My family planned a cruise to celebrate my Aunt Carol’s retirement, but I was left out. They assumed I’d stay behind to babysit their kids without asking me. Hurt by the exclusion, I decided to teach them a lesson by planning my own vacation.
When I learned about the cruise through casual conversation, my sister said, “We assumed you were staying to watch our babies for us.” My family didn’t invite me and expected me to babysit. Frustrated, I planned a trip with my boyfriend and adult son instead. On the day of departure, while they tried to drop off their kids, we were already gone.
Upon my return, my family accused me of ruining their plans, but I felt justified. I concluded, “They assumed my compliance… I was invisible until they needed something.” To further drive home the point, I sent each family member a postcard with babysitters’ contact numbers for next time.
