Should I be annoyed with CM?

[AnnieLobeseder]

My childminder has a second job selling utilities, which has really taken off and is apparently earning her lots of money. Which is lovely for her, I wish her only the best.

But she's started taking days off from childminding to do this other job. I got a text from her this morning telling me that I'd have to find alternative care for a day in 3 weeks because she's going on a course for this new job.

I'm pretty annoyed. If she has two jobs, fine, more power to her. But I placed my children with her on the understanding that she would be doing the childminding job during the day, and she agreed to look after my children on set days.

I understand she's entitled to days off. And to be fair, I wouldn't be upset at all if she were going on holiday (though I'd prefer to have more then 3 weeks' notice).

Am I being unfair to be annoyed by this? Annoyance is being exacerbated by the fact that I'm away at a conference that week and already have to organise dog walking etc while I'm gone, and now have to organise extra childcare too.

What does your contact say in regards to notice for time off, and "holiday"?

The reason for her time off is irrelevant to be honest - she could have just told you it's for holiday - but she needs to give you the agreed notice and if she doesn't she is in breach of contract. If she hasn't given you the agreed notice then yes you can be annoyed. If she has then no you shouldn't be, but maybe if your agreed notice is less than 4 weeks you should look to negotiate a longer notice period?
I used to do Usborne alongside minding when my numbers were low but the minding always came 1st. Having said that I would have felt it was acceptable for me to book holiday to cover training/big events etc but ONLY if I could give 4 wks notice.
I think my main concern is that if the business really takes off she might consider it more reliable income than minding and give up the latter. In your shoes I might be testing the local CM community for alternative childcare just in case.

I think if you'd be agreeable to holiday (or any other reason) for the day off, and the time she's given you to find alternative care is within that stipulated in your contract, then you are being unfair to be annoyed by it.

If it is a one off for a training course and she's a good CM then I'd not be that bothered. If I was having to rearrange childcare and work on a regular basis then I'd be looking for more reliable childcare.

She should honour whatever it was agreed In Your contract, but think she may give you notice at some point, as tbh childminding is bloody hard work and if she's coining it in doing something else she may soon be giving up.