To be shocked to see a childminder with 4 kids under 3

[Cornonthecob]

In Lidl over lunchtime doing a big shop! Basket full and did not look like food for the kids, 3 toddlers around 2/3 and 1 child in a buggy! Definitely not her children!

Is this normal or acceptable? I would really like to know! My judgy pants up to my armpits right now!! Thanks

Or another summary might be:

OP: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MN: What?
OP: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ugh. Easy on the exclamation marks, it's hurts my eyes.

it hurts my eyes. Dang it.

Then again, had I used, was using or am a CM I would be doing my best to justify this too!!!!!!!!!!

Wow that was rude!!!!!!

Would you like some input from someone who was a sahm to two children and never used any kind of childcare in her life and is also old and inclined to be judgey? What you describe sounds normal and what I always imagined childminders did. As others have said it's supposed to replicate home life and for most of us that involved a fair amount of dragging children around shops.

Two of the mothers in my daughter's nct group are pregnant with twins, so they will both have 3 children under 2 1/2 years old. I don't suppose one more would make much difference.

NB - my overuse of ! was of course deliberate.

My CM ended up with my DD and another child under 1 as well due to continuity of care as all the others that come and go through the day. No biggie.

I know she takes DD to the supermarket, she asked me if I was happy with this and I am so long as she takes DD out and about and interacts with her. She also takes her to farm open days, zoos etc and does not charge me for it.

I'm a sahm. I've never used a childminder. I don't agree with you.

My CM is fab. Amazing day trips out and my kids come home shattered. Other days it's day to day activities and family life. They've been shopping for CM mum birthday pressie, post office to post parcels, school runs, walking the dog and food shopping.

That's day to day family life and my kids love it and her. Everyday at home isn't all structured wholesome activities and that's exactly the same with her. She's amazing and my 2 (3.1 and 16.5 months) love her

Deep pan spicy pizzas are not on the 'what's good at Lidl' list, then, I'm guessing????????!!!!!!!!!!!

NB - my overuse of ! was of course deliberate.

That's your story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a SAHM too. If I was to choose childcare, id probably choose a nursery. I still think you're being ridiculous OP.

Perfect summery laurie

Tanith I recognise a cm user name there and be off with you.

It's Harrods food hall for me and my mindees.

Fuck me deep pan spicy pizzas, sounds lovely want one

That's your story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep and I'm sticking with it.

I think I've wandered into a parallel universe.

A woman, who may or may not be a childminder, has been seen at lunchtime in a named supermarket with four small children. She has a basket / small trolley of shopping.

The observer finds this shocking, it seems on the grounds that a) 4 small children is too many b) small children shouldn't be in a shop at a time of day that observer decrees to be lunchtime c)the shopping in the basket appears not to be items for the children.

Some contributors to the thread imply that small children shouldn't be in supermarkets (for reasons that are not clear).

What if these were all the woman's own children? Why does the shopping have to be for the children? What time is lunchtime? Why is it not ok to take small children into supermarkets whether you are their parent or not? Is this a thing now? This is one of the many many times on MN that I'm glad my DC are adults. .

Bizarre.

And there are way too many !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny thread. op said she was being unreasonable, and amusingly gave up.
The frothing, and character assassinations haven't though.

My LO goes to a nursery and the carers there take the kids to the shops sometimes. I thought this was a lovely way of giving them some variety (and there is nothing my LO loves more than a trip to Poundland!) but now I realise I must be a terrible parent and that it's much better if they just sit in the nursery room all day.

I think the thinly veiled criticism of other people's parenting choices was what caused the frothing.

I absolutely love my childminder. Occasionally she has her Godchildren (for free) as well as the two under 4s and they love having more playmates. She takes them out running errands and they get loads of exercise and are stout little walkers. She has teenagers so he's learning to socialise with people of all different ages and is really confident.

When I walk past private nurseries I see kids stuck with a load of teenagers (and often a lot less on apprenticeships) on minimum wage who don't seem very interested and chat amongst themselves. A lot seem to have a high staff turnover too. I'm not 'justifying' anything, I wouldn't swap her for the world.

Frothing? I thought everyone was laughing

I didn't realise I was meant to feel inadequate for having used a childminder. I'll just add that to the list with all my other parenting failures.

The stupidity and close mindedness of the OP physically hurts me.
Who the fuck has time to worry about this shit???

My DS is going to school next year, and will be leaving his childminders and his pre school. Neither of us were that fussed about leaving the preschool but his childminders is another matter. He loves being with her, whether its going to the park or to the shops, he loves the older kids, she and the older kids love him. I'm gutted she doesn't do after school pick up. I go to work happy that he is safe and loved.

Loads of people look after other friends or relatives kids occasionally. A few months ago it could have been me you saw with a group of young kids, shopping for easy to cook food, while the kids parents were viewing a close relatives body at the funeral parlour.

I'd like to know what are the acceptable limits of lunchtime (or is it dinner time?).