Earlier today, I took my three kids to Brickell City Center for ice cream, a tradition that started years ago when we lived in Brickell. Back then, we would visit every year, enjoy some ice cream, and take a picture with the Christmas tree. Even now, living in South Miami, we've kept this tradition alive. But this year will be the last.

After taking six photos of my kids smiling by the tree near Santa's area, a security guard approached me. She insisted I delete the pictures from my "professional" camera—a simple old mirrorless model, far from professional-grade equipment. Despite my pleas and questions, she made me go through my photos and delete each one while my kids watched, scared and confused. I even begged to keep just one, but she refused, telling me to use my phone instead. My phone is outdated and takes poor photos, which is why I used my camera in the first place. The joy of our outing—the first day of their school break—was completely ruined.

There were no signs prohibiting cameras, and the guard couldn't define what a "professional" camera even meant. She claimed her supervisor had been watching me on the security cameras and sent her to stop me before I left, not to issue a warning, but to demand the photos be deleted. I was treated like a criminal in front of my children for simply capturing a cherished moment. For years, I had taken pictures here with the same camera without any issue. But after this humiliating experience, I won't be returning. What once was a beloved tradition has been tarnished.