"Fine, although it's always nice to be home."

Nobody cares. Just say good thanks how was yours and move it along. Stop overthinking things.

I say good and add some pleasant detail on a neutral topic (food, weather) and ask how if the other person had a good break. Nothing super negative unless it can be turned into a funny story and nothing that could create stress.

Anonymous wrote:I miss the days when everyone knew the only appropriate answer to this was, "fine, how was yours" (or even better, the days when most people in the office didn't even ask this).

Its totally fine to say something like, "Eh, we got hit with some cold and rain, but it was great to have a few days away. Sedona has some great Mexican food. How was yours?" It's more than "fine" but gives the other person openings if they want to keep chatting.

I miss the days when everyone knew the only appropriate answer to this was, "fine, how was yours" (or even better, the days when most people in the office didn't even ask this).

Anonymous wrote:Depends what you mean by bad.

If you mean you stayed home, caught the kids up on routine medical care and deep cleaned the bathroom, I would say something like “nice to get a break and catch up on things.”

If someone died or something or would feel weird to say “good”.

Exactly.

I don't understand how someone can be so worried about others' opinions that they worry about how to respond to a question about spring break.

You say "good" unless both you are willing to discuss in more details and the person asking is someone who would want more details.

When it hasn't been so good, I'll usually come up with something tangential to say like "the kids are happy to be back in school " or "happy to have the kids back at school". The former works for us because my kids actually love school since they have many friends/social contacts that they see primarily through school and they miss hanging with those friends when not in school.

If it was bad I would say it was bad but tell them the funny parts. If it was bad in the sense of traumatic I’d just say “fine, how about you?”

Depends what you mean by bad.

If you mean you stayed home, caught the kids up on routine medical care and deep cleaned the bathroom, I would say something like “nice to get a break and catch up on things.”

If someone died or something or would feel weird to say “good”.

Anonymous wrote:I just say good no matter what. No one really cares.

Sme here unless it's somebody I'm close to. "It was good.. how was yours?" It's just filler.

I just say good no matter what. No one really cares.

"A bit chaotic, but a nice break. Ready though now to jump back in. How was yours?"

Depends who is asking. If it’s just office chatter, they just want to hear that it was great and relaxing. But with a close friend, they want the details.

This is a spin off to the best/worst spring breaks. If it was a bad one, how do you respond when people ask? If you had a mixed time (like I did), do you just say “good!” And move on or are you honest? I know sometimes it’s just in passing in the office kitchen and nobody really wants the details, but sometimes it’s someone close to you. What do you say?