I moved away from my family in my 30s. When I called crying, my dad dropped everything and came to see me.

Ruth Davis's dad dropped everything and went to visit her when she needed him.

Courtesy of Ruth Davis

• Ruth Davis is a 39-year-old mom who moved two hours away from her family in 2019 for work.
• Leaving her dad was harder than she expected.
• Although Ruth doesn't regret her move, she wouldn't advise her daughter to make the same one.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ruth Davis, a Creative Director in LA. It has been edited for length and clarity.