Family vacations prove stressful, isolating

Dear Amy: My husband’s extended family enjoys going on vacations together. While these family members are amazing, these vacations are very stressful. From trying to figure out what to pack, getting to the airport, checking in, the actual flight, collecting bags, etc., the entire process is an anxious one for me.

Then, while we are at our destination, I completely disappear as far as my husband is concerned. He is there to spend time with his family, not with me. He enjoys the company of our adult children, but barely speaks to me.

In our more than 30 years of marriage, we’ve only been on two trips on our own, and one of these was with our children when they were young.

He seems to recognize that I am stressed out, but never offers any understanding or comfort. His attitude feels more like, “I guess it sucks to be you.”

I have decided to pass on the upcoming trip. I feel like I am in the wrong, and maybe it does suck to be me. Any thoughts?

— Non-traveler

I agree that — right now — it does suck to be you. Fortunately, you have the power to suck the suck out of your situation.

This de-sucking process is up to you, but it does require that you make a series of choices.

Travel anxiety is common. You can learn strategies to cope with your rumination through deep breathing, refocusing your thoughts by connecting with your senses

Dear Non-traveler:

(research the “3-3-3” technique) and seeing a professional therapist to consider treatment for your anxiety.

While on these trips, you could choose to connect with these family members and decide to dive into your own activities with them — essentially taking a vacation from your husband’s disregard.

And yes, at this point I agree with your choice not to go on this trip (which is a vacation for your husband, but not for you).

While home, find some ways to make your “staycation” enjoyable. Try a new thing! Learn to play pickleball, poker or (if you don’t already work outside the home) research volunteer positions or part-time jobs.

If at some point you do want to go on a vacation with your husband, despite his disregard toward you, plan a getaway for the two of you and see how he responds.

Dear Amy: I’ve worked for a small family-owned business (my family doesn’t own it) for almost 10 years.

We are busy and productive, serving our clients and customers on the phone and in person (it’s a stone and tile shop). Precision is important in our work because we are taking measurements to have stone cut to exact sizes.

Last week, my boss hired a new worker, “Susan.” She sits in a cubicle beside me. As part of “getting to know you” chitchat, she mentioned that she has three cats. I’m allergic and don’t like cats, so I said, “Oh, I’d never have a cat; I just don’t trust them.” I was joking, and it didn’t seem like a big deal at all at the time. She didn’t respond, and we both returned to our work.

That night, Susan found me on social media and went through my postings (going back several months) and commented on each photo, “disgusting,” “horrific,” etc.

These were mainly photos of family members, including my children. Under a photo of my 89-year-old grandmother, she wrote: “Disgusting. I just don’t trust her.” I was horrified and took screenshots of everything.

I believe I’ve been harassed, and I don’t believe she has the temperament to work with clients. I want to go to our boss and ask that she be fired, but I’m nervous about doing that. What do you think?

— Worried Employee

Dear Worried: “Susan” has worked at this business for one week, and she is already harassing a colleague. Turn her in.

Dear Amy: “Undecided” was part of a couple trying to decide whether to have children. Your response was one of the most beautiful and brief summations of the parenthood experience I have ever read.

—AFan

Dear Fan: I’ve heard this from other readers, and I thank you all.

When I read the question from “Undecided,” I realized that I’d been rehearsing my response for many years.