that is it.. i am done being a childminder

[MaryPoppinsMagic]

Have started several threads over the last few weeks on here and aibu.

I've been registered since september and every parent I have had has messed me about.

The latest was - I am ending the trial because you want to take my son to the shop.

If this is the future then I don't want it. Going to have to pay back the set up grant but oh well.

Fantastic news

I am glad you decided to stay doing childminding. You are right, I have also had parents taking the piss when it comes to picking up on time and paying for their childcare.

I have taken the 'pay on time or no minding policy' if the parent has not paid for the previous week they know there is no minding the following week. They get tax credits paid to them for childcare.

Last week one of the parents claimed she had lost her bankcard when she was supposed to pay £50. The local college pay the parent's childcare while she attends and the child's Grandmother took her out of school before half term so college won't pay because she was not attending my sessions. I will be glad to be finished with the college, they have not paid any retainer for half term even when I explained that I cannot take another on in her place in half term holidays.

mum2luke did you see my thread about being paid by my local college?

It was AWFUL I will never ever take on someone who pays via a college. I was literally in tears over a conversation I had with a member of staff there they were refusing to pay in advance and were being a total nightmare

the college will only pay for the days students attend, never for holidays and sometimes they just pay whenever they feel like it.

Hope you get rid of her soon!

mum2luke did you see my thread about being paid by my local college?

It was AWFUL I will never ever take on someone who pays via a college. I was literally in tears over a conversation I had with a member of staff there they were refusing to pay in advance and were being a total nightmare

the college will only pay for the days students attend, never for holidays and sometimes they just pay whenever they feel like it.

Hope you get rid of her soon!

I didn't am afraid, if I'd known what they would be like i would never had agreed to minding her. They are a total nightmare! They don't seem to care that we cannot take other children on in their place when they are off in half term.

I am looking forward to her contract expiring next June!

really really hope it works out for you, its soooo hard to be tough and we all get taken for a ride in the early days, you name it, late payers, non payers, late pick ups, it drives you bloody mad.

my best advice is to go through your contract line by line WITHOUT THE CHILDREN THERE TO INTERRUPT so that both of you understand exactly what is required of both parties regards payment, holidays, sick ness etc.

remember its fine to be flexible, friendly but professional at the same time.

good luck,

mum2luke your contract is with the parent not the college, it is her responsibility to fulfill the requirements and if they are not being done don't hold out until the contract expires, your well within your rights to give notice, easier said than done i know.

thebody thank you for your post. I am certainly going to be tough now. when this parent came yesterday i told her we would go out and do whatever we need to do, she kind of looked at me like when i asked if she minded us going to the shop!

hurray to you , well done, you surely have had your fair share of nutter parents though, hope things on the up from now on..

MaryPoppins, I'm so glad, you've had a more positive experience. Good luck!

I've read this thread and the other one with interest.

I returned to work earlier this year (nanny) after having 2yrs off (had a baby) I won't go into the gory details but my new employer was a nightmare - very similar to the women on you describe on the other thread. I quit with her and then had interviews with about three other people who just seemed to be cranks, and I nearly quit nannying altogether - got it into my head that it was me that I had changed.

Fortunately my 2 previous employers (from before DS was born) convinced me that I was just having a run of bad luck and reminded me there were brilliant people out there to work for.

Then I met my new family (been employed for just over 2 mths) and it's brilliant. They are normal. DS and I have been made to feel very welcome, I feel very appreciated and DS loves going and talks about the little girl and her mum all the time (even when we're not there) I am so glad that that I stuck it out with nannying as I am now very happy.
Just wanted to say stick with it, and hopefully it will all work out with this new family you have met this week.
For every "crank" family there are many more nice ones it's just unfortunate that some of the "cranks" come all at once.

Marypoppinsmagic - I really cannot afford to give up at the moment, am going to put business cards on peoples' cars tomorrow if I am better to try and let people know I am available for work.

Its seems that around here there aren't any 'nice' people, just ones that I have had - chavs who screw the system, expecting us cms to run round after them and them to f-k off when they feel like it. She gave me a text-full of abuse which I am going to print out and send to NCMA legal team along with a copy of her contract. I have typed a letter with an invoice which they told me to send recorded delivery, she thinks am a soft touch, ha!! I have also informed Tax credits in case she decides to claim on my number .

mum2luke

Its unfortunate that you are being held over a barrel here, dammed if u do dammed if you don't!

Good idea about the cards on cars, have you tried childcare.co_uk? Also net mums have a childcare section which I have had a bit of business from.

I have 2 children starting in the next couple of weeks, (28th) which has come just in time as we really need the money for Christmas. I can't help but feel it will all go wrong judging on past experience.

I got some (cheap) printed postcards and started delivering around my local neighbourhood. The postman saw me and offered to deliver the rest for me (for a small cash incentive) .

I have had a couple of enquiries from them, but that's all it takes. I figured that as they were local, people would have probably seen me out and about with the children, or could walk past my house and have a quick nosey if they wanted to.

It also helps to get your name to people who are just starting to think about childcare and it gives them a local option.

sunshinenanny children in nursery are also allowed out on day trips, frequently ime. please don't call nurseries baby farms, it's very offensive.

I'm sorry if you are offended Nanbullen but that is my opinion which has been formed over several years working with children. Yes I know they go out on heavily planned trips and one of the nurseries in my town leads the children round the town holding on to a piece of rope! The children who come out with me hold my hand walk with me and generally have a lovely time we do things at a time and pace that suit us and when they are tired they sleep in their own beds at a time that suits them not a nursery full of other children and all at the same time for the convenience of the staff and often on pallets on the floor and yes we paint play with toys, go on outings and playdates and to toddler group. many childcare professionals believe that children under 3 should not be in nurseries and allthough I have nothing against pre-schools I firmly believe that babies and under 3's belong in a home environment. I also believe that 4 is far too young for them to start school and other countries where they start later have got it right.I was told by one nursery manager that they didn't encourage the staff to cuddlle the babies too much because they need to learn independence. I know their are better nurseries that do there best but I personally think they are baby farms and it speaks volumes to me that a lady I once interviewed for said her mother in law who worked in a nursery had begged her not to put her grandchild in one.

Glad I read your post sunshine I had one day a week to cover and nearly went for a nursery instead of a nanny. Why dont they hold the childrens hands?

not enough hands for all the children

Oh I see I am tired, surely they could let go of the rope at any time?

Just wanted to add that I'm glad you're giving it another chance. We have always had brilliant cms and DD adores the lady she goes to now. She is utterly fabulous. A CM is a brilliant option for people like me who don't want to use a nursery yet and can't afford a nanny. The home from home thing is exactly what I want - going to the shops, etc, doing all the normal things DD would do with me. Actually that said, DD has far more fun with the CM because she actualy focuses on doing lots of great play activities - puts me to shame!

It does sound like teething troubles, and I'm glad you're working your way around it. Keep assessing yourself, the way you do what you do, the way you select your clients, etc etc. I'm sure you will settle into your new career brilliantly.

Best of luck!

Sunshinenanny - my dc attended private nursery from 2.5. They never slept on pallets , had lots of physical affection and cuddles, and in an area where we have many private nurseries I have never ever seen children holding onto a rope when they are out ! My children often had ad hoc visits to the library , park , feed the ducks , holding the nurseries nurses hands . Your local nurseries sounds very deprived imo. You sound very narrow minded actually .

I have temped in a few nurseries they have used holding on to the rope as it is three children to one nursery worker this is the easiest way of doing it. I am sure there are good nurseries out there although I havent worked in any where I would leave my DCs. All the nurseries I have worked in have been private.

Sunshinenanny I know you're only a nanny and so probably not the brightest but I wouldn't let you near my children with such an unhealthy attitude.

i get the feeling you were turned down for a job in a nursery, no?

Only a nanny? And so not the brightest?

I have to say our nanny of 5 years is one of the smartest and hardest working people I know, with way more common sense than most people I meet. How rude. I do hope you were joking.

sunshinenanny Not all nurseries are the same, just as all nannies or childminders are the same.
I have worked in playgroups and nurseries for 20 years and I have never been discouraged from cuddling a child.
I often take small groups of children out to the shops, the park, sometimes just one child at a time to post letters etc. We always hold hands. The children in my nursery all have their own routine and are allowed to sleep when they need to. Never seen pallets being used in a nursery for beds

Why do you assume that she isn't bright NanBullen ???

I am a nanny contracted to a minimum of a 50 hour working week with 1 day at uni (I am on call that day) I would hope that you wouldn't think I was thick NanBullen?