Unsure whether to go ahead with contract

[2anddone]

Hi I am a cm in all but name (meaning that I work at a preschool 9-3 term time and have kept my registration going for any school runs and the one school holiday child I have for this summer only.) A couple of years ago I gave notice to a mindee as I was pregnant and she was quite a large child and I couldn't do all the lifting that was required(also mum was a PITA and wouldn't have understood if I was feeling tired one day so we didn't go to toddlers) Anyway this parent has approached me and asked me for before and after school care term time only 7.30 til 8.50 and 3 til 4.30 sometimes 5.30 I have said I will do this for a minimum charge of £10 a day (so £50 week even though on 2 days I only take to school not collect)
I know most of you must be thinking what am I moaning about, the problem is we have not even started yet and already the mum has emailed me ALOT and asked lots of questions which really aren't relevant to her childs care. She also keeps trying to get me to use busybees which I am refusing to as have had problems with them in the past. Days and time keep changing and so do the time the child will be collected each day and she wants to let me know on the day, each day, when she will be collecting. I have said this is not practical as I need to plan my afternoons ie food and if we want to play at the local park etc. I am unsure whather to still go ahead with contract considering I have made it very clear I am doing it as a favour more than anything and she is still giving me no end of ground rules. WWYD? Am starting to remember why I left being a cm and went to preschool!

i think i would say no, but i'm trying to think of a polite way to say it ....

say no

if this is how she is before you begin she will be a nightmare to work for, expecting you to be at her service and changing hours/days at the drop of a hat

you are providing a standard service not a bespoke one; if she wants a bespoke service whereby she can change at whim she can have it for £10 per hour

I think that by posting on here AND giving reasons for why you shouldn't do it... you have already really decided not to go ahead.

Oh goodness. I'm not a cm. I'm a parent. I think you should say no! As a teacher, I do know a bit about nightmare parents...

Thanks everyone was really worried I would get flamed

no no we don't do flaming here on the CM board

She sounds like a nightmare.

I have in the past pulled out of a MN contract as was getting emails and calls from mum and dad wanting different things - contradicting each other yet they lived together.

If you have doubts - say no.
Trust your gut reaction - I have learned from bitter experience nnot to go against my initial reactions.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

So thats a definate NO NO NO from me

It'd be a no from me too - I've only been a CM since February and already I've learned my lesson about not going with my gut instincts and not standing up for what I actually want from a parent. I had a horrid 4 months working for a parent who could only tell me her shift pattern a week in advance, sometimes even less, it was really unworkable so I terminated in the end.

Another contract was supposed to be fulltime with the very occasional early pick-up, I turned 8 fulltime contracts away. Now that mindee has started they pick up early nearly every day with only a very occasional 4:30 pick up - they said it'd be 5:30 all the time but I didn't make an airtight contract as it was my first ever one I did .

As a CM you tend to always learn the hard way but seeing as you already know the woman is a nightmare for GOD SAKE don't go back!!!

Thanks everyone, I saw her yesterday and she said she has now decided to only have me for school runs in the morning until christmas and then morning and afternoon afterwards but as a result doesn't want to pay my minimum daily charge (which fwiw is the same amount a taxi from mine to the school would cost so I think she is on a good deal still as she gets care as well as transport) I have told her I am not willing to negotiate on price at all and am waiting to hear back from her, am hoping that this may be the straw that breaks the camels back and she will go elsewhere. Wish I just had the bottle to say stop messing me around and go elsewhere.

I would not take her on at all. Always go with your gut feel and I think your gut feel is NO. Perhaps you can just end this by saying the vacancy is no longer available... you are not obligated to tell her why.