Monday Staff Room .......................... 4 weeks to Christmas Eve

Tan1959 - thanks, due on 23rd June so only 10 weeks atm but I finally told parents as my tummy was getting obvious and I've been in maternity clothes at times over the last week or 2. Yes, she's really lovely (just have few issues about being over protective at times but she's much better than she was to be fair, probably because her dd has been coming since she was 8 weeks old!)

Sorry for the delay, came on to reply and dh ended up needing laptop (in fairness, it's job stuff and that's much more important atm! ).

Firstly, yes, she's really lovely and has put it so nicely, her concerns are what I was worried about and that's why I was surprised today that she was so great about it. I do understand her concerns, just a little worried about things.

Right, to confirm......

Atm I have the following ages (I have variation):

Mon - 11 months, 2.4, 3.11 & 4.8 (ds)
Tues - 11 months, 2.4, 3.11 & 4.8 (ds)
Wed - 11 months, 2.4, 3.11 & 4.8 (ds)
Thurs - 9 months (double pay), 3.11 & 4.8 (ds)
Fri - 9 months (double pay), 3.11 & 4.8 (ds)

In January ds SHOULD become an over 5 as starts school full time (but that's another thread - OFSTED still ignoring me and won't confirm). Based on him being over 5, I was supposed to be increasing days with double pay baby (but those days at single rate of course) plus having a new baby round the corner start. Below I've shown what ages I will have in Jan IF Ofsted are ok about ds BUT I'm not including new baby as I think this won't happen now I'm pregnant (will refund deposit). Note 4.1 yr old is classed as over 5 as at pre-school all day:

Mon - 11 months, 1.1, 2.6, 4.1 & 4.10 (ds)
Tues - 1.1, 2.6, 4.1 & 4.10 (ds)
Wed - 1.1, 2.6, 4.1 & 4.10 (ds)
Thurs - 11 months (double pay), 4.1 & 4.10 (ds)
Fri - 11 months (double pay), 4.1 & 4.10 (ds)

As I've said, I'm pretty sure I won't have this baby round the corner because it's new business which I have room for but from when I return to work in approx July/Sept, I would be over my numbers unless I get a variation. I think I would rather stick with my current children and offer adhoc care until my baby is born, then my baby with take over ds's under 5 space. As for double pay baby's mum, she wanted the extra Monday for personal stuff so not for work. I'm hoping she'd still like to use that until nearer the time but need to check with her. I totally understand her not wanting to use or commit to using me once my baby is born PLUS I'd have to ask for a variation anyway so that's not an issue. It wouldn't have been 3 under 3 plus my baby though, it would have been 3 under 3 (incl my baby) and then one slightly over 3 who'd probably be attending pre-school/nursery.

Right..........now my main concern is her worry over me having her dd on the Thurs/Fri I currently have her for, up until the birth and shortly after. Believe me, I'd love to have 2/3 months maternity leave but I was worried about loosing business from the others for closing too long. BUT....I wonder if maybe I shouldn't worry about that as a) the 2 sisters mum will never change! (another thread!) and b) pre-schooler is term time only anyway so I wouldn't be needed until Sept (and tbh, I could happily start slightly earlier with her as I still have to do school runs for my own ds and hopefully she'll be at the same school from Sept 08).

Oh....you know what.....I don't even know what I'm thinking. Just wondering what to do and thinking out loud. Could do with any good words I can offer this mum to reassure her. Obviously I can't know if something will happen to stop me being able to have short maternity leave??? But surely, any CM can suddenly not be able to work for other reasons!

HELP!!!

i saw the crash course and it hurts my brain think i'll leave links to others!!![lazy]

Hmm, do you need a crash course, like Ju did on Saturday night Maxi? Here's the link! Interesting reading in places. Totally all blown out of proportion as is usual for MN! I threw a couple of comments in, early on, but its going round in circles, so I gave up. Don't think I'd use her as a CM if I needed to tbh.

oh my god have you seen the childminder related post in am i being unreasonable section? really sorry can't do links and couldn't be bothered to read all 300 posts!

Oh you must be expecting Looney? How lovely, CONGRATULATIONS . How many months are you?? I obviously haven't caught up with all the threads.

What a lovely lady your baby mindees mummy sounds

Oh and Mo, glad you like it, cool site isnt it

that was a ncie email

i commend her as shes being honest and seeing things very clearly, also looking at what 'may' happen.

have a think about it, is she right?, could you get that assistant we talked about?
did you have any probs when you were pg with your ds that would make you think there would be prob this time, meaning early finish, late coming back etc?

Shes just trying to work out all eventualities, but TBH, somethings you just cant plan!, you can tell her what you aim to do, but thats about it really, youve just got to hope all go's to plan

Sorry, got waylaid getting a new washing machine!

I always struggle to get my head around numbers of children and what days etc! Right, you would have 3 under 3, plus new baby 3 days a week, if she gives you Monday as well?

Here is it with a couple of bits changed for obvious reasons. Just to point out, I would have 3 under 3, one turns 3 in July But also, I was going to explain to her anyway that I can only offer the extra day until baby is born unless i get a variation......

Hallo

First of all a BIG congratulations on your news...I couldn't be happier for you

I am a bit concerned though on 2 counts: mindee's welfare + your welfare re: what you are suggesting taking on - both in terms of during your pregnancy AND once your new baby is born? Are you sure (don't mean to sound patronising) that you have thought everything through?

We don't want to lose you as mindee's carer as we think you are ace, but we are concerned that both you and mindee could be detrimentally affected by your working right up to your baby being born + so soon again after?

At this stage, DH and I would like to keep to the same arrangements re: Thursday and Friday care, but we think it would be too much to add Monday to the mix as you would then have your own baby + 3 mindees all under 3! Our rationale for this (so you know), is that there are plenty of 'mummies' out there who have a toddler + a newborn and we know that you treat mindee like your own and wouldn't neglect her etc, so therefore as it would just be her and baby LT (apart from later in the day with ds etc), + she will be a toddler etc, we think all will be fine and we want to keep her with you etc...

...we don't want to consider getting a nanny or changing childcare (and we definitely don't want a 3rd childcarer ie including her Granny for the Monday), so we are going to see if I can go back to work for 4 days (but try to fit my X etc in) and for DH to do the same - so we have coverage. Only risk here is that (and I don't wish it on you for the world), anything happens during the pregnancy or after the baby is born re: your health etc, that means you have to serve notice on us and we are all no better off?

Anyway, I wanted to let you know how we felt and what we were thinking, and am happy to chat through it, although I guess you won't be feeling up to coming out on the 7th anymore (no problem btw)?

We all love you

xxx

Yes please! Surgery is open for question time!

No she doesn't - shall I copy and paste it then?

Why would it not be safe? Does she know about us?

Thanks I was sort of right about her reaction though.......she's now sent an email saying how happy for me blabla but concerned about me not taking much time off, my welfare and obviously her dd. Shall I post it here for advice? Do you think that's safe?

SweetSnowflake's top tip for this weeks top website for craft ideas! Thanks SS!

Elle, chicken pox is contagious for upto 10 days before the spots start appearing, so yes, you'll need to warn your parents that they may have already caught it! There's not much you can do about it really. The spots usually appear on the torso and under the arms & behind the ears first. Although thats not always the case, it depends if she's going to get the big watery spots or the rash kind.

The spots are infectious for upto 5 days after the last one has appeared. Generally until they have all scabbed over.

HTH!

Show off! On my way.

Awww thanks BLR - I'm really finding this hard to deal with. It's been like this for mths and mths i just dont know what to do without being quite blatant about it and then she will shoot the messenger.

could we pop over to LMGs thread here? thanks

hello again, well dd went to pre-school as temp had come down and she wanted to! but 20mins later get a call 'can i go and get her, temp is over 100!' she's now aslepp in our bed bless. they did say chicken pox is going round. so please help what are teh sign (apart from obviuos but thats later anway isnt it?) and incubation times? should i contact mindees mum? not got her till weds.

Wow! That's some plate of toast! I think you have well and truely earnt this.

Cheers Ju! Well done. It was marmite on toast wasn't it? I didn't actually check!

Nice one Looney, so glad things are starting to fall into place. All that worrying eh? What about DH, hows that going?

Aw looney what a lovely woman and such relief for you too, so pleased it went well.x

here you go Mo

Been to toddler group this morning, crikey, all the tinies there seem very wound up already heh heh

Mindees are sleeping now, phew