Knocking on the door, I braced myself. A girl—no older than him—answered with tired eyes. She looked shocked to see me. My son turned, his face filled with fear. “Mom, please, I can explain,” he whispered.

It turned out his friend’s older sister had a baby and no support. My son had been secretly helping, using his allowance to buy supplies.

I pulled him into a hug, tears in my eyes. He wasn’t in trouble—he was a hero. And I knew we had to help.