Family Upset After Dad Chooses to Spend a Day Off by Himself Instead of with Them

Mar. 15, 2025

Man and woman arguing in stock photo.Photo:Getty

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A dad looking forward to a me-day is now feeling guilty after sharing his plans with family.

In an anonymous post onReddit, the 43-year-old father of two writes, “This year, my company is giving everybody [their] birthday off. Mine is a Monday a couple of weeks from now.”

When he told his family about his bonus vacation day, they were thrilled — and particularly thrilled to make plans with him.

The dad, however, had other ideas.

“I said, sorry, but I was planning on having the day to myself,” he shares. Now, “They were a bit disappointed, and I felt a bit guilty.”

The father adds that he “love[s] my family,” but “was planning on going near the beach, walk a bit, and have a nice meal enjoying the ocean view, hearing no other sound, but the waves and the seagulls.” Plus, the foursome already have plans to go away for the weekend to celebrate his birthday.

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He adds that usual days are busy, too, filled with runs to after-school activities, homework, chores and beyond. “In sum,” the dad writes, he and his wife “have little time for ourselves as a couple, and almost no time alone individually.”

So, he asks, is he in the wrong for choosing to spend his personal day … personally?

No, commenters agree.

“I love my family dearly and also believe wholeheartedly in time to ourselves once in a while,” writes one. “I usually take one day a year, but sometimes two, to not be around anybody.”

“YOUR day, your rules,” adds another. “Your family have the right to be disappointed but they had a healthy reaction. You are one of the lucky ones on this subreddit. Take that day off and enjoy yourself! You have the right to say no, it’s your day there’s no need to feel guilty. I hope this helps and happy birthday!”

source: people.com