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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Trying to mumsnet, mindees won't stop feeding me imaginary cake

52 replies

PrincessTeacake · 07/01/2014 15:47

We're at soft play, I'm trying to get in a quick mumsnet browse but they run over to me every five minutes trying to feed me pretend cake. If I don't pretend to eat it, they rub it on my mouth and laugh. I told them it'd make me fat but they just thought that was funny.

Help?

OP posts:
YoureBeingASillyBilly · 07/01/2014 18:32
Hmm

15 or so posters- no frothing.

PedlarsSpanner · 07/01/2014 18:34

No need to froth as the OP isn't a childminder, phew

moogy1a · 07/01/2014 18:35

Well 9 put the 15 are getting ardey saying she should be interacting at all times

moogy1a · 07/01/2014 18:36

Phew. In that case she can carry on!

Viviennemary · 07/01/2014 18:39

What on earth are mindees.

moogy1a · 07/01/2014 18:39

Ardey. That's a new one

PedlarsSpanner · 07/01/2014 18:42

Viv mindees are mn-speak for children being cared for by a childminder

StripyPenguin · 07/01/2014 18:43

Work is what you do at work, Mumsnet is what you do when you are not at work. Why are you on Mumsnet when you are working?

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 07/01/2014 18:44

Who said she should interact at all times? Quote them.

moogy1a · 07/01/2014 18:52

Buntypenfold said " I would expect you to be watching my children
"

moogy1a · 07/01/2014 18:55

Buntypenfold said " I would expect you to be watching my children
"

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 07/01/2014 18:55

Yes- and? Where is the 'interact at all times' quote?

moogy1a · 07/01/2014 18:57

with Heinz - I'd be narked if my cm wasn't interacting with dd or watching her from a short distance.

CBA quoting the other 9 disapproving ones

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 07/01/2014 18:58

Nope- still no 'interact at all times'

JockTamsonsBairns · 07/01/2014 18:59

If my cm took my kids to soft play, I'd be perfectly happy for her to take some time out to relax on her phone or what not - while the kids were playing. I'd reasonably expect her, however, to interact with them if they arrived back at the table from time to time, playing a pretend game / needing the toilet/a drink or whatever.

I'd be less than happy if she was to fill their heads with shite such as "cake makes you fat" Hmm

ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 07/01/2014 19:01

I expect the OP has hidden the thread.

moogy1a · 07/01/2014 19:06

I expect the op will never again make a lighthearted jokey comment,
And too much cake does make you fat!

StrangeGlue · 07/01/2014 19:09

What the heck is going on? Just a light hearted clearly jokey op and everyone is damning her!

And loads of cake would make you fat. And saying that is also clearly a joke and playing along with the kid's game.

Mim78 · 07/01/2014 19:10

If the mindees want you to play with them then you should be doing it. You are being paid to look after them, no?

Original poster
PrincessTeacake · 07/01/2014 19:23

Okay, I'm back, finished work about a half hour ago so off the clock.

I thought I was making a light hearted post about something cute my mindees were doing but I forgot that sometimes posting on the Internet makes statements appear more literal than you might have intended. I apologise for any offence taken.

To clear up things a little, here's a bullet point summation of the issues raised:

  • It's my personal belief that it's important for childrens development to not have an adult hovering over them constantly while they're trying to play. This is something I make clear in interviews with potential bosses.

  • Although I was on my phone, whenever the children did approach me I interacted with them, either by eating the pretend cake, refusing it or having it rubbed on my face.

*My online presence time frame was 10, maybe 12 minutes. The mn post took up about 3 of those.

  • The children were always within my line of sight, always in earshot and I was always aware of exactly where they were from the table.

  • The 'cake makes you fat' thing was less about cake (which I'm very passionate about, as you can see in other mn posts) and more about the sheer scale of imaginary cake they were force-feeding me. Roughly 27 by the time I finished the post.

  • I've always called them my mindees, it's less formal than 'charges.' I didn't realize it was specific for childminders.

  • I have been with these children for 3 and a half years and I love my job. I frequently stay late to help out when needed and take them out on my days off if there's something on that they'll enjoy.

I won't hide the post, if you have any other points you'd like to make please go ahead.

OP posts:
VikingVagine · 07/01/2014 19:28

Hypothetically, if i were paying someone to look after my DCs, I'd have issues with them browsing the Internet while they're supposed to be working. I'd love to chat on FB and MN at work but I'm pretty sure I'd get into big trouble for it!

moogy1a · 07/01/2014 19:33

Sweet lord some posters are miserable fuckers,
It was obvious it was a lighthearted post

morethanpotatoprints · 07/01/2014 19:37

What on earth do you think your child minders do all day?
The OP has done nothing wrong and sounds like she does a fantastic job.
There probably are people who can't Mnet whilst at work, but there are plenty who do and how is that relative anyway.
I think too many people expect or think their cm is Marry Poppins all the time.
Maybe you should check up on your own cms, nurseries, nannies etc. You could get your eyes opened Grin
OP, ignore the snotty posts. I don't use childcare but if I did, I would not be unhappy about what you have posted. Thanks for you

bbcessex · 07/01/2014 20:27

Ah, such a fuss about nothing!

My two are older now, but when they were soft play age, it was exactly as described.. me finding a table, making sure they knew where I was, and then them running back and forth.. all the time coming back for various reasons as yourebeingasillybilly got spot on.

OP - continue as you are! The parents are probably very pleased you take your mindees to soft play.. ideal for them. Bloody relentess looking after small children, take your down time when you can xxxx

revivingshower · 07/01/2014 21:04

If I employed a child minder or nanny I would be happy for them to mn a bit while the kids were at a soft play area, as long as they were old enough to go off and play by themselves or with a friend, and did not want the nanny to play with them in the play area, and the nanny was alert to their safety and ready to help out if necessary. I think its a bit unfair to say a nanny should do more at a soft play than a mum would. I would mn if I were in a soft play alone, or chat to a friend I went with.

I wouldn't want them online at home or whatever unless they had a break agreed (which i would agree to).