Starting CM tomorrow...what do I need to do to prepare?

[iwilldothis]

After over 3 months of advertising I have finally got someone starting tomorrow! And now I'm in a panic. What do I need to do to prepare? Mum got short notice for starting a new job so just called me on Sunday evening. She starts work on Wednesday, came to see me today and wants to leave child here for an hour tomorrow to see how he gets on, with the view to sending him from Wednesday onwards! Eeeekkk!

I've given her a sheet to fill in on information about child, contact numbers etc to leave with me tomorrow. I know I need to ring SS to tell them I'm starting. Anything else I've forgotten? I don't plan to go anywhere in the car with him tomorrow when he's only here for an hour...but should I still fill in permission to travel in car in case there's an emergency?

Then IF she's happy to start FT from Wednesday morn, I'd need to fill in contract tomorrow afternoon after the 1hr session, right? And get cash deposit also before he starts?

TBH I don't really know how I feel about this. A few months ago I was very keen and eager to start CM and couldn't wait to get mindees. Have had so many families out to see me or make an appointment to see me and fail to turn up. Last week I was discussing CM with DH and he aired his concerns that he's not really happy to have other people's children in our house, sharing DD's stuff etc. and I saw an ad in the local paper which I would LOVE....so I'd kinda settled in my mind that I was gonna give up the idea of CM and apply for the job ......and now I get a mindee. Also read the "I quit" thread and am worried I'll feel like that too and not really enjoy being with other people's children. :(

Aarrgghhh. Thanks for reading. Any advice, please?

Tbh if your DH had reservations he should have shared them well before now. I imagine you've already dedicated a good proportion of time to the process of registering.

I started minding when my DD was 13 months old. As a result she is far better at sharing than I ever am! But she LOVES the company. At weekends she complains that she's lonely.

You do need to try it before making a decision But if the other job attracts you then there is no harm in applying either.

Im sure you'll be fine when he comes. Just make sure any toys / resources you might need are close at hand. Good luck!

you dont mention any signing of a contract???

i really feel you may need to discuss your choices further with dh.. if he resents the mindee then its not fair..

all your family have to be 100% on board...

including you.. totally comitted..

so take a deep breath, see how the day goes and then really consider before getting a parent to sign the contract.. its a bit unfair to be appying for jobs but stringing her and the child along at he same time...

I would put away dd toys so she doesn't have to share them or at least put away her favourite toys.
If you aren't keen then be careful that you don't over commit yourself, start part time to begin with so it doesn't eat in to family time too much.
Also consider just doing term time only contracts so it doesn't spoil any holiday time with dh.
Don't get a cash deposit get 2 weeks minimum in advance, start off as you mean to go on.

Thanks for all the good advice, everybody. Well... the decision has been taken out of my hands (for now, at least)...the woman just rang to say her mum is going to look after him instead. Kind of relieved, in a way.
When I decided to do childminding, DH agreed because at the time, it was the only thing we could see working out for us....but now I know how he really feels about it, I'm not so sure anymore.

I'm just so fed up, this is by no means the first one to let me down....time after time I've got my hopes worked up think life is starting to all fall into place again....and then, boom, it all fails.

So....what now? I'm going to apply for this other job and fingers crossed I'll get it, but don't want to get my hopes up too much cos with the way things are, there'll probably be thousands of applicants and I'm only one fish in the big, big sea.....
Wish me luck! Thanks again for the advice.
xx