I was thrilled to have Lily, my 13-year-old granddaughter, stay for the summer. She’d always been such a sweet kid. When she arrived, she was bursting with energy, just like when she was little.

I offered to unpack for her while she explored. But when I unzipped her suitcase, I was shocked. Tiny crop tops, short shorts, makeup, and platform shoes—this wasn’t the Lily I knew. I called my daughter, Emily, to express my concern. She reassured me it was normal, that Lily was just expressing herself.

Over the next few days, I kept an eye on Lily. Despite her new style, she was still the same girl—laughing with her grandfather, helping in the garden. But I couldn’t shake my unease.

One evening, I decided to talk to her. “Lily, can we chat?” I asked. She looked up from her book, curious. I expressed my concerns, and she admitted she just wanted to fit in with her friends.

I shared a story about how I once begged for go-go boots. We laughed, and I realized she was just trying to find her way, like I once did. The next morning, Lily wore one of her new outfits but threw on my old cardigan. It was a small gesture, but it warmed my heart.

By the end of the summer, I knew that while Lily was growing up, she was still the same sweet girl underneath it all. We just needed to understand each other a little better.