....to not know what to do about my new childminder?

[TheCreepyContessaOfPlumperton]

We met her last week wrt minding my 3.3 yo DS. All fine, all good, we agreed verbally that we were all happy and that we'd like to start the arrangement next week (i.e. Wed 4th, tomorrow).

I contacted her on Saturday about contracts/documents, she emailed me back saying that we'd need to come by on Tues 3rd (today) to sign and pay the deposit beforehand. I explained that we couldn't do that day in the afternoon but could do the evening, and that I'd be off on Mon so that was an option too.

We got no response to the email, so I tried her home number on Monday afternoon - no answer. I then sent a message through the site I found her on (no response) and today I found a mobile number for her and tried to contact her that way via text (no response). Short of turning up unannounced, I am a bit stumped!

Am I massively overreacting? She said we needed to come over to sign things before the starting day, so I'm trying to make that happen but have had no response through any medium (she seemed to respond in a timely fashion before this).

I'm not sure if it really matters if we haven't signed anything beforehand, or if there's a chance she'll say she can't mind our son tomorrow because nothing has yet been signed. It's the first time we have booked a childminder so I am a little clueless. Is she going to think I'm crazy for trying to get in touch this much? I don't want her to think I'm stalking her!

Advice would be welcomed, thank you.

Very odd. Please don't leave your child with her

It's not a good look and as others says does not bode well . At all ! Keep on looking I would say - she will need a very good excuse if she does get back in touch . Are there are nurseries as they often have spaces available fairly immediately

It is very bizairre behaviour...

I am a C minder and do tell people trust your instinct when meeting childcare...

I don't always reply to emails immediately however...I don't ignore them for 4 days unless I am on holiday from work.. However if I had a new starter I would make exception to that.

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome today

Completely off topic but how do you check if someone is on whatsapp and has been active without sending a request and them accepting?

We had a CM who went quiet- turned out she's got a job and didn't want to CM anymore but didn't know how to tell us...

It might seem like an odd reason to you- but clearly not to her. No one is that busy for that long- she clearly can't cope with having confrontations so is hoping that ignoring you will make you go away.

Not place marking at all.....

Me neither nope

She may have seen the email come through but just not opened it, so yes, I guess she could have been ignoring that one too. Good luck getting your little one sorted today.

Ooo so what happened? Too early?!

Good luck for this morning, I would be a ball of stress in your shoes!

I would be wary of leaving my child with someone who can't even manage basic communication.

My feeling is if you turn up and she agrees to take your son, she will see it as a green light that she can treat you like crap as you are desperate. After all you must be to accept her treating you so rudely and unprofessionally but still being fine to leave your child with her.

Good Luck OP. Not acceptable. I'd feel the same.

Not long now and the puzzle will be solved.... okay it's a sneaky place mark

Good luck op

Not even going to pretend this isn't a place mark..

En route. Stressy.

Don't think I will leave him there.

Oh dear :( hope your day gets bettet

WELL.

She sent me this, just as we rounded the corner to her house: Hi Contessa. Due to a change in circumstances, I will no longer be able to offer DS a place in my setting. Apologies for the short notice. CM.

I replied: Short notice is putting it mildly! I had assumed that was the case due to the lack of recent communication (since Saturday) anyway though. I really wish you'd said something earlier; I would have been disappointed but it would have been far less stressful than the current situation. Very sincerely, Contessa

Fucks sake!!!

How crap is that!! Why on earth couldn't she have told you earlier, even earlier this morning, before you set off would have been preferable. Tbh I'd have pretended not to get it and turned up, just to see what she said.
hope you're sorted for the day

That is massively unprofessional and a huge shot in the foot! Let's face it if anyone mentions her to you you're hardly gonna give her a glowing recommendation!! She's royally messed you about!

Hope you get something more reliable sorted soon.

I'd be leaving a review in that site of hers how rude!!

I'm not that ballsy stealth - I was already feeling sick and made DH come along in the car because I was so nervous about confronting her

Oh bless you, I would have felt similar. Please leave a few reviews saying what happened with you - other parents need warning of this. I hope you can find somewhere else for your little one soon