I put in my vacation request long ago for a specific week. I planned everything down to the last detail—booked flights, reserved hotels, and scheduled activities I’d been looking forward to for ages. It was all approved without issue, and I counted down the days, excited about a well-earned break from work.

Then, last week, my coworker Lisa found out that her kids’ school break happened to fall on the same week. She approached me, all smiles at first, and asked if I’d want to swap my vacation with her so she could take her kids on a trip. I hesitated but remained polite and said that I’d booked everything and most of it is non-refundable.

Her smile faded in an instant, “Seriously? You can’t be flexible? I mean, it’s just you. It’s not like you have kids depending on you.” That struck a nerve. I kept my voice even but firm, “Just because I don’t have kids doesn’t mean my time off is any less important.” Her expression soured. “Must be nice to have so much freedom,” she muttered, rolling her eyes before walking away. I thought that the discussion was over. Since then, she’s barely spoken to me. Cold stares, clipped responses, and an overall frosty demeanor—she’s made it very clear she’s pissed. And she’s not just keeping it between us.

The next day, our boss called me into an unscheduled meeting and said, “I’ve been hearing things around the office. You know, Lisa’s in a tough spot. She’s just trying to do something nice for her kids. You could’ve been more understanding and flexible with your vacation.”

I nearly laughed at the irony. Because apparently, my plans, my time, and my money don’t count for anything since I don’t have children. I fought to keep my calm, “I’m sorry, but I’ve already made non-refundable arrangements. My time off matters too.”

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat but didn’t push further. The tension lingered, and I walked out of the meeting feeling blindsided, more confused than ever.

So now, I’m left wondering—did I do something wrong? Was I really supposed to just roll over and cancel my long-planned trip because Lisa has kids?