AIBU to be reluctant to go to work in the current weather?

[JalapenoCheeseOnToast]

Okay so I'm in East Anglia where we have had heavy snow for a few days and my road is a slushy, snowy nightmare (I took a walk around earlier to see what I'm dealing with).
I'm a TA in a school, and I live just over a mile away, and we have been shut this week and continue to be shut tomorrow except to those critical workers who absolutely cannot arrange alternative childcare - around 15-20 children are confirmed. Whilst we have been in lockdown I have been working 2 days in the school and 3 from home. Wednesday isn't my day in school.
I just received a message asking if I'm willing to go in tomorrow and I feel like perhaps IABU to say no BUT I have for a number of reasons:

1. I am not a confident driver in ice and snow, my road looks horrendous and I would also have to travel down and up a fairly steep hill to get there
2. DH is away with work so I am unable to leave DS9 and DD1 with him when I go to work so I would need to take them with me if I walked and I don't want to walk DD at 7:30am when its -3 (feeling like -9)
3. I have a current issue with my back and wouldn't like to chance slipping and injuring myself further, especially when I am alone with the children for another 2 weeks and last time I was on crutches for a few weeks and unable to pick DD up at all so needed constant help.

So...AIBU? I'm fully prepared to try and get the car out for Friday when I am usually due in but until then I'd prefer to stay put and hope the road clears. The temperatures look horribly cold for a while now so ice is a real problem. I have gone above and beyond working well past my usual hours whilst working from home so I'm not being work shy, I just don't feel happy with these circumstances, but I also feel horribly guilty and that they must think I'm taking the mick since I do live a 25 minute walk away. If DH was here, I would walk (and just be desperately careful to not slip) but he isn't and I have no one else (and also lockdown!)

YABU - you should get over it and walk/drive to help the school, it's only snow and ice and the kids can wear a coat
YANBU - stay home until your usual day and don't feel guilty, it's not fair to walk the kids in such cold/icy weather

Hope I've given enough info!

Where would your 1 year old normally be while you're at work?

I think a mile is fine to walk with a 9 year old, but what do you do with the 1 year old at school?

Do you have a’Severe weather policy’?

Are you allowed to take your children in?

The issue here is nothing to do with the snow really - of course you should be able to walk a mile to get to work. I also think it's fair that you should make the effort to help them even though it's not your usual day because you didn't go in on the Monday which is your usual day.

The only big question is about the 1yo - if you don't have childcare for her, then that is the reason you can't go in.

@Okokokbear

Thing is people saying it's just a mile are assuming you can actually get the car out. I'm on a hill which isn't gritted. I couldn't get the car out today. No one has moved their cars on the street.

Why on earth would you get the car out to travel a mile? Even if it is slushy with snow, it’s a very short walk

Do your children not normally have a school place while you work?

Also don’t understand what happens to your DC while you work.
Notwithstanding this issue, one mile walk, I’d do it. Youngest in buggy and oldest holding the handle.

Sorry, missed a bit of info after all! DS is at my school so he would take a key worker place for the day and DD is at a nursery which isn't far from the school so she would go there (which is what necessitates leaving before 7:30am) and yes I would walk DD in the pushchair but just have visions of us all sliding back down the big hill!

@tutorwho I am in a similar area and know the Orwell Bridge well!

I do appreciate all comments, sometimes I can make things worse in my head and without DH here to talk some sense into me I let things wind me up. I am also known for reading too much into messages and worrying so your messages have helped bring me back to earth a bit.

Staffing is sorted for tomorrow and if I'm needed on other days then I will find a way in after all. I'm not worried about 1 mile (I'd appreciate the walk in any normal times!) I was just concerned for the reasons I outlined (cold kids, slipping and reinjury)

Thanks all!

I think it's a bit shit that someone had to go in for you this week to help you out but you're not willing to go in, even though you wouldnt be doing more than you're meant to this week. They're not asking you to do extra, just the same amount on a different day.

It's only a mile to where I work, so when it snowed here a few years ago I set off to walk to work.

I slipped on the icy pavement not 10 yards from my gate, and broke my wrist. I wouldn't bother again!

Unless there are aome serious access or disability issues I would go. Not that difficult to walk a molenif you are relatively fit?

Its 1 mile easier for you to get there than someone who lives 10 miles away. I drove today and its not that bad just go steady.

Walk.

Do you work part time or are you just working from home due to COVID? If so, I would say if you’re called in to work, you suck it up and go.

@godimabitch no one went in for me this week, the school has been "closed" all week, but I do see what you are saying and in ordinary times someone would have potentially covered me (or the class would have been without a TA)

I'm a full time TA - the school is closed so we are on a rota system currently, going in and working from home.

No disability issues, usually very fit but due to injury I'm more worried than usual of falling (and being alone with the children if it happened, last time I was left unable to walk unaided for over 2 weeks and have been in constant pain since but working on it!)

Hmmm, I see your point but, in normal times, would you have gone in? If yes then there is your answer. I wonder if we’re all going to become much more averse to things that make us feel “unsafe” when we’ve now spent so long being told to “stay safe”?

Oh gosh I missed that you're full time, I thought you meant it was a non-working day! Yes of course you should have agreed to go in.

I was going to say YABU but then I read that it’s not your day to go in and you have no childcare for your 1 year old. I wouldn’t go in in your circumstances if there was a choice.

I'm glad it's all sorted but you really could have gone in, the kids would be fine...my friend's baby is out napping in this weather! Perhaps in similar situations you could negotiate to come in a little later because you are doing them a favour and childcare is tricky? I live near my hospital and often come in short notice if the weather is bad and other nurses can't get through but I may make it a shorter shift if I can't get slept or childcare issues. If they are short they usually bite your hand off for the help!

It's only a mile, wrap up warm and walk.

@Jent13c

I'm glad it's all sorted but you really could have gone in, the kids would be fine...my friend's baby is out napping in this weather! Perhaps in similar situations you could negotiate to come in a little later because you are doing them a favour and childcare is tricky? I live near my hospital and often come in short notice if the weather is bad and other nurses can't get through but I may make it a shorter shift if I can't get slept or childcare issues. If they are short they usually bite your hand off for the help!

Your child's baby is napping outside in this weather?!?!?!

I’m clearly a work shy avoider as I wouldn’t even consider saying yes to a request like this! Just no!

Why?

@LakieLady

It's only a mile to where I work, so when it snowed here a few years ago I set off to walk to work.

I slipped on the icy pavement not 10 yards from my gate, and broke my wrist. I wouldn't bother again!

I was coming on this post to say exactly the same thing. I slipped over in the snow, walking to the bus stop to go to work, I broke my wrist and ended up having surgery.

I would hesitate to walk again....

If u can't get childcare (but u say u can) then say no if its not your day and u Di t fancy going in on your day off that's your perogative if the only real reason is fear of kids getting cold and breaking your neck walking or u don't want to drive just get a taxi I could understand if u lived miles away but a mile?!

If it’s just about the weather YABU - it’s a mile!

But if you don’t want to take the kids in when you are meant to be off, then that’s fair enough, I guess.