Dear Abby

I’m a 66-year-old woman who has put in 47 years of full-time work while also raising two kids. To be honest, I’m pretty worn out from it all and plan to retire in three months.

I’m single and don’t have a boyfriend. I have plenty of friends and family around, but I’m starting to feel nervous about how to fill my free time. I know I should feel lucky to be able to retire, but this newfound freedom is causing me some anxiety. Do you have any ideas? — Stopping in Texas soon

Dear Stop: Consider making a list of things that interest you. Retirement might give you a chance to travel and explore the beauty of this country. You could also enroll in adult education classes at a nearby university. Volunteering for local projects or charities can be really fulfilling too. And let’s not forget, you can just hang out and have fun with your friends. How you choose to spend your time is entirely up to you, limited only by your imagination.

I’m a grandmother who helps my parents by picking up my grandchildren from daycare twice a week. Recently, I’ve started taking him to a local park for about 45 minutes before heading home. I stay active, climbing on the slides, chasing him around, and just enjoying our time together.

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve noticed a 6-year-old girl seemingly by herself at the park. Her parents aren’t on the playground, so I guess they might be in the parking lot.

We always go at the same time school ends, so it seems like she’s there every day after school.

She’s taken a liking to us and frequently asks me to join her on the slides and swings, following us around no matter what we’re doing. She’s really sweet but it’s starting to cut into the time I have with my grandson. He’s also getting a bit frustrated with the extra attention being demanded from me, which makes it hard for me to focus on him.

There aren’t any other parks close by that we can switch to, and he really enjoys this one. The girl is always there when we arrive, and I initially tried to include her, but that only seemed to make her need for attention grow.

As a retired teacher, I know she’s seeking adult attention, but it’s really disrupting our playtime. How can I politely ask her to back off? — Distracted Grandma in Florida

Dear Grandma: You’re assuming there are adults nearby looking after her. The next time you see her, try asking if someone is with her—maybe her mom, dad, or a caregiver?

If there is someone, either talk to them about the situation, or if no responsible adult is supervising her, please report it to the school or child protective services. Leaving a child like that alone could be dangerous for her.