Parents sending children to cm while they are on holiday themselves

A 12 hour appointment?

Sure

I thought this was going to be about the parents being off for a 3 day city break whilst leaving the child with the child minder! One day, normal hours, no big deal. I think often it makes you a better person around your kids if you can have a break from them and remember yourself.

I don't think this is unreasonable. I have one DS at school and another at a nursery. During school holidays (because that's when I take my leave) DS2 still goes to nursery on some days so that DS1 and I can do fun things , like buying shoes and traipsing round the supermarket.*

On the odd occasion I have left DS1 in nursery to get my hair cut and have a smear test. Not at the same time obv.

*Disclaimer we do "real" fun things as well

If the poor woman works 60 hours a week and has a baby, she is probably desperate to catch up on sleep and housework!

right, so if she's at work thats fine, but if she wants some time to herself thats not? That is a terrible attitude

I wonder why parents have babies to send them to childcare 60hrs a week & then a day off & still send them, it seems a little selfish to me! They not little for long it's precious time.

No I'm not Funnys, why do you ask?

"and is more important than chores or resting"

Not much is more important than resting if you are exhausted. Not much use to anyone if you can't function due to sleep deprivation.

Some chores can't be put off. Clear them in a day and pressure taken off. Better for everyone.

I regularly have hospital appointments and still use my childminder and sometimes when it's a 3pm appointment I get MIL to collect at 4pm incase I run late.

The mother may be on a day off and have an appointment for something that she doesn't wish to share with you and that is her right.

I'm also of the opinion that when I am paying £10 an hour for 2 children, I will use it even if I amn't working.

Cailin are you a CM?

Maybe she has a baby that barely sees her and is more important than chores or resting?

I've worked full time since mine were small so I'm get that people need/want to work, but in a position where somebody else was minding a baby for 12 hours every week day, any time off would be baby time.

" I thought I was making myself more attractive to parents and being flexible to their needs"

I'm sure you are, but just make sure your business can afford it. It's an unusual thing to offer.

I would expect to pay for childcare I was contracted to use even if I chose not to use it.

I've worked in nursries for many years and shock! horror! some of the parents don't even work! They do things like go to the gym, or for lunch, or the hairdressers or shopping, or decorating, or sleep, or have affairs, or gardening, or a million and one other things.

The poor mother is probably exhausted!

You're obviously very good with children (or you wouldn't be a childminder), most parents need a day off sometimes, I certainly do. I'm (mostly) a SAHM to my three, but my youngest will be going to nursery two days a week from next September and the other two will be at school. I need some time to myself, gym, haircut, doctors, cleaning, laundry, admin stuff, studying.......especially if you are working full time, I expect you need a week just to catch up on everything.

I have no shame in saying I would definitely judge a parent harshly for doing this. Fair enough if the baby is there a short amount of time anyway and the parents get to see her a fair bit during the week, but 60 hours!

My DD was in nursery full time at a similar age and the vast majority of time off I took was with her, but sometimes I needed a day just to myself or I would have gone nuts. Usually I went to hairdressers or something like that which is very difficult with a baby. Have emerged out the otherwise I would imagine that the mum is pretty much worn out and just needs a bit of time where nobody asks anything of her.

Susiemumof - you have no idea what this woman wants to do with her day off so stop judging.

FFS she is wanting one day off, not taking a two week vacation to Aruba.
Perhaps she's going for a smear, or finally having that corn on her foot dealt with, or working out her taxes. Or she might just enjoy a spare moment when she isn't either with her baby or working.

Either way, it's none of your business. I would be so upset to think that my CM had been judging me when I was in the same situation.
Of course every moment with your child is precious, but so is time alone sometimes just to catch up. Sorry I sound grumpy about this, but I used to work that much and look after a baby most of the rest of the time alone, and a day off was like a beacon of hope every now and again.

If you have been the one to arrange this financial situation that's disadvantaging you, I would reconsider it if that is the problem.

Yes, I have done this before, not often, but every now and then to catch up on housework, shopping ect. My DC's love being at our CMs and that time spent cleaning gives us more quality time together when they are home iyswim.

Maybe she goes to bed. Working 12hours a day, 5 days a week and possibly having broken nights sleep with a 6m old?

susie you are if you say you are 'sad for the baby'. The implication is that her parents don't love her enough.

I have done it but not for a full day. I have usually taken child at normal morning time but picked up earlier in afternoon and used the day to decorate or do a full clean that you cant do with a LO in tow.

and yes, I think you need to charge for the days you are 'open' whether or not the parents use you. I expect to be charged unless CM can't do it and even then with my lovely CM I would prob pay her anyway

Maybe she had chores to do that would be difficult to do with a baby like go to the hairdressers? Wash floors? Clean oven?