School Vacation: Why Does It Make Me Feel So Empty?

School vacation weeks drain me. My day no longer belongs to me.

My schedule revolves around someone else's schedule.

Since I am not working, I feel obligated to handle pick-up and drop-off for camps, as well as spending the day with my daughter when there is no camp.

I love my daughter. I love spending time with her and we have fun when we have the day to ourselves.

But, I do not love having my life revolve around her.

I get lost when my day is molded and morphed to fit her schedule. I feel adrift with no aspirations of my own.

Work was a steadying force, providing me a role that did not revolve around my daughter.

Even if I took a few days off to spend with my daugther during school vacation, work was in the background to steady and remind me that other people, besides my daughter, are relying on me.

Without it, only my daughter is relying on me. Why does that not feel enough? Why does it make me feel so empty?

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