Mark had been counting down the days to his well-earned vacation—flights booked, hotels reserved, and an itinerary packed with activities he’d been dreaming about for months. But when his coworker Lisa asked him to swap weeks because her kids’ school break suddenly aligned with his time off, he found himself in an uncomfortable position.
“I’ve already made non-refundable plans,” Mark explained politely. Lisa’s reaction was immediate—her smile vanished, replaced with frustration. “It’s just you,” she said dismissively. “It’s not like you have kids depending on you.” The comment stung, but Mark stood his ground. “My time off matters too,” he replied.
The tension didn’t end there. Lisa’s icy demeanor made the office uncomfortable, and soon, their boss pulled Mark aside, suggesting he should have been “more understanding” of Lisa’s situation. Mark left the meeting feeling frustrated—since when did being childless make his plans less important?
Now, he’s left questioning: Was he wrong for prioritizing his own vacation, or was Lisa’s expectation unfair?
