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Original poster

My chilminder put my kids out in her garden because I was 10 mins late

59 replies

mimosa · 13/10/2010 00:38

Am I over-reacting?
Due to circumstances beyond my control I was 10 mins late collecting my children today. When I arrived they were in their coats with their bags by their feet, sat in my childminders gargen (They are 3 and 5) She was with them. It was 6.10 and getting dark, and very cold.
I know I only pay her until 6, but this is the first time I have ever been late and every other day I collect them a good 15-20 mins early.
What would have happened if I had had an accident or been held up even longer - how long would she have kept them out there?
I need to know that if I am ever in that situation again, that my children are being looked after still.
I would happily pay her if I am late - but I really feel like she doesnt have the best interest of my children at heart.
I am new to this using a childminder lark - and I dont know if I am over-reacting. What should I do?

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Gorionine · 13/10/2010 08:01

"I think it was just that to me, it looked like the money had run out of the meter and so they were not entitled to the same care as prior to pick up time."

I would have thought that as well if she had just left them alone outside but she was with them so clearly still cared.

Original poster
mimosa · 13/10/2010 07:49

Thanks, its good to gain some perspective.
I feel less upset about it today. They didnt look like they were having much fun and quite miserable actually. But then I am sure they just wanted to go home.
I need to discuss this with her.
I think it was just that to me, it looked like the money had run out of the meter and so they were not entitled to the same care as prior to pick up time.

Maybe I am overracting a bit.........its very hard when you have to use childcare, when really you would just like to be home with your kids.
I think its the realisation that although the childminder probably does like children, its still really a business to her.
Buts thanks for helping me see all sides of the situation.

OP posts:
Gorionine · 13/10/2010 07:36

Mimosa, I think you are overreacting a bit. They were safe, properly dressed in her garden and she was out with them. The fresh air will not have hurt them nor will the dark.

rainbowinthesky · 13/10/2010 07:32

That's happened to me if I've been running a few minutes late and childminder is going out. No big deal at all. Seems pretty sensible actually.

pooka · 13/10/2010 07:31

So the alternative was for her to wait inside with the children NOT ready, only to go through the process of getting them ready when you arrived?

Which would have meant them being off-site, and leaving sometime beyond the 10 minutes you were late by.

Which isn't fair to the childminder. And at least this way your kids were ready to go and not rushed through getting shoes and coats on when you did arrive.

It is not a problem IMO for kids, wearing coats, to be outside at 6pm for 10 minutes, supervised by their childminder. Mine love being outside in the twilight and fresh air.

I'm sure if you were even later she'd have taken them in. But if you rang her to say how long you'd be...

YunoYurbubson · 13/10/2010 07:25

I can't reply to this OP without being snarky.

FFS!

She got them wrapped up warm in their coats and waited outside with them for their mummy who was running late and would be there any minute.

What EXACTLY are you upset about?

stomp · 13/10/2010 07:17

I agree she probably had them ready because she was going out herself. I would imagine she is usually happy to chat while you get your childrens shoes and coats on? but speaking from experience sometimes this can take a while and extend into family time (which mostly is not a problem). I expect the children thought it was quite exciting being out in the dark ??
Rest assured your childminder will always make sure your children are safe. All childminders must have a policy ?non collection of children? it covers issues of Safeguarding (contacting SS after a certain period etc etc) but mine also covers asking parents to let me know if they are running late, emergency contact person to pick-up if a parent is delayed, payment to cover any of my cancelled appointments/social event etc etc

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 13/10/2010 00:47

Well, she was with them, she didn't abandon them out there in the dark. I suppose she thought she was just getting them ready so that there'd be no further delay. I can't imagine that she'd have sat out there with them all night - given that you (I assume?) hadn't rung to tell her you'd be late, she must have assumed you were only minutes away, and it makes sense to get them ready.

I think you're seeing it as a punishment, where she was seeing it as getting them ready so that her evening wasn't delayed. If she'd left them alone, I'd be outraged, but sitting with two children who had coats on, waiting for their mum, sounds fine to me. She was still looking after them.

RandomMusings · 13/10/2010 00:46

She may have had an appointment to go to, and got them ready to go, and out of the house to expedite leaving?

You don't know if they had literally stepped over the threshold before you pulled up

Did you ring/text to say you were running late?

Perhaps they were getting upset that you hadn't arrived and she took them out to look at the lovely moon (a proper man in the moon moon tonight) and stars for distraction?

How can she not have been looking after them? They had their coats on and were with her