when is it time to give up minding??

[thebody]

hi, posted yeseterday about term time minding BUT now aching back from too many school runs, 2 per day with 4 children.own eldest dc is 22 so been in school playgrounds for too bloody long,and been told snow coming!!

getting a bit fed up tbh of talking to under 4s all day,(and they are a lovely group but you know still hard work)

totally PISSED off with all the paperwork, and do minimum as it is

want my house back with no posters, equipment, toys everywhere,dirty nappies, spilt drinks and food, sick, fucking lost gloves, blah blah

and finally dh said last night that he wanted me to give up to be able to spend time with him when he is off, hes a contractor and we havnt had time off together for a holiday for 3 years, not counting Christmas and thats no holiday just hard work.

could give lots of notice and finish in July for the school holidays to spend with dd who always comes last amongst all the mindees

its tempting??? and pehaps the sad thing is that the only thing I would miss would be the money!!

mmmmn

What would you do instead?

dont know?? not essential for me to work straight away unlike last few years as things are good for us financially at moment,(huge touch of wood) was a nursing sister but cant go back to that as same physical endurance test. for back...also hours difficult for family comittments.

dh works away most of the time so all child care responsibilities are on me..

maybe college and something totally new.

There are nursing jobs that are less physical, my friend does triage assessments for out of hours gp, no physical work at all...?

Ah sorry - I didn't realise you had young children of your own! How old?

I just saw that your eldest was 22, and wondered how you would fill your time, if no childminding (and I had assumed no children at home). I was thinking that would be a big hole to fill.

Of course, if you can afford it - being a SAHM would be a brilliant way to fill your time. Do you really think you'll get your house back by giving up childminding though? Children have a habit of taking over houses...

Oh - are you saying the 4 children are your own, not your mindees?

It sounds like you are coming to the end of your child minding days.

Do give serious thought to what else you could do though in future.

sorry, no the 4 are mindees, my older 3 dcs have left home and have a 11 year old dd at home.

think thats why I now feel have dont the baby/toddler thing.

have loved the running my own business part of childminding and loved the kids and fun but now getting to see it as a chore and thats not fair on the kids.

at the end of the day I have to sit with a hot bottle on my back as its so bad and feel my body is saying enough is enough.

yes abird thats interesting about your friend, maybe I could go back.. thanks for the tip.

Motherpanda thats it I was a sahm for my older kids until they were late teens and so feel dd has missed out a bit on my time. as minding since she was 8.and want to give her some back.

think just tired to the bone working 8 till 6 five days a week and still doing all house hold chores as dh not around, me and the rest of woman kind of course.

as a nurse you may be able to find a job as a school nurse (private schools still have them)

My back aches all the time and my knees and having been a Nanny/CM/mum(My dcs are 12 and 17) for 26 years I am quite fed up with potties and nappies. We need the money, otherwise I would be looking at stopping. I've decided I'll definately stop when people start thinking I'm the Granny and not the Mother!

DD going to uni soon so I really can't stop. Good luck with making your decision.

I feel like that now and I have only been CM for 6 months! I have 2 of my own under 5 who are demanding and have busy sechdules. I just want to be with them and I do not have the energy left for other small people. I am not enjoying CM one bit! Especially hate the paper wk. I have no hope!

I feel like that too . I will have only been minding 4 yrs in March.

All my mindees are after schoolers (5,6,7,10) I have no little LO's IYSWIM,
Have also just started working in our local pre school 4 sessions a week,
I love it, what Ive always wanted to do.. that or work as a TA in Nursery/Reception/lower YR1s.

I think this why Ive started to think to feel as I do.
So.. I have decided, once my youngest is 13 (2ys 6mths time) I will stop minding, will have completed my Level 3, and prehaps done the level 4/or the HLTA course

After school club?

Our local nursery runs one for older kids.

How about working for early years? like a network co-ordinator or looking out for Families Centre jobs? You have lots of experience :)

such interesting comments, Riddo i sympathise, I have 2 dcs at uni at the moment and tbh all the crap about loans supporting students is garbage, by the time rent is paid and books brought they have less that £200 a year to live on so of course my wage goes to help them through.

however I feel I just physically cant cope anymore and in constant pain with back and neck. its a bloody physically and mentally hard job and I dont think many people realise it.

like the idea of pre school work and had thought about classroom assistant as be off school hols with my dd. agree aneywear.

stomp, yes I hadnt considered that either so lots to think about.

but now I have decided to give up I can honestly say I feel a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders(and back and neck!!!!).

I am contracted to give a months notice but think will tell parents in March as that will give them ages to find new care as they are all a lovely bunch.

I'm glad you feel you have made the right descision. I hadn't thought about pre-school work but I might look into it as I'd have more holidays which might help the back ache. Good luck with your next venture :)

Know exactly where you're coming from - I did childminding when DS was younger for several years, gave it up when he was 8 (he's now 10) as wanted our home back and DS was feeling put out by the mindees.

Best decision I ever made. I was lucky to get a job in our local school so work school hours, term time only. I earn less but am so much happier with much more time to spend with my family.

You sound in a better position as would not have to work straight away - I'd say go for it and you never know what new opportunities will open up to you.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I have been childminding 8 years this month!

I stopped and started working as room leader in private day nursery, well I am moving soon (hubby RAF) and going back to childminding!! I miss it so much, I am not one for posters everywhere, my house was mainly a home (good storage lol). my dc are 10 and 7

I honestly did not think I would go back to childminding but after 2 months I knew I missed it like mad, I spent most of christmas debating, then hubby found out he got a posting sorted that one for me lol!

good luck with whatever you decide to do.