CM Club - Drop Off's..........sometimes making me late for school......

Yes I realise that Maureen. But I don't see how it is more difficult for her to have already made packed lunches by 8.15 than it is for me (especially since I leave the house at 7.20 which is probably why all our packed lunches are made the night before). I actually agree that the packed lunch should be finished by the time the mindee arrived - although things directly involving her DS - cleaning his teeth, putting his shoes on etc - might not be. Just my opnion. But I'm not sure doing down Mums who work in an office is all that helpful.

Bozza, I was referring to Clandestine,who said that LT should have her personal things sorted before she starts work. I know people who work out of the home have to do all the same things as cm's, but ultimately, when you actually step into your office, to start your working day, you have no children with you. If children are your job, its a bit much to be expected to be ready every day - impossible in fact!

FF2 - I sadly don't have access to a garden but we have some lovely parks nearby and spend lots of time outdoors. I am able to leave the double buggy in the hallway downstairs during the day then bring it upstairs each evening. Mindees get lots of exercise climbing the stairs!!!!!

Eh Maureen how is it easy to be organised if you work in an office? I still have to get both my children dressed and breakfasted, DS's book bag/water bottle etc sorted, my own lunch sorted, DS's swimming bag packed if it is Tuesday, a snack/drink/activity for DD while we are at DS's swimming lesson, DS's tea sorted if it is football night, DD's hair done etc etc.

Ah that's good then No-one wants to think a child has been hurt

Ah, maybe thats why all my mindees can do salsa and sing alot, Shosh!

I've gotta show you this My nomination is for the parent who gave me it. I got it for my birthday, which she never forgets, or DD or DH. I opened it on my own, when I'd had a tough morning with the mindees, they were all asleep and I cried. The words still blow me away. How much does she appreciate me? Well, I do start at 6.15 in the morning for her for the last 6 years!

LT are you the one who had a mark like a cigarette burn on one of your mindees? Did you ever get to the bottom of it?

Yes, I read some of the childminder threads, as I leave my ds with one & like to get the general idea of what I am/ should/should not be doing

LT if a CM dosnt talk alot how are the children supose to learn to talk

That was spose to be some of mine, and thay all paid me for the two days I had off.

I think we should have aboard of nice parents, FF I nominate you as our first Parent.

Can I nominate one of mine who when I did my back, took me to the hospital, another who brought me dinner, and another who got me to bed. Lovely parents.

Gosh you lot are far too nice - must be my teaching background; I spend approx 30 sec to 1 min 'handover' (used to 30 kids so very matter-of-fact about it). I would also charge from 8am but I'm obviously a miserly b*itch!

And ahem not too sure how to put this LT but seeing as I have met you in RL you.. um... do tend to talk quite a lot as well!!

If only all parents were as considerate as you FF. I had one last night, whose son I picked up from after school club at 4.30 and phone when I was on the way to get him to say, her boyfriend was picking him up at 5 and could I make sure he'd had his dinner. We don't get back from school until 4.45! Needless to say his dinner wasn't even ready, when boyfriend, who I'd never even met, arrived at my house! Thankfully, its the nice ones like you that make it all worth it.

When I drop ds off @ childminder I hand over the bag & coat & tell her he has been fed (he always has been as I have to be up earlier to get dd her breakfast before school)

I then tell her my pick up time (always different as I'm a student with varying hours)

When I pick ds up again she fills me in on what he & other mindees have been up to.

Some days when I pick ds up she is making her dh's dinner so I grab ds & go. Usually she will strap him into the car, kiss & wave.

But as I say, if she is making dinner/starting her kids homework, I say "I'll let you get on, no, don't come out!"

Mogs0 Don't take this the wrong way, but where I am, there are no registered childminders working from flats, as everyone seems to want their children to have a garden to run around in! How do you overcome this? and do you have buggies to carry up & down 2 flights of stairs?

If it wasnt the child that I take to school, that is late, I would go and thay would have to wait.

I dont know thw answer to this one, if anyone does will you tell me pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease.

Thinking about it actually, I did have one that was perpetually late. I used to take the child off her and put her straight in my pram, which was already outside the front door! It didn't take long before she was calling me onthe way, to say she was going to be late, so she'd sit outside and wait for me to come back from school! Its not unreasonable to tell them that you have to get ds to nursery on time, afterall at some point it will be her lo that you need to get to school on time. BTW, in your op you said, it doesn't matter if ds is a bit late - it does! Stop being so nice!

Frankly, anyone who has school aged children and says they are sooo organised every morning, and their children are all angels and do everything they did to do without being told 15 times, is a blardy liar imho! Its easy to be organised if you leave the house to go to work - you walk into your office and the kids aren't there! If your place of work is at home, like ours, you cannot expect to be ready every day.

My drop offs start at 8am and I try to make sure that ds' packed lunch is done and that he is dressed and had breakfast before anyone else arrives. Does the Mum come inside when she drops off? Maybe if you just carry on doing the jobs you need to do while she's chatting she'll get the hint that you're busy.

My flat is on the 2nd floor so no-one ever wants to come inside in the mornings!!