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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not contact this child minder again if she can't spell

85 replies

Mummyofonesofar · 06/11/2015 12:54

I am expecting twins in March, I wanted to get in touch with a few childminders to find out what people are charging at the moment and maybe set up some viewings (haven't used one in years). I saw someone posted online recommending a childminder who has space now the poster's children were going to school and she passed me her mobile number.

I text and asked for some info about her. Got a reply and the first line is "I have bin childminding for 25 yrs".

You would think someone looking for work looking after children would bother to spell properly by text, so can only assume she thinks "bin" is the same as "been". AIBU to ignore the recommendation?

OP posts:
Mintyy · 06/11/2015 13:11

To be fair to you op, I wouldn't want my childminder to think bin is been either. Do you think it might have been a form of text speak? How about emailing her and asking for a few more details? You will get a better sense from something longer than a text.

ArmchairTraveller · 06/11/2015 13:12

'But I would say childminders are supposed to teach.'

What are you expecting your newborns to learn in the way of spelling and grammar?
I'd be more bothered about the quality of the age-appropriate caring.

ouryve · 06/11/2015 13:12

Maybe if you're so biased against her for something that will have no effect on the care of your children (and yes, autoincorrect can be an unfortunate PITA) it would be difficult for a relationship with her to start on a positive footing.

OTOH, you could assume that either her phone has been an arse or she is genuinely dyslexic and find out a bit more about her as a potential childminder.

GiraffesAndButterflies · 06/11/2015 13:12

YABU. My childminder occasionally sends me texts with typos.
A) it's a text, it doesn't matter
B) she loves my DD and looks after her brilliantly so I don't care.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 06/11/2015 13:12

Childminders are not teachers. They mind children, the clue is in the job title. Maybe you would be better off with a nanny or an au pair?

Original poster
Mummyofonesofar · 06/11/2015 13:14

MrsBalustradeLanyard the early years framework my Son followed included writing. This may have changed I guess?

OP posts:
musicmaiden · 06/11/2015 13:14

I expect she knows her alphabet, sounds and how to spell the names of her kids! And presumably can and will read books to them. Beyond that, she won't be teaching them spellings.

Plus, I wouldn't judge based on a text. So many people use shorthand or autocorrect or just type very fast.

Mintyy · 06/11/2015 13:14

All registered childminders have all sorts of Early Years requirements they have to comply with these days.

Mintyy · 06/11/2015 13:15

Been vs bin is not a typo though.

Iggi999 · 06/11/2015 13:15

Are you paying teachers' wages? If not then not a teacher.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 06/11/2015 13:15

Well it totally depends. If you are expecting your new CM to teach you twins the GCSE English Language syllabus then she's probably not best placed.

If you're expecting her to provide a home from home childcare environment where she will nurture and care for you children and never, ever text them I think you're ok Wink

Brioche201 · 06/11/2015 13:15

The attributes I would be looking for in a childminder would be a good-hearted bosomy woman who knew her way round a fish finger and ketchup sandwich

Brioche201 · 06/11/2015 13:17

..'I text..'

oh the irony!!

RealHuman · 06/11/2015 13:18

Pervert. Fish finger sandwiches require aioli, or mayonnaise at a pinch.

musicmaiden · 06/11/2015 13:18

The attributes I would be looking for in a childminder would be a good-hearted bosomy woman who knew her way round a fish finger and ketchup sandwich

This! And can sing Sleeping Bunnies endlessly and still be amused at it

OVienna · 06/11/2015 13:19

How old is your child? For an under two I wouldn't be worried about it - now. It is the sort of thing, I'm afraid, that I would have PFB-d about early on, concerned about my child's 'development.' LoL.

Little ones - health and safety, patience, good risk management are what it's all about.

Obviously if you have an older child and she is offering to do things like help with homework I think it is reasonable to revisit.

ConstanceMarkYaBitch · 06/11/2015 13:22

I don't see why you can't have a childminder who is both warm/caring/loves the children etc AND who can spell at a 6 year old level and above?

It's not one or the other.

Original poster
Mummyofonesofar · 06/11/2015 13:23

Mintyy Everyone here seems to think it's a typo so maybe? Or an autocorrect?

Will just get some more info from her I think - as said above - maybe I was being precious.

And to the suggestion of email - I would prefer this but apparently she is 'old school' and doesn't 'do the internet'.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummyofonesofar · 06/11/2015 13:25

ConstanceMarkYaBitch I didn't think it was one or the other - but I seem to be wrong Wink

They will be young - but if all goes well then up until they are at school - and possibly picking up my now 7yo at school run time depending on the hours I go back to work.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 06/11/2015 13:26

It would bother me enough to be a tick in the 'con' column, but not enough to never contact her again.

It's not going to be a problem until she needs to help with homework, so 4+. I wouldn't make a decision on something that isn't going to be relevant for another 4 years. Who knows what could happen?

If you find another childminder who is wonderful and can spell well then go for that one. If this one is the best you can find then go for her regardless of the spelling issue.

There is sometimes a bit of an attitude of 'but she's so good at childcare' like you can only have one or the other. There are many child carers who are great at both childcare and spelling! Aim for the stars Wink

sherbetpips · 06/11/2015 13:27

It bothered me too. I was convinced that I wanted to have a childminder rather than nursery but I am too much of a snob. Language skills, cleanliness of the house, etc all bothered me. I remember asking one lady what activities she did with the children. "we go to the park if its not raining but mostly they just want to watch telly". This was while several of her husbands mates wandered in and out of the house. she had been recommended by several people.

Nursery was just cleaners, safer and structured - just right for a control freak like me!

NuffSaidSam · 06/11/2015 13:28

x-post with Constance Grin

NoSquirrels · 06/11/2015 13:28

I would wince at that. But I would also go and meet the CM, and go from there. There really is a heck of a lot more to good early years care than spelling. Realistically, your CM will spend a bit of time doing letter recognition and whatever, but school and home is when the most of it will happen. I'd be very surprised if she "taught them wrong". By the time they're 3 they'll get early years funding most usually in a nursery setting, where you're looking for more than cuddles and love. But for twin babies, you want someone calm, unflappable and with a wealth of experience - she might be great for your DTs.

Mintyy · 06/11/2015 13:29

A typo is when you just male a mistakw due to the layout of the keyboard and you accidentally hut the wtong key. It is a typing error, shortened to typo.

As the i and e are nowhere near each other on a keyboard then been becoming bin is not a typo.

I know, I'm being pedantic!

HSMMaCM · 06/11/2015 13:35

It's not a great first impression, but not a reason to discount her completely.

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