In the stillness of an ordinary workday, my thoughts occasionally wandered to Tommy, our household's newest addition, who was spending his first extended period alone. Returning home to find the animals safe and content was a relief, particularly seeing that Tommy had navigated to a safe spot for his meals, away from Goat's curious nose. The rhythm of the day found its cadence in the routine walk with Goat, a practice that grounds me amid the bustle of life's demands. It was after this walk that the day's tempo changed, as a call from Tsunami ushered in an unexpected but heartwarming twist. The kids, seeking companionship after a day on their own, requested to spend a part of the evening with me. Their mother's message earlier in the day, asserting that I was not "authorized to remove them from her home," loomed in my mind. However, the children had made the decision themselves to seek my company, and I honored their autonomy by providing the care and atte