Hi, I am a relatively new CM. I have 5 children at the moment. Most the parents are lovely and just get on with things, however, 2 parents are starting to irritate me with their complaining!
Parent 1 has now threatened to withdraw her son if I start charging her the hours he is at playgroup! I collect him in the morning, bring him home, give him breakfast, wait for my other mindees to arrive. Take all three of them in the car to drop the little boy at school. I also collect him at 3pm. This is three days a week. Obviously, I cannot fill the morning space and I have told his mother I need to start charging for his space while he is at playgroup. She has now threatened to withdraw him from my care. It is not worth my while for 3.75 an hour! By the time I take off my petrol cost I am making the grand sum of about 1.25 for that morning hour! I explained that if she wasnt happy to pay for the time he was at school, I wouldn't be able to drop him at playgroup in the mornings and I would advertise the morning vacancy.
Parent 1 has also moaned about her April bill as it is almost 100 pounds more than normal. I explained to her that if she wants me to care for him (additional hours) over the Easter holidays while playgroup is closed, it will cost more! I cant see why she doesnt understand this!
Parent 2 has now moaned to me about the fact that I want to charge her for the settling in period. I have offered her 2 free hours of settling in and the rest of the hours will be charged for. She said that nurseries don't charge a settling in fee. She has chosen to have 24 hours of settling in, surely she doesnt expect me to work for free for 24 hours!? I presume that when she goes back to work after maternity leave, her employers are going to pay her for the first 24 hours she is back at work!
I am starting to get fed up of some parents thinking I am some sort of Mary Poppins free babysitting service! I am trying to make a living like any other person out there!
What do other childminders out there think?