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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Message from childminder

165 replies

discombobulaty · 24/11/2023 19:16

Aibu to think this is shit.

''Due to a change of circumstances I am no longer going to be working Friday pm. This unfortunately means that I need to give notice. Therefore My last day with xx will be 5th January.

Thank you''

So for context my child started with childminder 3 weeks ago, one afternoon a week, all seems to be going well, he's reluctant to go in but I get updates pretty quickly to say he's settled fine. CM newly registered and doesn't seem particularly busy.

AIBU to be fed up with this?

OP posts:
thelonemommabear · 24/11/2023 21:11

I don't know any childminders who would only offer 3 hours per week

betterangels · 24/11/2023 21:10

discombobulaty · 24/11/2023 19:20

I suppose i think it shows she's very unreliable.

Life happens. Her circumstances changed. How is that unreliability?

Iwasafool · 24/11/2023 21:09

Chickychoccyegg · 24/11/2023 20:51

Like what? We dont know the cm's reasoning.
Going to a cm 3 hours a week is too short anyway, most cm's wouldn't take this on unless it suited them to fill a short space, it obviously no longer works for her, giving 5/6 weeks notice will be more than what is required from her.
Do people think oh poor cm when a parent gives notice and thinks unreliable parents...no they don't.

Show quote history

I think it is a shame for the child

BlackFridayDiscoCunt · 24/11/2023 21:09

Dogcatmousecat · 24/11/2023 20:58

Why didn’t she speak to you today when you picked up ? Texting is a bit off IMHO.

Maybe she thought the OP was going to unreasonable about it?

(which she is).

RogersOrganismicProcess · 24/11/2023 21:04

Shockingly low wage. I think most people would rather that day off than hanging around waiting for £18! £18 to care for the most precious little people in our lives. As a nation our priorities are messed up! This should be a valued profession!

NoraBattysCurlers · 24/11/2023 21:02

Viviennemary · 24/11/2023 20:36

I sympathise. Just too annoying. Nurseries are a lot more reliable. Sadly there are too many childminders like this.

Sadly, there are too many childminders who are paid a pittance.

Even when they give six weeks weeks notice, they still have to put up with a appalling attitude from people like you, @Viviennemary.

Jewelspun · 24/11/2023 21:02

She's acted in a professional and courteous manner.

You have no beef with her.

sushiburger · 24/11/2023 21:01

discombobulaty · 24/11/2023 21:00

My dad picked up and she didn't mention it to him

Show quote history

Why would she. Her contract is with you

Original poster
discombobulaty · 24/11/2023 21:00

Dogcatmousecat · 24/11/2023 20:58

Why didn’t she speak to you today when you picked up ? Texting is a bit off IMHO.

My dad picked up and she didn't mention it to him

OP posts:
puppymagic · 24/11/2023 21:00

discombobulaty · 24/11/2023 20:54

She's been working About 6 weeks I think.

Maybe she's decided this isn't the gig for her?

sushiburger · 24/11/2023 20:59

Try a whole day somewhere? Half a day seems pointless

CremeEggSupremacy · 24/11/2023 20:59

She's given you over a months' notice...she's neither unreliable nor unreasonable, wtf do you expect

Dogcatmousecat · 24/11/2023 20:58

Why didn’t she speak to you today when you picked up ? Texting is a bit off IMHO.

Helenloveslee4eva · 24/11/2023 20:57

agree with all the above it’s hard but it’s contractual on both sides. You wouldn’t expect her to be grumpy if you no longer needed her care.

also I dunno if by one else has said but 1/2 day a week is a really challenging one for a minder to accommodate.

Pumpkinspicelattetime · 24/11/2023 20:55

KrisAkabusi · 24/11/2023 20:20

Hang on! You're only paying her £18.38 for three and a half hours work?! That is ridiculously cheap. Good luck finding anyone else at that rate.

It's really not that cheap for a childminder.
The nct put the average cost as less than £5 per hour per child. A childminder would typically have multiple children in their care at the same time (probably why this childminder is stopping the friday pm session). https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/work-and-childcare/childcare/average-childcare-costs

Average childcare costs | Life as a parent, Work and childcare articles & support | NCT

Find out how much full-time or part-time childcare may cost below

https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/work-and-childcare/childcare/average-childcare-costs

puppymagic · 24/11/2023 20:55

Pumpkinspicelattetime · 24/11/2023 20:52

I can see why you are annoyed given your child only started there a few weeks ago. Its the effort of sourxing childcare and then doing the settling in sessions. I would imagine the childminder was hoping to get several children in for that afternoon but since she hasn't, she has now decided it's not worth it so has had to give you notice.

It's a funny time of year to make that judgement though. I'd wait and see what happened by the end of January, when people make plans for the new year, and see if I got better numbers by that time.

It could also be an unanticipated personal situation. She doesn't owe an explanation and is entitled to privacy. We can all resign from our employers anytime, so can she. Or she's decided the caregiving gig isn't for her.

weirdoboelady · 24/11/2023 20:55

She has been reliable and professional, notifying you politely with plenty of notice. She has also been unexpectedly inexpensive, at least to my understanding!

Original poster
discombobulaty · 24/11/2023 20:54

She's been working About 6 weeks I think.

OP posts:
Crooklodge · 24/11/2023 20:52

discombobulaty · 24/11/2023 19:20

I suppose i think it shows she's very unreliable.

How long has she been a childminder?

Pumpkinspicelattetime · 24/11/2023 20:52

I can see why you are annoyed given your child only started there a few weeks ago. Its the effort of sourxing childcare and then doing the settling in sessions. I would imagine the childminder was hoping to get several children in for that afternoon but since she hasn't, she has now decided it's not worth it so has had to give you notice.

WonderingWanda · 24/11/2023 20:51

discombobulaty · 24/11/2023 19:20

I suppose i think it shows she's very unreliable.

Don't use her any more then 😉

Chickychoccyegg · 24/11/2023 20:51

Viviennemary · 24/11/2023 20:36

I sympathise. Just too annoying. Nurseries are a lot more reliable. Sadly there are too many childminders like this.

Like what? We dont know the cm's reasoning.
Going to a cm 3 hours a week is too short anyway, most cm's wouldn't take this on unless it suited them to fill a short space, it obviously no longer works for her, giving 5/6 weeks notice will be more than what is required from her.
Do people think oh poor cm when a parent gives notice and thinks unreliable parents...no they don't.

puppymagic · 24/11/2023 20:50

You have a professional arrangement. She's not doing this as a favour to you, so can change things as work for her. Maybe a family need has arisen for her, maybe this is the time of year she evaluates her schedule for next year. She's given plenty of notice, so has handled this professionally.

Channellingsophistication · 24/11/2023 20:50

It may be annoying but not unreasonable and she has given you plenty of notice. £18 for an afternoon seems very low…?

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 24/11/2023 20:49

MatildaTheCat · 24/11/2023 19:26

I very much doubt she wants such a part time arrangement. There are myriad reasons she could be doing this but she owes you very little.

One afternoon a week is probably not enough for your child to settle in easily anyway.

This