What do you enjoy about childminding?

[MUM2BLESS]

All my mindees have gone home, I am just chilling round the computer, sorry if you are still working.

Just wondering what you enjoy about childminding and what you do like about it?

I enjoy:

The flexi hours. Hrs I will work from 07.30 until 18.00. (anything in between) Done earlier and later and did not really enjoy it.

Being in my home environment. Worked outside the home with my first, but prefer being at home

Love being able to take the kids to the various activities within my area ie children's centre (childminding group)

Seize training opportunities when I can.

being able to pay the bills

*Don't like all the paper work, late collection, late payment, some of the behaviour of the children,

Been childminding 2 years now.

I like:
That I can take my own children to school and collect them.
My own kids get to make friends with kids of all ages.
Watching my mindees, grow up and get their own little personalities
Being my own boss
Bringing some money into the home.

Don't like:
The paperwork, behind with it already
Parents who bring ill children and then I get lots of bugs all through winter.
Parents who pay late
That's it really

How long have you been childminding? How many do you child mind?

I like:

• being home
• working with my DH
• being here for my DD
• seeing the children grow and develop
• running through the woods when everyone else is stuck in an office
• not having a boss
• taking holiday when I choose

I don't like:

• doing anything that is of no benefit to the children (just for Ofsted)
• late payments
• interviewing parents

I have been CMing for 11 yrs

I like:

That I'm around for my children and can take my son to school etc

That I have a lively house with lots of sparkly characters and feel like I have a lovely extended family

That my children have all these friends of various ages

That I have met some lovely families who I also socialise with outside of work at times and have all become friends

That my youngest (aged 2.4 and knows nothing but me childminding) gets sooooo excited when all his 'friends' come back after I've closed for a week/after the weekend and that he jumps for joy when mindees stay overnight, even though he's kicked out of his room for it.

Being my own boss and doing things the way I want to do them

Bringing in an income/being successful

Having so many tinies to look after and watching them grow into proper little people (had them start from 5 wks old)

Being out and about (groups, park, country parks, splashing in muddy puddles, chucking leaves at each other, feeding ducks and all the picnics etc :))

I Don't like:

That although I'm around, my own children are pushed away whilst I'm sorting all the other children out

That although I can take my son to school, the school run is so manic that I can't spend time with him helping him with some of his work like lots of the other parents do (I know most schools don't) - obviously I'd not be able to do ANYTHING though if I was employed.

That my eldest sometimes just wants to be able to play on the Wii or chill with some tv etc. but can't as it's not appropriate for the other children

That when my children are a bit off colour but I'm still able to work, that I can't give them the extra time they need as still busy with all the others

The Paperwork (HATE it!!!!!)

Parents who are regularly late and come up with all sorts of excuses

Parents who bring a sick child in knowing full well the 'rules' and then they have to go home anyway but has now passed it on to everyone else (causing me to loose money if I catch a D&V bug!!! )

Having to chase payment (rare but annoying on occasion)

Being ill and just wanting to rest but instead having 5/6 children for breakfast from 7am and having to plod through the school and nursery runs with them all and having 4 aged 3 and under to entertain when I just want to lie on the sofa!

Children's behaviour at times

Wearing rubbish clothes all the time

The extra washing

Dinnertime (I HATE preparing dinner and trying to entertain 6 children at the same time!)

My house looking like a nursery

The impact it all has on the family (although obviously I've mentioned the pros to this)

Sorry, forgot to put....childminding for 5.5 years

I like:

being my own boss.

doing it my way, choosing my hours and not doing nursery or school runs- it?s a much more relaxed way of working and its all about the lo?s- not being a taxi service rushing here and there.

having the time to potter about with the lo?s, our only deadlines are meal times- and even those can be shifted slightly and I love being able to share meals (and have done for the past 20 years) with lo?s.

going out every day or almost everyday, and I also like the fact that we can stay indoors if its too wet or the lo?s are tired.

seeing children learn & develop- every child is (very) different, it?s a joy to see individuality shining through.

developing my setting, I get a buzz out of buying toys & resources & I like being able to change things around (without having to ask anyone else if its ok- being my own boss I guess).

meeting other cm?s

training courses (even when I moan I do secretly enjoy learning/up-dating/networking)

seeing my filling-cabinet ordered and up-to-date- and knowing its all my own work (not that its always tidy or up-to-date)

earning and spending too much on my business

taking holidays when I want to.

getting os twice- i really enjoyed that

I do not like:

late payments.

adults walking mud through my home and not noticing/caring.

wasting time waiting for people to arriving when I?m desperate for the loo/could have spent that 15 minutes washing my hair, or hung the washing out instead of listening for the doorbell.

finding out for myself mid morning that a child was sick in the night

catching bugs and colds off children dosed up on calpol then have to close a few days later when I?m ill and to add insult to injury having to refund that day/s fees.

When lo?s are asllep and I?ve cleared up, done some paperwork, had a cup of tea and the lo?s still asleep I wish I could go on the wii or do the ironing or something but feel I shouldn?t because I?m being paid (I hate wasting time and even after all these years its something I have not come to terms with- but I do allow myself to look at MN)

Relentless paperwork and having to spend evenings and weekends doing it.

the going rate around here £3.85 per hour (I only have under 5?s and I also rarely, if ever, have my full ratio)

WOW thanks for your replies.

There is never a dull moment with childminding.

Come on everyone let hear what you have to say

I love Fridays as I can relax a little. Enjoyed a lovely takeaway chinese meal this evening oh so yummy!!

I got some roses, cheese cake and a card from the parents of one of my mindees who left last month. The little one presented me with the cheese cake.

Looking at whats happening now are you going to make any changes to how you do things? or are you happy running this the same way?

Sorry if I sound like a reporter, I a childminder who is trying to find out how other cm's are feeling.

Going to make my life better, the kids lives more enriching and stuff Ofsted :)

I've only been cming since September with my DH and so far is great. But mine is a bit different than most cos of working with DH.

I Like:
Seeing and hearing the mindees having fun,even with the simplest things.

Having new mindees and seeing them interact with the others.

Seeing parent thrilled when their child does something new and going away with a smile on their face.

Working with my DH as a good team. (we both have our strengths and weaknesses so support each other)

Being able to keep up with the housework in between mindees.

Meeting other cm's and parents at the stay and plays.

Being able to go out with the mindees.

Hearing the mindees say new words and do new things.

Being able to take time out and having the mindees on my own (we are aware of each others rest needs)

Writing up the diaries.

Taking photo's for ob's

People stopping to talk to me/us when out because of the mindee.

Being able to sing children's songs and do other 'childish' things without anyone batting an eyelid. (in fact they smile instead)

Seeing the business develop.. Slowly but surely

Changing nappies

Don't like

If I'm ill and have to stay upstairs and DH is having all the fun downstairs or out.

Not having alot of mindees at the moment

Trying to get a mindee to nap who is obviously tired that doesn't want to.

Having a mindee moan about the food.

Seeing a mindee upset.

Not having alot of resources at the moment.

Not being able to cuddle up to DH whenever the mindees are about (a rule we have given ourselves to be professional) although it it nice to have a hug once the work is finished.