Whats happening to me????

[JenumGeranium]

I used to be quite good with kids but now I'm finding that I am getting quite grumpy and moany with them and sometimes they even annoy me. I used to be able to have fun with them, but seems all the fun has gone from me

My friend came round this morning and made the kids have fun and laugh and she was only here for 40 mins! I used to be able to do that, but not now.

Sorry, I am feeling a bit down today.

Actually I think Ive worked it out what I need to do! I need to get away from children!

Will look into going out maybe a couple of evenings a week - maybe join a gym or do a night class.

hi can you not go to some toddler groups? i go to something different every morning and i love just getting to talk to adults for an hour!! plus my mindees get to socialise with the other kids and run about loads which means they sleep in the afternoons really well so i can get homeworks done.

Hi nicm

Thanks for your advice. Tbh I'm not sure I have the time to go! I have to pick a child up at 11.30 and then drop another off at 12.30, so I dont want to end up rushing around even more than I should - but it is a good idea and may look into it and see if I could fit it in!

Thanks again

Are you friendly with other c/m? Could you invite them round for coffee etc and make it a regular thing?

I take my mindees out somewhere every morning (toddler group, music group, soft play etc.) It is as much for my benefit as it is for the children's. There are often several childminders that go to the groups, so we actually have something in common to chat about. It tends to recharge your batteries.

I dont really know any other childminders around here - Ive only been doing this a very short time, so I guess I may get to know some especially if I start going to a toddler group or something. Thanks!

I could try and find some local groups I guess. Do they do them in the afternoon too? I only have one child in the morning and one in the afternoon plus my own 3 year old!

When I started minding, I didn't know any other minders, and my own children were older, so I didn't know any mums either. I had to pluck up courage to get and about and, sad though it is, I think my childminding job now provides me with a social life as well! I don't ever want to get a Grown-Up Job.

JenumGeranium - Have a look on your local childcare link and e-mail any childminders in the area they can give you more advice on local groups than your council as they can tell you how good each one is. I know it's a bit cheeky but it's how I found all my local ones (too impatient to wait for info from council!)

Can you go to different groups each day? A lady on my ICP course said you can't go to more than 2 a week as it takes away from the "home-based" setting.

This is the lady that also told me you cant read Noah's Ark or have christmas decorations up so I'm not sure if it's it's true as the last 2 are definatley not.

Lol Karen23!

Thanks for your advice ladies!

You can go out as much or as little as you want - I always tell parents (before they choose me) what we do, so it is their choice if they want a sociable childminder! I did have someone turn me down because she didn't think I should take children out for whole days in the school holidays (picnics, safari park etc.) Her loss!!

The Prisoner - Thanks for clearing that up about being able to go out. All the childminders that I know either did the course with me or later with this lady telling us all these porkies about what we can and can't do. I'll feel more confident taking them out more now