what are your tips for balancing work and home life?

[MUM2BLESS]

Hi everyone.

Its June already, time has surely flown this year.

I am a mum of four and I childmind six, sometimes more. Yes Live is very busy. (do not get me wrong I am so grateful for the work!!)

I was thinking, as you do I am quite a thorough person and I like to do things well. I work mon to fri. I am looking for ways and means on how to make life easier in every way.

I would love to hear from other cms/parents .... who are busy, on how you stay balanced with work and homelife. What advice or tips you have on how to manage time and cut the workload down (especially the paperwork).

I have started putting papers in piles ie NOW!, need attention, signing, filing and can wait and also a pile for my hubby to see (school infor etc).

In the school hols only one child comes three times a week.

I aim to care 100 % to the childmding kids at the same time trying to make time for my kids, my husbands etc etc.

Love to hear from you on this

LPP -I am going along the same times as you. The amount of wasted food is awful, I only get clean plates when I do sausage, baked beans and chips which is more of a "treat", when I use veg, do shepherds pies, pasta and other good old fashioned basics so much gets left, or just say I do peas and sweetcorn, out of the 5 I feed, one won't like peas, one won't like sweetcorn another won't like both so I have to cook each one separately. Also 4 nearly 5 year olds will scoop up food with their hands and eat it, not even trying to use cutlery, I have 2 which eat dinners going to big school in September and i won't have them anymore, so am considering making my change at that point.

I have decided (tonight) to stop doing dinner. The kids I could sort out but I can't get the parents on side so it won't work. I have had enough.

So sorry to hear about problems with food.

When I first started I ask the parents to provide meals for their kids. I did some if needed. This would incur an extra charge sometimes. I also provided meal etc if needed during inset days etc.

I have put up my prices which includes a snack for the children. I am so glad that i do not have to cook dinner for the kids. I know that kids can be fussy about what they do and do not like.

The kids I look after are from different racial background therefore their tastebuds differ.

Sometimes you can have a child who would eat the same thing time and time again.

The other day one little girl tried some mango which was yummy!

If the parents provide they know what their kids want. It also save on time if you are not cooking from scratch. The kids may not want what my family eats. Some cms do not mind cooking for everyone at the same time. I think it really depends on what you schedule is like, and mine is busy.

Does any one attend groups of any type? I attends a bril Toy library with a stay and play session. You get to do messy stuff their, I can use their camera for my L.Y and I can also do note for my EYFS.

Sorry a bit long but trust its useful.

Some really great tips from you all thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I attend groups. There is a church play group across the road from me that's quite nice. I like Sure Start things but they are being a pain atm. I used to attend a local Childminders Group but they hold it at the Sure Start centre now and that's causing ishoos.

I like music at the library.

Does anyone work week ends?

I think very carefully before saying yes to new parents, as I have so much to consider. It must be right for my family.

I have done 07.00 and I did not like them. Arrival was sometimes just before 07.00. I have also done around 19.00 finish.

What hours do you do? I had to let my parents know that my hours are 07.30 to 18.00.

My hours are 7:30am til 6pm, mon-fri, on top of that theres training, network meetings, childminding forums and paperwork in the evenings. It's intense, I wouldn't do weekends because I'd miss DS to much.

We're thinking of getting a cleaner to ease the pressure. DH studies full time and works weekends.

Same as me, wow

Have you always done these hours?

Little...tell me what your day consist of. Its just interesting to be in touch with someone who works the same hours.

Excuse me asking, how many do you look after?

Do you get any me time?

Thanks for your comments.

I wonder how many cm's are still up like myself? Have you all retired early to bed?

I have to try and tidy up my living room which has stuff all over the place.

I have a busy but enjoyable day tomorrow.

I have been doing these hours for a couple of months and I will NEVER do it again (once full timer has left in september). The pressure is way to much.

I look after one child full time, one child each morning, then I have a mix of school runs (all aged 4-5) depending on what day it is.

Tuesday is my busiest,

From 7:30 onwards I have 2 sisters, my DS, a little girl and a little boy, then I drop DS, the sisters and the boy of at school/nursery around 9.

I keep the girl and gain another one at 9:30.

We usually go out in the morning, either toddler groups, sure start groups, park, soft play etc... then back to min for lunch.

Littlest one get picked up 1:30.

We then tend to have a bit of quiet time at home for an hour, maybe go for a short walk.

I do the school runs, starting with a boy from one school at 3, then onto the next school to pick up DS, a girl, and twins at 3:05 (we run btw, and the schoolsare next dorr to each other).

Then at home we'll have some messy/creative play at the kitchen table, the garden will be open, and theres a choice of toys in the living room. Dinner is 5. After tea they are allowed to watch TV. Most are picked up around 5:30.

Wow Littlepurpleprincess

You are busy!!

If I could choose the hours I really like I would probably go for 08.00 until 17.00. Its amazing how much early starts and early finishes affect your own familiy. Once you agree to a time with the parents you have to run with it until they change it. Sometimes you do not realise how is will affect your own household. The parents themsevles must have to get up really early to get to the childminders. This cannot be easy for them to do.

My busiest day is Wednesdays 3 come at 07.30 (just before usually). Another comes just after 08.00. I drop off 2 at the Jnrs (one of which ismy own) then 3 at the infants (one of which is my own). Not on the same site.

I return home with little one. Any time after 09.15 another child comes.

After noon - Do pick up at the infants then go to the juniors for another who does not usually come in the morning. Go home have snack. Drop off one child on the way to pick up two from the jnrs. (one my own)

In the morning I also have to ensure my two eldest leave out on time for school.

At present I am walking every where.

You have to think very carefully about the hours you choose as in the past I got the money but the hours were very long and sometimes my day was very challenging..

I have a mixture of age groups which means I have to try to think ahead about what I am going to do. Uusally I can give the younger one one to one attention before I pick up the older one.

Anyone else doing anything simular. Also, sorry does anyone do pick ups from clubs etc?

Thank you to all those who commented....