Childminders CLub: Do you think this is acceptable

[jellyjelly]

I have had a 5 year old school run since the begining of sept. We had a few settling in days where everything was good, however since he starting full time both before and after school he has started to really act up and not get along with my son and the other children.

I know that this is making both of them unhappy and have told the mum. She said that she will monitor it.

Yesterday i had lunch with his previous minder who has just had a baby which was why he started coming to me, anyway the mum the week before asked if she could take him back with out talking to me first. Feel a bit sad about that.

She said that she would but not for 7 weeks, my notice period is 4 weeks. Do you think it is acceptable to stick to the 4 or accomodate the 7? Everyday is a battle and it seems to be making us all unhappy.

On another note whenever you give notice to a parent you give them children care problems. Am i the first to ever give a set of parents problems?

JJ - stop trying to justify yourself - you have done the right thing for yourself and your family.

To the parents I would suggest that they contact your local network co-ordinator....to find alternative/temporary childcare, try not to get too involved.

But thats just it surely cori its the parents childcare problem. From what i have read for a while now jelly has been having major problems with this child for a while. It is within jellys rights to terminate the contract having done so with the stated 4 weeks notice. After all thats what contracts are for after that even though jelly may sympathise with the predicament it is the parents responsibility to find alternative childcare. See is this childs cm thats as far as the responsibilty for her ends. Sometimes a guilt trip can be put on people and i dont think that is fair.

thankyou katymac you have been helpful as always.

Yes you have done EXACTLY the right thing I always had a rule that my childrens happiness came first and it always did.I never had to shift anyone on as a result but i have got a job in school and have resigned as a childminder!
As a result i knew it would give my 2 afternoons a week lady problems but i put her in touch with someone else if i hadnt have been able to well it happens doesnt it sometimes something has to give and it doesnt always fall in their favour .I am sure for the existing 3 weeks they can make arrangements with family or god forbid take some time off dont beat yourself up over it.

Thank you for all the positive comments ladies, i will stop beating myself about putting myself and my family happiness first.

Bring on wrap around care, then parents/childminders wont have these problems. If a childminder did this to me I would have no option to take time off, lose pay, get into debt etc.

Sometimes things dont work out however much you try.

Each to their own cori. Until you have stepped in others shoes no one can really know what they would do huh

Message withdrawn

I think the thing that would annoy me is whether this mum ever intended you to have this child permanently, or did she intend to take him back to his previous childminder eventually anyway?? Did the mum talk to her previous minder before or after you told her about the problems you were having?

The problems started and couldnt rally be discussed in details because she wouldnt come in and talk to discuss the problems becasue she wanted to do quick dropoffs and leave her other child in the car. I had a weeks holiday and while i was away she asked the other minder if she would have him back. I only found this out from my friend when we had lunch.

So in all fairness if you hadnt had lunch with the other childminder the first time you might have found out is if your lady had given YOU four weeks notice!

I think she would have monitored the situation for 3 weeks then given me four weeks notice to coincide with the other minder going back to work taking it to 7 weeks to the begining of dec which is when the old c/minder goes back to work.

So - are you working for your convenience or hers?

I know what I'd do

But then I am known for being hard faced

Have given 4 weeks would make it 2 just to get out of the happiness but am sticking to the contract being fair and given them what we agreed.

What would you have done?

4 weeks - can't go against the contract

but would have offered to cut it short if they found somewhere sooner