Aibu To consider becoming a childminder?

[NomNomHello]

Pondering change of jobs. Any childminders out there, that can give me their thoughts please, on changing to do this? Pros/Cons?

Live in the SE England. Within M4 - M3 corridor.

TIA.

Do you absolutely love children?

Have you got your own children?
i had a friend who did it and was amazing at it (had my dd with her) but over time she found it hard that her own kids could never do after school activities or easily have friends round. And she didn’t have much flexibility for going away herself. Plus her house did suffer. And she found late collecting parents really tedious.

I'm a CM. Started when my oldest was 6 months old and he's 18 today! My husband joined me about 10 years ago from teaching and it's honestly the best decision we ever made.
Lots of income, very enjoyable BUT you have to basically give up your home for it and it's long hours and hard work.
AMA, i'll try to help

I've been a childminder for 17 years. It's not a lucrative business by any means - you jump through ridiculous hoops to scrape minimum wage (unless you want to literally fill all your spaces including with before and after school), it's very very hard work and because it's at home it permeates your entire life. If you think ifs great you'll get to be home with your kids get used to the idea that your kids will almost always come last. Multiple toddlers and babies means endless rounds of nappies, toilet training and snotty noses... but I wouldn't do anything else. My minded kids love me and I love them. I get to watch these tiny little humans develop - learn to walk and talk, see personalities literally develop out of nothing. You have to love it to do it - you absolutely can't be in it for the money or for the time with your own kids.

Ex childminder here, I done it for 3 years and was so happy to finally close my doors.
It can be very lonely, your house/garage is taken over by toys, travel cots, high chairs, car seats and pushchairs.
My tip to you would be buy a big enough car to fit all the car seats and make sure you can get out and about because that's what will keep you sane.
I met another childminder and we are still good friends now. She's still childminder and says its a lot easier with paperwork and Ofsted now than it was before which is a positive but I would never do it again.

I have a few friends who have done it.
One hated it but it but it worked for the period her children were small.
Another is still doing it. I know she finds it frustrating as she is basically trapped a lot of the time. She had to miss parents evening as she couldn’t get there. I don’t think her secondary school child is very happy now with all the small children in the house, which looks like a nursery. It’s not a job that has any flexibility.

I'm a childminder so ask away!

What is your history/ family situation? What do you currently earn?
I love it, it is hard at times but worth it. I work 4 days a week and earn around £38-40k. 5 days would kill me. I only do EYFS and have my own children before and after school.
I have 4 children each day and I love them all.

Thanks all. Sounds positive.