Hi everyone
A lot of you know I have a 3 and half month old mindee 2 days a week and her mum pays me double so I provide more 1:1 care. She started at 8 weeks old and I soon could see why she wanted 1:1 care - baby needs constant attention and cries whenever you're not looking at her etc. Well over time she's been getting better as I have gradually stepped away a bit more at a time etc etc. Anyway, that's not really the point...........
I know I'm being paid for more 1:1 care BUT I have a ds who I can't ignore - he had many tears in the first few weeks and it broke my heart. The mum of baby always knew I may take on an after schooler but I said the most would be my ds (4), her baby and an after schooler therefore not being totally 1:1.
I now have another mindee who is 3 years old, Term Time only and only from 3-6pm each day. Mum was informed before took her on. I took her on mainly so ds had someone to play with whilst I'm busy with baby (as I've tried and tried everything to be able to deal with ds's needs aswell as baby's but pretty impossible at start!)
Well, my 3 year old is here today from 8-12 as a one off as her dad has an interview this morning.
Baby was dropped off at 9.30am and because had just woken up and hasn't been 100% this week (looks like a virus Dr said), mum was hushing the kids a lot. I started with 'ok, baby is a bit sleepy so lets try and be a bit quieter for a bit' and reminded them a couple of times but hey, there's a 4 year old boy and 3 year old excitable girl - kids make noise - end of! Baby's mum said to my mindee 'remember to be quiet' etc. and mindee looks a bit puzzled.
I REALLY like baby's family, nice people, respect me for a good job, pay well, pay on time etc etc. BUT I'm worried about what she thinks she's paying for. How on earth am I supposed to keep children this quiet? Should I be expected to? Baby gets 1:1 care from 9-12.30 Term Time then I have ds - mum knows I have ds and that she's paying to stop me getting another all day mindee.
Luckily it would usually only be baby as a mindee til 3pm but still, should I be expecting my own son to be quiet just because I'm being paid double???
I've always put mindees ahead of ds as I feel I have to make sure they are happy etc as being paid (i'm not horrible to ds btw ) BUT I just think it's really unfair to expect a 4 yr old boy to be quiet - it makes me wonder whether or not I should have this baby after all?
Should I speak to baby's mum about what is acceptable in terms of telling us how to be?
Does any of what I've said make sense? (sorry if not but I've got ds and mindee winding each other up - I can't think! )