Calling all ex CM's

[LoveMyGirls]

I'm being nosy and considering changing career in a few years and I just wondered what you all went on to do after being a childminder.

DH says I will really regret not cm-ing anymore and I am sure there are lots of things I will miss, please tell me do you miss it, regret not carrying on etc?

There are up sides and down sides and good days and bad days overall I am very happy doing what I do for now but in a few more years I tyhink I would like to do something else and also we would like to buy a house.

BUmp

I'm pretty sure MaureenMLove doesn't regret it?! Is she on your FB? If not, will alert her to this thread :)

I am now a nanny which is what I used to do before childminding. I did spend some time working in a warehouse before I started back in nannying, which I hated and missed being around children and using my caring/nurturing side.

I do not miss the paperwork, the tax returns, the chaos in my house, unpaid holidays and unpaid sick leave (though I only had 4 days in 10 years).

I miss being at home for deliveries, sticking that extra load of washing in during a quiet 5 minutes and I miss that extra 45 minutes in bed now that I have to be up and out of the house.

Somebody rang?

Looney is right, I don't regret a minute!

I was originally registered with the local council, so I was old school and very reluctant to take on EYFS! I was the worlds worst for doing daily diaries and bloody paperwork!

I was always going to give up when DD started secondary school anyway.

I was very, very lucky that I got a job in a secondary school and tbh, as my job is so fantastic and I have made a real difference to the school in the 3 years I've been there, it's helped not to regret it.

Things I like:
paid holidays (lots of them!)
house still in the same state as I left it.
No toys!
Clean, tidy clothes - proper girl clothes, not clothes that don't matter if they get sick or playdoh on them!
Pay on same day every month and same amount, so much easier to budget.

The only thing I miss about childminding tbh, is some of the kids, but since at least 3 of them live in my street, I can still see them! In fact, the neighbours boy, is in here most of the summer!

Parcel deliveries are not really a problem, there's always someone nearby in to take it in.

So, in short, best thing I ever did! Don't get me wrong, I loved being a CM, loved doing the clubs and libraries and getting the cuddles etc, but it was time for me to move on and I've never looked back!

No there's a heartwarming story for you!

Hope you are well. x

Wow 3yrs already MML!!! Glad to hear you are doing so well

I'm ok with everything at the moment it's just that I'd like to do something else with my life at some point (no idea what!) and in a few years dd2 will almost be going up to secondary school and the original plan was to do this until she went to school, I enjoy it so much I decided to carry on but I'm very artistic and I don't have time to spend as much time as I would like doing paintings whilst I'm doing 55hrs a week childminding plus paperwork etc. I also don't have storage space for all my arty bits because my entire house has been taken over with toys and kids craft stuff, it will be a very very nice feeling to de-clutter I think! I tried it at christmas and I liked it A LOT!

Also I think once we can buy a house I want to buy one because we want to live there not because it's ideal for my job.

The going out and coming back as we left it will be nice too!

Part of the bit that worries me is not knowing who would want to ever employ me after doing this for so long, I don't have any decent qualifications or exerience with much other than a bit of office work which I don't think I would like to do again because I'm so used to not being stuck in one place now. Shop work but I didn't like that and I can't do sales, the targets and pressure would freak me out I think. Care work and looking after children is all I know I can do tbh. I had dd1 at 17 and I have never really had chance to consider what I'd like to be when I grow up lol, not that I'm saying I don't take this seriously I really do and take a lot of pride in the care I provide and how my business runs and I have really enjoyed it but I did always know eventually I would want to have our home back. I think coming up to 30 (no I know it's not at all old) but I feel a bit like the clock is ticking if I want to re-train in something else iyswim?

Anyone else out there with stories?

I've only recently dropped childminding and its more due to circumstances than choice.

I'm doing nannying and running creches for children centres so now employ childminders.

I don't miss it one bit and neither does my family, they all loved the children while they were here but it came to a natural end as they all grew up and I didn't try very hard to replace them! we had had enough of putting away all the boys lego etc so it was safe and I just want my house back without having to risk assess it. I like going out to work and i'm still my own boss.

I stopped childminding nearly two years ago.
I miss nothing at all about it. I have never felt so free in my life!!
I decorate cakes for a living now, still from home, but it is another world - I have music on all day, i listen to the radio, I talk on the phone to friends, and if i get an annoying client, they are only in my life for a week or so max! I dont earn as much, but the trade off is WELL WORTH IT! As my kids get older, I plan to take on more weddings and bigger orders, then the money will be comparable.

btw, good luck Lovemygirls, with whatever you decide to do

I've been looking at job vacancies and foud one for a project manager - am I aiming too high? I looked at the list of requirements and apart from the fact I don't have a degree and am not likely to get one either is the only thing I can't do I think (could be a very big thing though)

The rest is all stuff I do already imo.
The successful candidate must have:

Event management experience with the ability to utilise and implement a range of project management tools and techniques - I could do a prince2 to gain some of this I think?
Strong analytical skills
Attention to detail
Ability to prioritise workloads / work strands
Client facing / Customer Service experience
Task / goal Oriented
Flexible and enthusiastic attitude
Excellent PC skills including MS office (powerpoint, excel, word and outlook)
Strong presentation and communication skills with the ability to communicate at all levels
Excellent written ability
Self starter with the ability to work on their own and as part of a team
Excellent organisational and time management skills

and be:

Educated to degree level
Assertive
Willing to learn and develop new skills
Open to feedback with a desire for continual professional development
Conscientious, reliable, honest and trustworthy
Able to respect individual differences/preferences of clients
Willing to travel (predominantly UK based)

Am I being too ambitious? This is only 1 idea but just wondered what you all think?

Personally, I think you should go for it. What's the worst that could happen? It'll be good practice for interview, which I'm sure you haven't had for a while.

I actually went for my job, as the first interview I'd had since 1984! I was so laid back, I was horizontal! Clearly, my relaxed maner worked!

i gave up a year and half ago and dont regret it for a second! My dc are now happy to come home from school as their house is not full of 'screamers' and they can have their toys downstairs without worrying about them getting broken. I trained for my nvq 3 in childcare and am now a deputy supervisor in a preschool so still do all the paperwork but somehow it doesnt seem so bad as i get designated time to do it. Good luck with what you decide x

Thanks, I don't have a degree but feel with prince2 I could do everything on the list, think I am possibly aiming too high but we'll see, I've got ages to think about it

In an ideal world I'd like to set up a mural painting company but with the way the economy is I don't think it will work so unless that changes I doubt it will happen.

I could do with seeing a career person I think because I don't have a clue and no quals either

I quit childminding 4 years ago mainly as DS was being assessed for ASD and it had all go too stressful, my 2 mindees were due to start school and i wasnt in the right frame of mind to start advertising for new children. Also DH had been offered a better paid job and DD was only 1 and i wanted to spend more time with her alone.

I spent 2 years getting my house back and concentrating on DD and then in 2009 i decided that i needed to get back to work (Ds had his place in special school and DD was at pre school 5 mornings). I was lucky that i was already a level 3 nursery nurse and had nanny/childminding/ nursery manager experience and walked straight into a job in childcare at a nursery nearby. I left childminding just as EYFS was being introduced so had no experience of this and i spent a year becoming familiar with it. I am now a deputy manager of that nursery and love my job!
DO I MISS CHILDMINDING? not really, I like having my home back and i like that my experience and knowledge is shared amongst the nursery staff and valued and i also like that its recognised in pay rises!!! (3 in the last year!)
Im also doing a degree in early years now thanks to local funding and i still see my old childminder friends and am able to offer support to them too (recently set them up a folder so they could get funding for a new toddler group from surestart!)

What i will say is do not underestimate your EYFS experience. Many nurseries would snap you up and offer extra training. I think you are near me LOVEMYGIRLS in the CV10 area and if so look at the local nurseries and ask about hours in the funded sessions which are usually 9:30-2:30 ish so would fit with school etc!

I was a nanny and then a cm for many years.
I left the year before last year as we were moving house and have since started my own import/ retail business which is going really well. The money isn't as good as childminding and I do really miss all the little ones (I did REALLY love being a cm and had some amazing families)...but I LOVE having my house as mine...no baby stuff everywhere...no ofsted...no observations...working to my own timetable...taking holidays when I want to!!
I wouldn't switch back.
My children are definatly MUCH happier too.

I have been thinking about changing career paths aswell.

I've looked after children as a nanny and a CM for 14 years and really don't have a clue where to look or what kind of jobs to look for.

I'm currently nannying for 2 days and CMing for 2 days so things are ticking over fine but if I 'lose' any of my children I know it'll be a struggle to fill the spaces.

Also, I'd never really thought about what I wanted to do when I grew up and now I've nearly grown up I'm starting to think about it .

My ds is 8 and is still quite happy to have other small children around so I'm in no rush to give up CMing - though I would love to not have toys and buggies all over my living room!!

I think we're kind of in the same place MOGS, Im in no rush but I'm thinking one day I'll do something else

Yes bonkers I am not far from you at all iirc but I'm really not sure a nursery is for me, I worked in one 12yrs ago on a youth training placement and didn't enjoy it tbh, I was only put there because I was pregnant and they thought it was the most relevant to me at the time, I wouldn't enjoy being in 1 place all day everyday, whatever I do next I think I need to be doing something where I am mobile a little bit of time if not all the time although as you point out the hours would be good though I'm not sure you can pick those hours can you? My friend works ina nursery and has to do 3 x 10 hour days per week so I had (probably wrongly) assumed all nurseries did that too.