Mindees mum has just rang me to say that mindee has a temperature and needs to take Calpol and started to give me complex instructions. I butted in and said "Yes, but should you really be bringing him. What if my baby catches it?" She went really icy on me and said "Do you not want him?"
Anyway, she's not bringing him, but I feel that I've really offended the mum. I said something about no other nursery or childminder would accept a sick child and he did look poorly yesterday afternoon.
I feel awful because its my fault this has happened. With all other families I've looked after I've made it clear at the outset about things like holidays, sickness etc. Because this mum was a friend first I stupidly was not so on the ball. When my son had chicken pox, I rang to give the choice of whether to bring mindee or not. She chose not to as she did not want him to catch it (he still caught it as it happens). I then looked after him when he had chicken pox as mine had already had it (and one of mine still had it). Then in October he was ill with a high temperature and mum turned up with loads of medicines for me to administer to keep temperature down. I should have turned her away, but it felt too awkward, so I accepted. My baby was then ill with a high temperature and I was really worried as he was only 6 months old. But I guess I set a precedent as it is assumed I'll look after a sick child.
I now feel awkward that I've let mum down. Yet I don't feel she considers me or my family at all, and situations like this make me feel like just because I get £3 an hour I have to put my own family last. Regardless, my family have to be my priority. If I don't put them first, no one else will.
Thanks for listening. Mandy.