Tentatively considering going back to childminding LONG SORRY

[boredandrestless]

I have a DS, 7, who is autistic. I had to stop childminding when he was 4 as he just found it all too much and was having a very tough time. Tried going part time but it didn?t help. Have spent last couple of years at home on carer?s allowance and he has come on very well. In meantime I have done courses to keep my hand in.

About October time I was offered a job in a nursery 2 days a week, sadly nothing has come of it yet as it is a new one and it?s taking longer than they hoped for the business to get up and running. IF this job does come up I would be better off financially, but I have mainly applied as it would be good for me to have a bit of contact with other grown ups, I miss working and get very bored while DS is at school. I feel positive that potential boss would be a good employer, I basically told them what hours I could/couldn?t do and they said they wanted me. However even though I?m not even working there yet I?m worried about juggling DS?s needs, appointments, illnesses, etc.
I started him with a childminder last term, he just goes once a week after school for a bit, it?s given him chance to get to know her and it?s been reassuring how well he?s settled in.

In the meantime while I am bored twiddling my thumbs I have been having thoughts about going back into childminding. Things before that bothered me re: cm?ing, some are still there, others are not.

Examples ?
I now do not live in a cold house with a miserable man I live in a nice warm light house with a garden.

I was so poor living with above mentioned moody man (his monetary priorities where not bills), that I had no money for travel and as I don?t drive I was very isolated at home and quite lonely ? I now manage all financial issues myself and know I could get out and about more with mindees, giving me chance to chat to other cm?ers and parents. I miss working (I?m wondering how it?ll be being employed at nursery rather than self employed) I love working with children and do need to be doing something, but can?t decide which way to go.

Issues such as huge amount of paperwork and parents trying it on will still be there obviously, but hopefully with less stress in my personal life and DS at school full time I wouldn?t be stretched as thin as I was before. I?m torn and am not sure what to do. I also need to look at finances if I were cm?ing. I know how working PT, 16hrs on minimum wage would affect my benefits but not sure re: childminding.

Sorry that this is such a long ramble but I would appreciate any thoughts people have.

I would do it. I am also a CM with a 7yo son with AS. He wouldn't have coped with me doing it at age 4, but at 7 he is fine with it, as long as there are clear boundaries as to which are HIS things that the mindees must not touch. I also only work part time and have turned down kids because I only want a few here rather than my full numbers. You sound like you want to do it again :)

Thanks for reading my mammoth post and replying!

I think I do want to do it again which I'm surprised by TBH! I always thought when I went back to work it would definitely be to a nursery (i've worked in both), but now that possibility is there I am torn.

There is the guilt of putting DS in childcare, the being employed rather than self employed. I am nervous at how understanding they would be at nursery as none of them have DCs, never mind a DC with autism. At 4 DS couldn't communicate, home life/relationship was miserable, and it all felt so hard. Life is better now. I want more adult interaction but I could do that through groups and meet ups with cm'ing, its not a case of no adult contact vs adult contact.

If I were to cm again DS's toys would be in his bedroom during minding hours, and I would keep a stock of cm'ng toys in living room and garden.

I've got some serious thinking to do!

I used to cm but I now nanny and run creches as my ds couldn't cope. But I found there was a demand for term time only and I did that for a couple of years so the minded children were only here for a short time. I also never minded children the same age as ds as that was a disaster!!

Do you nanny with your DS lesstalk or is he in other childcare? It is another avenue to consider, do most people want nannies that can drive though? I've no experience of the nannying side of childcare, am a bit clueless!