To quit a 50k a year job to retrain as a childminder?

And the 1-2 days away from your baby will be good for them in terms of healthy separation - otherwise you will be building a rod for your own back because when your child gets to 4 and has to be prised away from due to severe anxiety at having to attend nursery/school alone, that will be even more heart breaking…

What an absolute load of tosh

I've been a childcare professional for over 40yrs, and childminding for the last 23 of them. There are a lot of myths regarding childminding, including plenty on this thread!

It's the same as any other self employment in terms of paperwork, inspections, out of hours training, cpd, H&S, policies and planning. And you have to evidence that you follow eyfs, and the national curriculum to a slightly lesser extent. The only difference is that you can have your own child with you.

Childminding isn't only about your child, or even the other children. It's about facilitating and supporting parents to walk away from your home and working efficiently knowing that their child is safe and happy.

My two boys didn't suffer as a result of me working at home, the mindees didn't suffer as a result of my two boys being there. It's a fabulous life if you love children and go into it with the right expectations. It's knackering, messy, and noisy. You need to be organised and calm. You need to be assertive and able to keep business and friendships separate. And you need A LOT of storage! As my two got older they weren't required to mix with mindees if they didn't want to but the house rules are for everyone no matter who their parent is.

I have looked after over 80 children. Some of them transient between nursery and schools but the majority of them from nursery and reception to secondary age. The child I have now is my last before retirement and he's been here since 1yr old, he's now 11. I have been minding for his family for over 15yrs. I am still close friends with many parents, and the children I have minded come back regularly to visit, some of them now at university. The very first child I had is now 26 and has just bought his own home, he considers me his second mum and we love him to bits. My boys and some mindees are friends for life.

When all is said and done it's a business and you have to approach it as such. Everything else is a bonus. Working with children is not for everyone. I have made a perfectly good living from childminding (albeit nowhere near 50k although I never earned that anyway).

I've chosen to ignore a couple of previous posters who used terms like "ridiculous" or "a bit wet" to describe my yearning for my baby when I'm at work. I can only assume those posters are not strongly maternal like I am.

Sorry op but you did say this in the last sentence of one of your posts. This is why people are getting upset with you.
You are right, however, not to want people to call you wet.

I did that. Wouldn't do it again. It's more hassle than you think due to OFSTED and certainly impacts your own family.

I can only assume those posters are not strongly maternal like I am.

Seriously?! What a horrible comment. Not spending every second she's at work longing for her baby doesn't mean a woman's not 'strongly maternal', whatever the crap that means. It means she's probably busy doing the job she has to do to earn money to keep a roof over her baby's head.

Lost all sympathy for you now, OP.

The OP wasn't talking about ALL mothers who go to work.

She was specifically addressing those on this thread who were judging her. e.g. called her "wet" for wanting to be with her child.

Please don't twist what the OP says to make it an OP bashing thread. It's very boring.

Just to reassure you, I never came across the attitudes here of not trusting someone with their own kids. I was always full with a steady stream of enquiries. I think having my own kids worked in my favour, the other kids loved them and I absolutely got how tough it was being a working mum and felt a real sense of teamwork between our families.

I sent my DS to a childminder who was looking after her DS too. I chose her because she seemed (and did turn out to be) wonderful, whether the other DC were related to her or not was immaterial.

A good CM will have no problem finding clients if you're in a well populated area.

I can only assume those posters are not strongly maternal like I am.

Can't roll my eyes hard enough at this.

What leads you to believe that? Do you believe those that planned better, arre more maternal than you?

So your partner doesn't want you to do this, you would have to move to a smaller home which would make being a CM more challenging, would struggle to afford a bigger car etc You would struggle if your oartner point blanks refuses to move etc.

Seems like a non starter.

OK you totally lost me now you assume you are more maternal than other mothers who want to continue to go out to work...

Not sure being judgemental of working mothers is a great characteristic for a childminder given that your business and income depends upon those women you despise....

I'm surprised by the strength of feeling against this to be honest. I was a childminder and enjoyed it and felt like it was a perfect way to be with my kids and still earn money. However, it is very tough and if you want to go back in the career you're currently in will have a huge negative impact on that so I would definitely take your time over this decision. Really investigate the reality of it, how many kids would you need to have in order to earn enough? Understand that it won't be like your maternity leave, it will be a bit compromise as your time won't be your own the same way.

Just to reassure you, I never came across the attitudes here of not trusting someone with their own kids. I was always full with a steady stream of enquiries. I think having my own kids worked in my favour, the other kids loved them and I absolutely got how tough it was being a working mum and felt a real sense of teamwork between our families. That anecdote up thread about the ps4 is bizarre in its conclusion that their own child would come 2nd place simply because the childminded kid was told to put the ps4 away. I don't get that at all...my lot all had to put away anything not suitable for sharing. Why wouldn't they?!

Childminding - during Covid?! Insane.

Trust me OP - I know some childminders - they wouldn’t recommend it but can’t go back to what they were going before.

It's not pleasant (and also not accurate) to call you 'ridiculous' or 'wet', but the same goes for you casting aspersions on how 'maternal' other posters are, OP.

Alongside the points made by people who have actually had this experience, you need to be aware that it's extremely early days. Making what may well be an irreversible decision now wouldn't be wise. I'd be looking at reducing hours.

I wouldn’t choose a childminder who had her own young child as a mindee as I would worry there
mine would be a 3rd wheel. I did change careers after maternity so that’s not totally ruled out. Can you go part time?

Well I do it and I love it. I've been a childminder for a long time though, but recentlyhad a baby. I wouldn't give up a 50k a year career for it though. That would be utter madness. You will make a fraction of that and you really won't get to give your child much attention.

OP, I did this. I had been made redundant. DP self employed and worked weird hours, weekends, overnight. I had to be in a position to do both ends of the day, drop off and pick up and DP opt in when he could, whilst still paying for the flexible arrangement . No family, no support. How can you work at that level and do it all?

That is half the story. I was an older mum and frankly, never thought I'd get the chance to be a mum, I was in the last chance saloon. I also knew my years of being mum were much reduced, I wanted every moment. So after maternity, I went back for a short time. I knew I wanted another and two at that level - impossible. I became a childminder.

It hasn't been easy. My eldest, 6 at the time, loved me having a baby in the house. She enjoyed the after school children too. My younger one (3) struggled a bit at first but then we got into a routine and while it was hard, it worked.

I went to every assembly, event, holidays, I was there. I've always been there.

It made me a better mum, planned activities, days out, picnics, I am the master of picnics! The paperwork and fear of ofsted is hard but there is so much support, childminders seek each other out and we nurture and help each other. I have met some amazing women and men in this work. You quickly get into a network and they are the people that sustain you. There are also online facebook groups galore for advice about everything, from activities for everything under the sun, paperwork, and when you need to vent. You are never alone.

If you really want to make it work the rewards are amazing in terms of the children and families you meet. Financially, it can be rewarding (get a pension sorted asap) lots of tax breaks too, and you get to be with your own children.

But now mine are older. I must admit, I'm a bit lost. What do I do now? For some, it's a vocation. I don't wish to return to babies and toddlers. I'm tired of my house always untidy, the instant cleaning, cooking. (Pay for a cleaner, it comes off your tax) My children sharing me and their toys.

I'm early 50s now and wondering what is next. I see my contemporaries in high level jobs and think, on a bad day, I've wasted my education, degree, postgrad, etc zzzz. But I made these choices and as women, there is always guilt and worry.

But still, overall, I don't regret a moment. Still wondering what is next but I'm in a Biden frame of mind - it really is up to me.

I agree reducing hours would be a good compromise rather than giving up career. Is your baby in childcare full time atm? I would also struggle to be away from my kids for so long. But I’d worry that you would also feel torn at hike as a child minder. Like if both your child and another were crying at the same time. It would be very hard.

It's a bad idea.

I understand that you aren't happy with how things are right now but this a nuclear option. Please consider a long term view and don't destroy your career and financial prospects.

Consider cutting your hours at work for a short term fix.