As moms, we know that not every parent does things the same way, which is fine. Every family is different, and if there is plenty of love to go around and the children are treated kindly and respectfully, who are we to judge? Thanks to social media, we have been introduced to many families throughout the years and love to hear their stories. But occasionally, we come across a tale that leaves us totally shocked.
Quinn Valentine, who posts on TikTok as @qster14, recently shared a story about her grandmother that quickly went viral because it is unhinged. Quinn's grandmother had been staying with her while her parents were out of town and evidently had gotten enough grandma time. She got on a plane and left in the middle of the night. But the story gets better — she didn't leave a 10-year-old to fend for herself on a random Tuesday. No, it was Quinn's birthday. This is the out-of-pocket stuff we live for.
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Quinn loved her grandmother.
In her video, she makes it very clear that she loved her grandmother but said she wasn't the most maternal figure. The woman, Maureen, has since died but leaves a legacy that Quinn will never forget.
In April 2010, Quinn was living with her family in Ohio, and her grandmother lived in Connecticut. It was an unusual circumstance, but her parents were both out of town, so Quinn's grandmother came to care for her while they were gone.
"She was a funny lady. She was very laid back," Quinn told People.
A volcanic eruption changed everything.
Quinn explains in her video that a volcano erupted in Iceland, leaving all European flights grounded and her parents stranded. It was right before her birthday, but her dad assured her someone would be home to celebrate her turning 10.
"That Friday night, my grandmother had told my dad she was getting on her flight the next day regardless and going home. I remember talking to my dad that night, and he just said, 'We're figuring it out; don't worry about it. Somebody will be there tomorrow for your birthday,'" Quinn told People.
But her grandmother had other plans.
She apparently told Quinn's dad that she was finished with her trip to Ohio and would be returning to Connecticut. Quinn's dad tried to explain the situation to his mother, who wasn't having it.
When Quinn woke up on her birthday, she found a note from her grandmother, who had caught a flight back to Connecticut.
Just like Kevin McCallister, Quinn was home alone.
Her grandmother left her a note telling her she loved her and wishing her a happy birthday but that Quinn was on her own. Some neighbor friends came to play after her mom made some emergency internationally organized playdates. It was undoubtedly a day she'll never forget.
"I remember being like, 'Oh, this is a weird birthday.' It was fun because it was a surprise. I had no idea that this was willy-nilly planned, thrown together by my mom and my dad, coordinated in the background. I didn't even think twice, at the moment, that it was something that my parents had done to help me not be stressed out or by myself on my birthday," she recalled to People.
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Not surprisingly, Quinn's story went viral.
Her video was met with mixed reactions of both shock and awe.
One person thought this story had potential. "This is a villain origin story….take advantage of that!" the person suggested.
And some had jokes. "grandma stood on business lol," someone commented.
There were also similar stories from TikTokers.
Like this: "My grandpa left us at the park to go home and make a phone call. He also left my sister in her car seat to go into airport to look at flight times lol."
And this: "My grandma just straight up dropped me off at the hospital when I was 5 so I could visit my dad. No instructions. Just left me in front of the hospital ."
Quinn ends her video with a warning: "If you don't think you have a maternal instinct, maybe don't go on to just have kids for the sake of it. Because I don't think it'll click when you have grandkids."
