Childminder's Club:Feeling a bit down.....

[katymac]

I came back off holiday thinking that I would be refreshed and ready for anything. However I just feel more & more bogged down with how much I have to do

It isn't just the minding
It's the paperwork/managing staff/NVQ etc

The last 2 Saturdays I was on my first aid - next aturday I'm on "Ethnicity in the Early Years" and I've just been invited on a SN course (3 days) that I should really attend. I am also booked on a "Building & Managing a team" which I really should go to

I have arranged a cleaner and get lots of help with the minding - but I'm starting to wonder if I've taken too much on

How do you choose what doesn't get done?

When the business was smaller - I worried about not earning enough - now I worry about managing everything
(sorry to whinge - I'm just on a bit of a downer I think)

Hi
I've just called a cleaner too, I figure if I can afford one then I'll use one rather than have to cram it in and have even less time with my little one at weekends.
I have a hectic schedule, just taken on two new ones and its a real military operation to get everything done!
Hope you feel better soon, I always feel down after a hol, post holiday blues.
Take care
Frankie

its the paperwork that gets me. Im behind 2 years with tax and everything is just piled up. weekends are for cleaning (still needs doing even with my fab cleaner),ironing and if poss a little bit of time with my own children. I wish i could get someone to do the paperwork for me once a month but no doubt it would cost loads.

KatieMac as i havent started minding yet i dont know if my suggestion will be any good but i thought if u write everything that needs doing and cut them up then you could look at them individually and then order them 1-20 (for eg.) then set yourself a task list and complete each task one by one then it might not seem so much to take on and you could work out which ones to ditch. hth a little bit

The paperwork side of things has to be the one thing that childminders are unhappy about (tax, policies, diaries, forms etc.) I also tend to go on quite a few courses, and I hate having to give up my evenings and weekends to do them, particularly the weekends. It makes you feel as though you haven't had a break from your job.

Like LoveMyGirls, I also write out detailed lists. It's a great feeling of satisfaction to cross things out from time to time (the more detailed they are, the more lines to cross off.)

I can't give you any advice on prioritising stuff - if I feel bogged down by everything, I just need to have a bit of a whinge too, and woe betide any of my family giving me advice on how better to manage my time! I moan quite a lot (but usually to my long-suffering dh rather than Mumsnet.)

Do you have to do the paperwork you are talking about, or is some of it stuff that you want to do? Is any of it stuff you can delegate to the other minders?

The stuff that doesn't get done in this house is basically anything connected to cleaning. I definitely don't have advice about managing staff, I can't even manage the children

Thanks Guys

I am quite good at prioritising - the stuff that gets left behind is the stuff for me

I am normally really good at paperwork - but I think I'm a bit unmotivated atm (probably because when I work out my accounts I will have made very little money)

I need to pull my socks up & get on with it - I'm just not motivated

The trouble with being in charge is that no-one gives you a pat on the back. Have a cyber one from me instead, because I really admire how much you seem to be able to do!!

Aww

Thanks TP

Katymac - How big is your childminding business now?

9 under 5's

And I've got spaces on 2 days atm

do you employ assistants then? if so where do you advertise?

My first one just came for coffee & got a job (she's left now cos her DD started nursery

The second & third were friends/mums from school (still with me)

The third is a helper from youth club (and doesn't appear to be working out)

The fourth is a teacher from school's DIL

I advertised at the JC - but got no-where

I got my numbers our of order - sorry

i am considering getting an assistant. How much would i have to pay per hour.

Minimum wage for the assistants

But my 2 main helpers are getting £5.30 phr

Hi, I have just found out i am pregnant and thinking about taking on a assistant when I am further into my pregnancy, besides crb check, food hygiene and first aid is there any other things that they would need to have done?

An assistant would not have to have done first aid/food hygiene only the CRB

okey dokey, thanks katymac

can i take on more numbers if I have an assistant?

depends on your ofsted person

In my case it was DH & I with assistants as cover

then 2 assistants registered as minders and that uped my numbers

I'm not sure if an assistant would increase your numbers

Wish I could say I was feeling better....but I've come down with something (headache, dizzy, temp & feeling rotten)

So maybe that was what was wrong with me yesterday[hopeful emoticon]

Hope you feel better soon katymac

Thanks Puppy - I'm loads better this morning

I'm now angry at myself 'cos I missed my NVQ last night