i am fed up of

This thread is fab for me to keep on the right side of my CM, I am new to all this and am grateful that when she had a vacancy for my DS, she contacted me straight away.................I have an account set up with her first 2 months money in there, will probably set up standing order so I will never be late with my payments.......I couldn't manage if my wages weren't paid on the right day so why should she?

Hope all the disgruntled CM don't give up, there isn't enough of them to go around, I tried for nearly 6 months to find one with a vacancy for DS.....you are appreciated and no doubt your mindees love you

Bloomin good thread, love it,

Agree with most of the above, which is why, although my parents think I'm great!! I know they've told me I'll never get more than satisfactory from Ofsted.

I totally get the summer dresses, strappy shoes and thin coat in the snow thing, had that myself!! I have a storage box outside with tons of spare hats, clothes and stuff but the problem is when they arrive the minute you need to leave for school and they haven't even get their tights on let alone all the usual 'appropriate' wear. I don't have time (but have to as wouldn't let a child freeze) to rumage through my box for a cardy, warm coat, wellies etc. at last minute, a few mins late leaving can mean a much longer walk for the 6 kids therefore meaning late getting into school grrrr. Plus, when I do find the right bits needed, I feel bad that they are cold and not at room temp but I simply do not have room in my house anymore to store all the different items I'm likely to need for ages from 2 - 7 year olds, that's why I bought a big outdoor storage box.

I could go on and list a whole host of other things I'm fed up with but I'm on the last 15 mins of very very rare NO CHILDREN time so I won't bother . I'm sure like me, all the CMs love their job but find it grinds them down when you have these constant problems and huge mountain of paperwork to do too, we all need a moan from time to time :) I do feel very lucky with my current parents as I often get beer, chocolate, sweets, home cooked meals etc etc. bought round for no reason (they are soooo sweet) but it wasn't always this way, I used to have people bring round sick children and they lied about it (yes, I know for a fact they lied). Then when I was hormonal (pg with ds2) and once had a firm chat to one mum about how they are very lucky I've taken her kids with x,y and z and that a nursery wouldn't have put up with it and her words were 'that's why I didn't choose a nursery!!' . Well, after that chat I gave notice and had someone lined up to replace them straight away! I can't tell you how I was at the time. I can't afford to close when I'm ill but have a duty to but how unfair is it to make me loose loads of my income for bringing it into my house and lying!!!! I was sooooo sad about it too as I adored those children, the younger sibling started with me adhoc at 5 weeks old (was 5 weeks prem so very tiny) and properly at 7 weeks and I had such a bond with them but I couldn't let this person get away with treating me like that! At least I still get to see them at groups and the other cm doesn't have the same problems as I think mum learnt her lesson (plus the other was very strict from the off!).

Anyway, I think what I'm trying to say is that most parents are great but you do get some very annoying ones and we all need a vent at times. We don't have colleagues we can let steam off to

LoveMyGirls - don't get me wrong, I love the idea of having the kids - totally. I'd do it in a heart beat if it wasn't for all the Ofsted crap and as far as I can see, if it wasn't for the Ofsted crap, you house wouldn't feel so much like it's not your home anymore!

I think we all have days where we think why do we do it as well but the answer to that for me is that I've never had a job I've enjoyed as much and when I do give up it will be because I want our home back not because I've had enough of the kids.

Cheers chipping

I keep blankets in my car to wrap them up in but do also have a bag of hats, scarfs and gloves we've collected over the years but they are mostly girls as I don't have boys of my own but if they keep them warm then thats all we need.

I don't know why how you all do it tbh. I couldn't be arsed with all the Ofsted nonsense and all the bloody paperwork.... no no a thousand times NO.

I read the OP and skimmed the rest, so sorry if it's been suggested but can't you just keep a set of 'hat, coat, gloves' for each of the kids at yours? (Provided by the parents) or charge them if you have to provide their child with them - that might focus their attention. It is fucking ridiculous how disorganised/disinterested some parents are.

Have a Baileys on me :)

I can sympathise about the fire drills, but honestly it's a good idea to practice getting them out fast.
When the great day comes, you don't want to find out that little S won't go anywhere without her new shoes on and they take ages to do, M has hysterics because she thinks the house is on fire and the baby asleep will burn to death, and R absolutely, totally will not leave the house until he's finished colouring in his racing car!!!

the body at fire drills.

I had a network co-ordinator around who told me my fire safety bits weren't up to date. (I have a very small 16th century cottage) I stood in the middle of my kitchen pointed to the back door and said there's one exit, pointed at the playroom French doors (kitchen and playroom open plan) said there's the 2nd exit, then pointed at my front door which is directly off the dining room next to the kitchen and said there's my third exit, all keys are on a hook above the door, wherever there is possible fire I would leave by a free exit. I have a separate living room which is the ONLY room not to have a exit, but is not used for child minding, the door remains shut all day (children cant reach the catch), she looked at me sympathetically and said "I can see that, but you really need to write it down to show you have thought about it, and you need to do fire drills to show how it would work, and help the children understand what to do."

I'm with you ladies!

Sooooooooooooo ready for the break, I had very bad pmt the other week and wrote letters to parents pointing out I need paying on time, I'm not doing dinners anymore and that I was finishing earlier than I had planned for xmas...........they all got the hint and have been super nice since then, I felt a bit bad after I'd done it and was expecting them to be looking for a new cm up in arms over it but as it happened it was fine, think they realise I've had enough of trying to cater for everyone all the time and not being appreciated. I'm a lot happier now despite the fact I'm going to be losing quite a bit of money this month BUT I desperately need the break!

I haven't done any planning since October, haven't updated any risk assessments as I've not been anywhere new, I haven't done a fire drill since Oct either. The only thing I make sure I do is the attendance register as I need it for my invoices.

I being constantly behind in my paperwork: attendance registers, bloody planning, observations and assessments, risk assessments, fire drill records, visitors book, etc etc etc etc etc etc.

One CM I know does all that AND end of year reports................... Yikes!

Oh, and newsletters, and policies, and photographs and artwork.

I need a break. Roll on 24th Dec!

You need to keep posting these threads though - keeps the rest of us up to the mark. And I do mean that sincerely - I was late paying my CM this month (bill received on Wed, cheque not given till today) as I was ill. I did apologise, but also feel guilty as I realise that she may have wanted that money over the weekend

On the subject of diaries, of what is this you speak? I've been using a CM for 6 years, and not had a daily diary at all. I'm not complaining, I get a full verbal update when I collect (and it seems friendlier than a diary) but are they something that is required?

all my children are fab its the parents

But please note - no mention of horrible children here. My children are all lovely :)

This has been an excellent reminder of why I quit cm'ing, hats off to you ladies, it really does have it's downsides. I am often having wistful moments of going back to it but this thread has seen to that!

I am sending you all virtual tea and choccy biscuits to ease the pain.

oh and one parent has not paid me for 2wks and just sent a cheque for £60 worth of photos

mine come without vests, socks, gloves, hats, and one comes without a coat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

think the charity shop feel sorry for me they must think i own lots of children

I'll join in the club.

Agree with all of the above. Really get fed up with accident books, children that are at school come home with regular bumps and bruises and some awful grazes, but they never get me or the parents to sign any type of accident book and they are within the EYFS. Even the nursery have one line, no body diagrams or detailed explanations, just "x fell off trike - bumped head" and they got an outstanding - not fair.

Also fed up with writing daily diaries for those children who are at school/nursery all day, only with me for a couple of hours for dinner, so the work has to be done in the evening.

Actually can't wait for OFSTED, have been on pins for 6 months now, my inspection is overdue, and although I thought back in May I MIGHT get an outstanding, I felt prepared and
up to date. But after lots of new afterschoolies/nurseries, I have let things go as I am so busy and by the end of the day absolutely knackered, I will be lucky to get a satisfactory.

Also parents who are usually really nice seem to be turning into complete PITA's.