Every Christmas, I request a week off to visit my family—and every year, my boss says no. This time, I submitted my request back in June. Last week, four coworkers were approved. Mine was denied again.
His explanation? I should be a “team player” since I don’t have kids.
I smiled and walked away.
Yesterday, he froze when he saw the announcement on our internal board: I’d accepted a new position at another firm, starting in January. The message was simple—a warm welcome from my new employer—but the timing said everything. I was done adjusting, filling gaps, and being treated as the last priority.
When he called me into his office, he asked why I’d made such a “sudden” decision. I reminded him my holiday request had been sitting in his inbox for six months. I explained that fairness matters, and denying time off based on parental status was a pattern I could no longer accept.
The truth was, I’d been thinking about leaving long before this. I’d watched others take breaks and celebrate milestones while I quietly covered shifts.
The new job values planning and respects personal time. As I handed in my notice, I felt something I hadn’t in years—relief.
This Christmas, I’ll be home with my family. No guilt. No stress.
Valuing yourself isn’t selfish. It’s necessary.
