Feeling guilty

gerlam5 · February 2014

I live in Minneapolis, originally from North Carolina. I'm a teacher and Tomorrow it is supposed to snow 6 to 9 inches. On a good day, I live 40 minutes from work. When it snows, it can be as much as two hours each way. Tomorrow is the third "sick "day taken this year because of the snow. Should I feel bad? I just don't think it's worth it for me to stress out, and possibly getting in a wreck with my baby.

Veittobe · February 2014

Driving in bad Minnesota weather can definitely take some getting used to. Especially in the metro area where people always try to drive faster than they should. I grew up in Minnesota and I still hate driving rush hour in bad weather. This has been an especially rough winter.

Mamazon2014 · February 2014

I wouldn't feel guilty about putting safety first.

I live just a few miles from my college but I've skipped classes this year due to slick snow on the roads and the horribly high number of idiots that commute them. My school also does a horrible job of icing pathways and the risk of slipping and falling on the way to class is quite high.

This winter has not been kind to us KU ladies.

Miggg · February 2014

I'm in Minneapolis as well and I have a strict policy of not risking my life to get to anywhere, especially work. The less people on the roads the better, don't feel guilty. If tomorrow is as bad as they're talking I'll probably leave early or just work from home.

mamagerman · February 2014

I live south of the twin cities and my parents are already telling me not to chance it. There is one stretch that is just awful-usually white out type conditions during storms like this. As much as I don't want anymore snow days...I am praying for one tomorrow. I wouldn't feel guilty though. You gotta do what you think is best for you and your child.

Cupcakes89 · February 2014

I would not feel guilty for doing the same thing. You shouldn't either. Think of it as you are keeping your baby safe and to do that you need to keep yourself safe first. If other people cant understand why you have taken those days off its none of their business anyways. DO what makes you comfortable

gerlam5 · February 2014

Thanks ladies

it really helps to get the encouragement. I think as a teacher I have been taught to feel guilty for taking time for me... But as a mom I have to take time for myself and family!

tbiscuit18 · February 2014

I'm in the cities and in the same boat as you. I don't blame you at all for taking a sick day. You have to make decisions that are best for you, and your safety is definitely top priority. My school has a policy which states that it is up to us to determine if it is safe for us to drive in. That said, on the bitter cold days we've had over the last month our school was 1 of 2 metro schools that remained open. They do not have a lot of sympathy for staff or students when it comes to commuting. If I were to call in tomorrow I would be made to feel horribly guilty about it, so for me it's not worth it.

jsaffer01 · February 2014

I live in Mass and winters usually sick here. So far we have had a storm once a week. I travel to my client's houses for work so yes I feel guilty to cancel my sessions during the storm. But to me it's not worth risking the safety of me or this baby to work. I think my boss may be getting pissed that I keep cancelling, but she just had her baby in August she should understand.

So if I were you I wouldn't feel guilty, you can't control the weather.

gerlam5 · February 2014

You guys are the best

kat8805 · February 2014

Totally get your reasons. On board with staying home.

But is this your first winter there? Will it be your last? After LO arrives, you may want to get some winter driving experience in, you can only hide from your current locations climate for so long.

gerlam5 · February 2014

It's my second winter but first with a commute across the cities . I plan on moving to my current school district as soon as there are job openings

gerlam5 · February 2014

And I have driven in the commute... That's how I know it can be up to 2 hrs with the snow . But I want to avoid it when I can

people keep saying this winter is unusual.... But idk

kat8805 · February 2014

gerlam5 said:

And I have driven in the commute... That's how I know it can be up to 2 hrs with the snow . But I want to avoid it when I can people keep saying this winter is unusual.... But idk

I'll agree, this winter has been unusual. We moved back to IN just before Thanksgiving, and my home of MD has been pounded with winter, while we seem to barely get anything. Usually, anything that passes through here, hits them in a few days, but it seems stuff is just going around us. We're in the southern end of the state, and it seems to just be missing us, cause up north they're always getting hit. And the actual south, your homeland included, has gotten more winter weather than us. It's very odd.

Mittens14 · February 2014

I live in NY, after the first bad storm of the year that took me 4 hours to get home, pregnant and with a 3 year old in the backseat, I have "worked from home" every other snow storm (like 4 or 5 since then). If I didn't have the ability to work from home I would be calling in sick and I don't feel guilty about it one bit. lol!

Mimaloo · February 2014

I've been learning and working on not feeling guilty for putting my family first. This includes taking a sick/personal day here and there.

I get why you're feeling guilty but I'd try really hard not to.

NorthernGal248 · February 2014

I agree with the pp's about def making sure you and your family are all safe. If you don't feel safe driving into work then def don't!

However, are these kind of snow storms the norm? Where I live I am expected to come into work even if it is 50 below zero because it is the norm during our winters. It is up to me to make sure I have safe transportation to and from work everyday. When I lived in Oregon I was def not expected to make it into work if it was extreme outside!

gerlam5 · February 2014

It is the norm

to go no matter what. But that's why I'm looking for work closer to home.

I made use of my day by walking the dog and setting up our first nursery furniture!

gerlam5 · February 2014

Well no need to feel guilty today! The whole state has been practically shut down!

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