ethical concern due to the persistent presence of an unsupervised little girl at their local park.
A Cherished Routine Interrupted
To assist her son and daughter-in-law, the grandmother, who identifies herself as "Distracted Grandma in Florida," picks up her grandson from daycare twice weekly. Their routine includes a cherished 45-minute visit to a nearby playground, where she actively engages by climbing slides, playing chase, and sharing joyful moments. This special bonding time is something the little boy deeply loves.
However, over the past two weeks, this routine has been consistently interrupted. A six-year-old girl has been present at the park, seemingly alone. The grandmother assumes the child's parents wait in the parking lot, as they are never seen in the actual play area. The timing coincides with local school dismissal, suggesting the girl visits daily after class.
The Unwelcome Attachment
The young girl has firmly attached herself to the grandmother and her grandson. She persistently requests that the woman slide with her, push her on the swings, and chase her. She constantly seeks attention, asking the grandmother to watch her perform various activities.
While describing the child as "cute and sweet," the retired teacher expresses her growing frustration. The girl's demands are diverting precious time and attention away from her own grandson. Furthermore, the boy has become annoyed by the intrusion, and the grandmother finds her focus divided, complicating her primary task of keeping a close watch on her grandchild.
Attempts to kindly include the girl in their play only worsened the situation, leading to even more demands for adult attention. With no other convenient parks available and her grandson devoted to this particular playground, the grandmother feels trapped in an awkward social predicament.
Dear Abby's Stern Advice
Jeanne Phillips, writing as the iconic advice columnist Dear Abby, responded with clear and concerned guidance published on January 17, 2026. She immediately challenged the grandmother's key assumption.
"You are assuming that the little girl HAS a parent in the parking lot," Abby wrote. Her advice was direct: the next time they encounter the girl, the grandmother must ask her exactly who is there with her—whether it be a parent, aunt, or other caregiver.
This inquiry serves a dual purpose. If a guardian is present, the grandmother can politely explain the situation to them. However, Abby highlighted the more serious possibility: that no responsible adult is supervising the child at all.
"If this is the case, for heaven's sake, report it to the school or CPS because leaving her all alone is child endangerment," Abby urged, reframing the issue from a social nuisance to a potential serious safety and welfare concern.
A Second Letter on Retirement Anxiety
The same column also addressed a separate letter from "Stopping Soon in Texas," a 66-year-old woman anxious about her impending retirement after a 47-year career. Having raised a family and maintained a home while working full-time, she confessed to nervousness about filling her newfound freedom, despite having friends and family.
Abby offered reassuring and practical suggestions, encouraging her to make a list of interests. She proposed possibilities like travel, adult education classes, community volunteering, or simply spending more time with friends. Abby emphasized that her retirement years are a canvas limited only by her own imagination.
The Dear Abby column, founded by Pauline Phillips and now written by her daughter Jeanne Phillips, continues to tackle a wide range of personal and societal dilemmas, offering a blend of common sense and compassion to readers across North America.
