The man raised his head, appeared taken aback, and then grinned broadly again. “Obviously,” he answered, handing my baby back to me without a word of protest. I gave her a strong hug and felt her little heart beat rapidly against mine.

As I sat down again, I kept a watchful eye on the man. For the remainder of the flight, he avoided me, as though he could sense my doubt. I tried to focus on my child, but I couldn’t help but think about the scene.

I quickly reported the incident to airport security as soon as we touched down for the last time. They took my statement seriously and pledged to investigate.

I got a call from airport security a few days later. They had seen the video and spoken with the man. It turned out that he was a well-known child psychologist who regularly assisted children in falling asleep during airplane travel. He had only been well-intentioned.

I felt a little humiliated and relieved at the same time as I thanked them. The event was a sobering reminder of the importance of being vigilant and of a parent’s innate protective tendencies.

I began to tell my friends and relatives about this flight, using it as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the power of the bond between a parent and child. There was considerable apprehension at first, but it ended beautifully. I learned to trust my instincts and to embrace the kindness of strangers. In the days that followed, I discovered how to treasure the brief moments of joy and peace I experienced with my child and felt appreciative of the compassion that, even in these modern times, permeates the globe.