"When *my* Rachel arrived 3 years ago, I gave up me job"

[AwkwardMary]

"Blah blah blah....now I'm a WORKING MUM at the nursery!"

effing ICS advert makes me go all stabby....AIBU to want to kck the TV when it comes on?

It's a combo of "My Rachel" and "Working Mum" that really twats me off....she's not a "workng Mum" anymore than my DH is a "working Dad."

AIBU????

But, can anyone tell me exactly why our Rachel's trousers are so sodding short?

That's what really annoys me.

I don't think children's centres are pushing ICS courses, so no worries there.

I know I'm not the target demographic for SureStart.

I do, however, live within a postcode identified as socially and economically deprived - which is all that was needed to offer me basic skills courses. I find it a bit mystifying as I couldn't have afforded to live in a nice, middle class area, despite being in a nice, middle class profession. Nor can most of my 'nice, middle class professional' neighbours. Sorry, I digress - that is a whole other conversation.

I'm a mothering teacher.

Also did you notice the mac was very Boden in style [wunk] wonder who their target demographic is

But back to the nursery thing I don't think there is much flexibility in private nurseries is there? The staff at (private) nurseries I have used usually work 7.30am to 6.30pm with half a day off during the week. And I have never known them to allow staff to collect their dcs/bring their dcs in as their staff ratios are so tight, in order to keep cost down

Well I got assualted (well almost) by some very snooty woman at the library the other week. She had a special stand inside by the entrance and obviously assumed that coz I had a pram and a struggling to get free and cause havoc 4 year old, I was obviously in dire need of a course to help me read or improve my maths. I did wonder why she hadn't asked the 2 childfree women in front of me. She asked if I was interested in said courses and I said no thanks, v politely. She then said, and I quote; 'wouldn't u like some help to get out to work?' She was very put out when I informed her that I am actually a nurse and I had never been 'out of work'! I mean what? Do children = plunging IQ. Bloody cheek!

Btw I did have my baby in the pram! I wasn't wondering round with a pram full of tins or rubbish like old bag lady.

Molly - what kind of nursery lets its workers come and go as they please?

What if everyone just downed tools and went off to watch their kid in the school play?

Who'd be looking after the children? Even if just one person took off, aren't their adultchild ratios that need to be adhered to?

*there, even...

merchantofvenom - not come ansd go as they please but if you say I need to go here or there next week etc its usually accomodated.

sigmund -I dont know anyone with nursery aged children that works in a nursery that doesnt have their children with them, even the managers. Thats in lots of different nurseries as well.

'Who'd be looking after the children? Even if just one person took off, aren't their adultchild ratios that need to be adhered to?'

We have way more than enough staff to cover these things. We dont just do ratios to the bare minimum although I will agree some rubbish nurseries do.

ROAR at bus conductress or typist as likely careers.

I only took DD with me to one day nursery job, because I could walk her to school (with the other wraparound DCs) and bring her back after. When she was 5 I had to find alternative childcare, so dropped down to 2 days.
I didn't do an ICS course, I did an OU degree because babies didn't melt my brain, I just enjoy learning.
I now have a BA and a BSc, and earn just above minimum wage, thankfully doing a job I really enjoy in a day nursery.

Not seen it but sounds like Tory propaganda to me.

I also have a 2:1 degree in Childhood Studies inmysparetime decent nurseries wont exploit their staff if they want decent workers.

That advert makes me want to throw things. The whole "child psychology course" bit in particular. If you want to be a child psychologist you're going to need at least 2 if not 3 full degrees. Not a £300 diploma in fuck all.

And don't get me started on Iceland...

Hasn't this advert been around for years? I remember seeing it ages ago and laughing (I'm another qualified in Early years through the OU although just to Level 4 - I'm doing my BSc in a different area).

A colleague of mine is about to start her NVQ3 with the new curriculum and it looks really tough, much harder than the old one, I don't know how an ICS course compares.

I do have time for ICS though, they have been very good at supporting home educated children in taking GCSEs.

So a majority still seem to think that nursery nurses are all thick? My degree tells me I'm not but I don't think that idea will ever change.

I most certainly do not have childcare on tap so I have no idea where this notion comes from. I certainly can't take them in when I feel like it because of adult/child ratios and I don't know of any nursery which allows this.

The advert in question is shit. However, there are some who do want to work with children. Not because I happen to be a mother but because it's what I enjoy and I am prepared to put up with the shit money to do something I love. I do wish attitudes would change towards NNs though, we're not all morons whose lives revolve round stickle bricks and lego. And I'm not fucking mumsy either!

YANBU That ad makes me so stabby.

Evil Ad

I'm a Mum and as such my life is over, I'm a bit fat and wear a mac, so you can totally relate to me
Praise Jesus! I have a job after taking ICS course
Woman over there is doing Child Psychology and she's thin and young (like all smart people)
Rachel, the little fucker, has put a spider in my pocket Wait till I get you home

Fin

I am really surprised so many nurseries dont have their children in with them or let them come in. Most NNs I qualified with do this I am much luckier than I thought!

The only time my daughter has come in with me (pre-school not nursery) was when they needed me to come in as an extra because another staff member was off. It did mean she was an extra in the ratio but the net result was 7 children up, if you see what I mean. She's 8 now so doesn't come in, not even when she has an inset day and I'm working, I still need to sort care for her (and to an extent her older brother but he is generally fine sorting himself).

Never seen the advert but I hate it already! I hate the term busy mum, most people are busy. Agree about the 300pd child psychology course, you get the same in it, think it might even be ics. I took this 2 day course in which way round to hold a mouse and now I'm a programmer earning 30k. Er no.

My personal favorite patronising advert was from a few years back.

The lady spins around on a model shoot and the voice over says " As a model and a mum, I know how hard it is to...."
Thats where I forget what the ad was actually for! A Model and a Mum? Thats a good example to us all - made up advert land!!!!

I also hate it when actresses, TV presenters and models talk about their work life balance. "I find it so hard to be away from my baby when I am working so hard at the studio"
Yes, well done you, you get paid more money in a year than the average woman will see in her lifetime, you have a fleet of Nannies and when you are a film star you get to take your child to work. That must be terrible for you earning hundreds of thousands and having to gasp, actually, be a mum as well!

I digress though!

No nursery nurses are not fik. Neither are most sahms I assume. But making the assumption that the sorts of careers that will appeal to mothers involve children is patronizing.
Actually, just realised mine does...so ill shut up.