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Original poster

We parted company with dds' childminder today and now I have no cover for the holidays and beyond

42 replies

galaxy · 06/07/2006 22:37

Long story but dd 3.5, has been going to her current cm since Easter after her previous minder changed jobs, having had dd since she was 3 months old. New minder has a 2 year old and a 9 year old plus has a 5 year old after school. dd goes 4 days afternoons after being at nursery in the mornings.

We learned today by a letter from her which she put in dd's bag (not told it was there), that her ds and dd are not getting on. In a nutshell, he screams every time he sees her. Apart from the 1st couple of days when she had dd, she has not told us that there was this problem. dh picks up every day and she has never told him there's a problem. I went round Tuesday night to collect dd's shoes, she'd left there and she never said anything despite the fact that we chatted for 20 minutesnd then I get this letter.

Having talked to dd, she is really unhappy, c/m and her ds is really unhappy so we agreed to part company from now.

Now I'm stuffed. I have back to back meetings/client visits until we are on holiday on 11th August. dh can't take any time off work and there are only 3 minders with vacanies where we live, funnilly enough 1 of those being her c/m who said she wasn't taking on anymore children and yet last Friday, she posted a vacancy so I think this has been planned. She also changed her agreement on how she would charge in schoolholidays which I had to accept. It's almost like she has being trying to get us to remove dd. 2 of the others can't do the nursery pick up and I wont know about the other until I can call her tomorrow but the fees she is quoting are £2.00 more than we were paying the 1st minder and she charges full day as opposed to half day , again unlike 1st minder who just charged for the actual hours she had her.

dd finished for 10 weeks school holiday today so now I have to drive dd to my mums on Sunday, collect her on Tuesday, take her to in-laws on Wednesday and pick her up Thursday and do this until I can find a minder. I feel really peeved that she has dealt with itlike this and not had the decency to speak to us.

To get this letter today, having just got dd's nursery report saying what a happy friendly and bright child she is is really upsetting.

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Original poster
galaxy · 15/07/2006 21:45

UPdate - found a childminder now who appears to be lovely. Lives just round the corner from my sister who was our original childminder and comes highly recommended. dd starts a week on Monday so that's a weight off our shoulders.

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Original poster
galaxy · 12/07/2006 20:34

LGJ thanks for your efforts on Saturday - and nice to talk to you in person at last!

We have seen one minder who can do some of the days for the holidays and we'll muddle through for the rest. She can also do term time but she isn't in our town so not perfect.

Also very nervous as she lives on a main road and has no gate on her front garden. I've rung everyone on the West Surrey list , about 25, and no-one can help.

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Original poster
galaxy · 08/07/2006 21:53

Nannystar, thanks for your post. I've never considered a nanny as we couldn't afford to pay the salary plus the employers NI contribution etc. Your charges do appear very reasonable but I only need 32 hours per week at the moment and I would like to sort out a minder who I can continue with after the holidays. I do appreciate your offer and if the people that I am seeing this week can't help, then I may contact you to see if you are able to help just for the holidays.

Thanks

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NannyStar · 08/07/2006 16:26

Hello Galaxy,
I'm not sure if you have found any suitable care for your dd yet but if you haven't, why not consider a nanny?

I am currently looking for work and as I'm not qualified I only charge £150 per week for full time (up to 40 hrs) per week and then £5.00 p/h for any hours exceeding the 40. I do have 2 weeks holiday from 2nd -16th August but nothing after that. I have got 6 years experience with ages newborn - 15 yrs old and I have previous nanny and college references who are available to contact. I do hope I am able to help.

Kind regards,

NannyStar

SecurMummy · 07/07/2006 21:57

Galaxy, we are all fine think you!

Am glad everyone is great for you apart from this - really hope that someone here can help.

(and you are right - it do's all work out in the end)

Original poster
galaxy · 07/07/2006 21:51

Replied Sherlock. Thanks Lunavix xx

Nursery cover not critical until September but trying to get consistency for her - she's quite upset about leaving current CM cos she gets on beautifully with the 2 older girls who are there.

Battery about to die

Thanks All xx

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SherlockLGJ · 07/07/2006 21:45

Well...................

I have been here for 2.5 years, and have yet to meet Galaxy, we live in the same town.

mum2oliver · 07/07/2006 21:44

Is it me or does everyone know everyone on mumsnet apart from me?I dont know anyone.How long have you all been doing this?

lunavix · 07/07/2006 21:41

You said two CMs couldn't do nursery pick up locally... but it wouldn't matter would it for now? As the important thing is to get someone lovely for the time being?

Oh well if you get desperate you know where I am! I'm only available until mid August though

SherlockLGJ · 07/07/2006 21:39

Have done both..............

Original poster
galaxy · 07/07/2006 21:37

lunavix, very kind thanks. Would be a struggle to get to you though! Need full time until 13th September.

Sherlock - yahoo dot co.uk not com- sorry I'm being a muppet

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Original poster
galaxy · 07/07/2006 21:36

maybe that's carol120401 at yahoo dot co dot uk not com

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SherlockLGJ · 07/07/2006 21:35

Have done so .................Galaxy

lunavix · 07/07/2006 21:35

Do you need a CM that can do nursery pick ups if your dd is on holiday now????? Won't it be full days????

I'm in West Berks if you get desperate lol! I can't do a Farnham pickup though

Original poster
galaxy · 07/07/2006 21:35

Sherlock, Can;t CAT you as even If I subscribe now it wont go thru till Monday. ARGHHHHH!!!!

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SherlockLGJ · 07/07/2006 21:31

Galaxy

Off to watch a DVD

Cat me

I may know of a just finished Uni.....eldest of 4, very respectable family. (How Surrey does that sound ??)

Original poster
galaxy · 07/07/2006 21:31

My boss was lovely. Said "When you are working from home just keep dd with you - that's fine." ThenI checked diarya and saw I had one day between now and 11th August when I don't have client meetings.

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Original poster
galaxy · 07/07/2006 21:30

Sherlock: tried but my subscription isn't up to date apparently which I'm surprised about. Can you email me on carol120401 at yahoo dot com. The Farnham Network Coordinator never called back

Sparklemagic: I can't take parental leave as I have loads of client meetings booked in and it's really busy at work. dh is a shop manager and he has staff off so that's a non-starter . I'm OK for the next week and hopefully we'll get something sorted even if it's just holiday care for now. Had a chat with dd earlier and she's OK about everything.

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sparklemagic · 07/07/2006 21:25

blimey, what an awful 'jigsaw' of arrangements have to be made sometimes. What about parental leave next week to tide you over the period when your in-laws are away? You and DH could share the responsibility and take a week each - you have the legal right to this.

At least this would give you a bit of breathing space to find a new minder and stop your DD having to go from place to place, then immediately into a new CM's home!

SherlockLGJ · 07/07/2006 21:24

Oh arse Galaxy..............

CAT me, may have some one who can help, dont get excited she may not be able to either.

Just CAT me.............

Original poster
galaxy · 07/07/2006 21:20

Sorry I'm being stroppy. Apologies to everyone who offered help especially Nannynick but I really can't afford a nanny.

Think I'd best disappear now. Very tired and too emotional

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Original poster
galaxy · 07/07/2006 21:17

HI jimjams. The nursery is attached to a private school and it broke up yesterday until 13th September so not an option.. She can go 9 till 3:15 from Septemver but it's quite a formal atmosphere and although she's probably ready, I can't bring myself to do it. She's not 4 until November.

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Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 07/07/2006 21:04

Can you extend nursery hours?

Original poster
galaxy · 07/07/2006 20:59

Thanks secur - how are you and the family?

I'm doing very well thanks apart from this stress but I think I've learnt that everything works out well in the end. Landed a great job after the last two disasters, dd and ds are great and dh is fab.

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SecurMummy · 07/07/2006 20:55

I would look after thenm if it weren't for teh geography