Feel Guilty SO Easily

Miss Grace · 26-03-2010, 01:40 PM

So my little niece (2-1/2) was running a low-grade temp today and was cranky cuz she's teething, and when I woke up my Sister asked if she could stay home with me today rather than go to the babysitter...and I kinda paused, thinking, because I knew I am too stressed to deal with her today. So Sis went ahead and got her dressed...and I said "no, wait, Sis, that's fine, just leave her here with me." And Sis was like "no, I saw the stressed look on your face, so I'll just take her to the babysitter." And now I feel tremendouly guilty. I should have been able to keep her here with me today, but I just knew in my gut that I couldn't handle her today. It's SO hard to say no. I feel so guilty now, like I should have just sucked it up and said "ok." I feel like I'm a terrible person now.

Tig · 27-03-2010, 02:35 AM

Try not too feel guilty, I know it's easier than done.
If you ended up unwell because it added extra stress then you couldn't have cared for the little girl properly. In the end it sounds like it was your sisters decision more than yours, she obviously realised you weren't doing too great and accepts that.
*Hugs*
x

Stellata · 27-03-2010, 08:06 AM

Saying 'no' doesn't necessarily make you a bad person. It means that you're developing boundaries, and that's healthy.

Foxeh · 27-03-2010, 11:28 AM

You're not a terrible person - you're a sensible person, and you were honest with yourself, which is an important and good thing!

If you had ignored your feelings, 'sucked it up' and taken her, how would you have felt if you hadn't been able to handle her? If you had ended up getting angry at her or her getting hurt or whatever because you weren't in the right frame of mind to look after her?
You were being responsible, so don't feel bad :) *huggles*