School Holiday Childcare Stress

[Rebecca4567]

Hi so I'm just after some advice.

So there is a school Mums what's app group.

One Mum posted info about a playcentre holiday pass and suggested some of us might want to purchase these as you can basically get in anytime you want during the school holidays. (Depending on how busy it is maximum play might be 2 hours).

A couple mums posted that it would be a good idea if the mums working that day dropped their kid/s off at the playcentre while the mums that were off watched the kids. Their ages range from approx 6 months to 8 years.

I wasn't sure what we our plans were for the holidays so didn't reply.

Today one Mum has written down a list / time table of the available mums and she's put me down mon - fri 10-3 every day for the week. I am the only mum who's got all 5 days.

Plus I have my niece and nephews twice a week so I would need to pay for them to get in both days plus lunch. Not that I mind of course it would be entertainment for them guess. I just mean I'll have 4 of my own to supervise plus god knows how many more.

I replied to say I can't do every day and they have said I'm the only one that doesn't work (a couple of the other SAHM's are away that week). BTW I am looking for work I'm not at home now through choice.

I know a couple of the kids in both my daughters classes but some younger siblings won't have a clue who I am. If I see them they're always in the pram. Some aren't even on solids. I've not changed a nappy in years. Some mums are friends of mine but some I just say hi too.

I just think this is a disaster. What if the kids get hurt. I'm having major anxiety.

Mums have replied saying their children are looking forward to it now and they will be upset if they cannot go.

Please give me honest answers. Am I being a spoil sport? Would you do it to help the mums out?

Thanks.

Just type - that doesn’t work for me please take me off your Rota

Then mute the convo

Having x number of kids for 5 days is way more than helping out. We did the summer passes one year and it was great. We only though went once a week. They are expecting you to do everyday for a week. My two would have been bored rigid. Can’t imagine the soft play area being very impressed. They will have rules I’d have thought about adult ratios. And the ones by us do enforce the 2 hour rule so it certainly wouldn’t work all day. What happens when you get kicked out? I’d be saying sorry but there is a world of difference between we all buy passes to met up regularly over be summer and the passes being used for childcare. You are not being a spoilsport they are being CF!

No, no and no! Reply, making it clear that you will not (at any point) be doing this!

You have GOT to be kidding!

Reply on the group NOW "I didn't sign up for this and there is no way I am going to be an unpaid childminder for 5 days a week! Take me off this list immediately and make arrangement with someone who actually agrees to do it."

I wouldn’t explain . Any expiation is going to have someone come back at you.

This doesn’t work for me . Count me out but enjoy. Any my dd will be disappointed not your issue

You already have plans that week watching someone else’s children. Simple you don’t need to tell them which days. Looking after someone else’s children is a favour you offer not just get expected to do.

If this is for real, then it hands-down wins the overall MN Cheeky-Fuckers Prize of the year.

Oh my god! There’s literally no benefit to you whatsoever in this arrangement

Just say hi everyone, there seems to have been a misunderstanding here! I don’t know my summer plans yet so please take me off the rota as I’m not able to commit. Hope you are all well and enjoy the sun x

Just say "We are not available for this, which is why I didn't offer after the original message was sent."

Ok I've be just said. I've been thinking about this all day and I'm sorry but I won't be able to help. I will have my two plus niece / nephew. 2 of them are 8 and wouldn't want to be sat in a play centre all day for 5 days. I don't know most of these kids either and I don't think the idea will work. Sorry again. Have a good summer.

I feel so sick. I'm tempted to get someone else to collect my kids just to avoid the mums x

Surely the soft play aren’t going to allow this? It sounds like a health and safety nightmare! There must be a maximum number of children that a parent can supervise. This is why holiday clubs etc have strict ratios!

I give it about two days before they get fucking sick of the herd of poorly supervised kids and turf them out. What kid is going to want to do six hours of soft play a day anyway? Even the most amazing soft play centre gets boring after a couple of hours.

Tell them that it doesn't matter that you're the only sahm, it still doesn't mean that you can do it!

'Sorry, I already have plans.' would have been fine.

There is no way you need to feel any guilt. Why on earth are people who are going to be working over summer only sorting childcare now???

they're being cheeky fuckers of the highest order. So what if you don't have a job, its not for them to dictate how you spend your week. As a Mum who has always worked, childcare for my kids during holidays is always my responsibility, no one else's.

Say no! 100% not!

Good answer. I wouldn't have given as much info.

I've never heard anything so ridiculous!

What are you even getting out of the arrangement?? You don't need childcare.

I've got myself into a similar - less intense situation the last couple of years. My DD is now going to secondary and I've used it as an opportunity to say that I'm out of the arrangement.

I don't know where most of the babies / toddlers go. The ones with the youngest children are close friends with the mums that were on the rota for that day but they didn't specifically say they would look after them if you see what I mean. Do you have to pay extra for the school holidays? Mine only went when they their free 15 hours aged 3 so I'm not sure.

Don’t feel sick! They are cheeky as hell!!

this kind of crap makes me so angry!!!

This is madness. Not wanting to do it is a valid enough reason. I wonder what the contingency plan is if the playcentre does bring in a 2 hour max stay? Not that I'd be asking my only communication wpuld be just making it clear I wouldn't be going.

"Do you have to pay extra for the school holidays? Mine only went when they their free 15 hours aged 3 so I'm not sure."

that's for them to worry about, not you! Seriously I cannot believe the front of some people!

Cheeky fuckery at it's finest! You ignore the arranging and STILL get rota'd in, not only that but every single day too because you MUST be free since you don't work 🙄 unbelievable!! Don't let them guilt you into it now you've said no, they'll have to sort it themselves! I work full time and wouldn't dream of piling my kids on sahm's and assuming they've got nothing better to do! Stick to your guns OP

That sounds like one of the worst ideas. Just say you won't be doing it as you never agreed to this.

I'm gobsmacked at the amount of CF's about.

If the place is busy, kids can only stay for 2 hours so how on earth do they think these 5 hour stints will work?!

Go and do the school run today. You're better off clearing up any confusion. Practice these phrases now:

Sorry, I won't be joining in with these plans
That doesn't work for me
No

Keep repeating as much as necessary.

Then come home and forget all about it.