Childminder is MAD!!

[Moomin]

A while ago i wrote about a visit I'd had to a new childminder to arrange temporary care for my dd2 who would be 8 months at time of care. I only need care for 6 weeks while i go back to work 2 days a week after whitsun then after that my usual childminder can have the baby as well as dd1. During this visit, the new childminder made no effort to look at or talk to my baby, she offered no paperwork or certificates and I initiated every line of conversation. I thought this was all a bit odd and although we arranged that the dates i wnated would be ok for her, i mentally made up my mind to try someone else as i wasn't impressed with my first impression at all.

since then a mum at pre-school has told me that another mum she knows has withdrawn her baby from this childminder as she came to pick him up early one day and found him locked in the car (on the main road outside her house) crying his eyes out, with the childminder inside the house!! This story made up my mind for good and I found another lady who can have dd2 for the 6 weeks, although it's taken until last week for her to confrim as she had to apply to ofsted.

so all this time, the first childminder is under the impression my dd2 starts with her in june. since january she's been bringing one of her mindees to dd1's preschool, so i see her most mornings. she will make eyecontact with dd1 and say hello to her but she avoids looking at me even though i say hello. She has never once come up to look into the pram to see dd2 and when she sees us coming she puts her head down. all of this i find highly WEIRD.

now this morning i saw her chatting to another mum and i could TELL they were talking about me, both not being very subtle, looking my way as they were talking then shutting up as i went past and looking the other way!!! what is her problem??!! i need to let her know officially now that i don't need her care but I'm tempted to write a snotty letter ratherthan just a simple notification as i'm so annoyed that a so-called professional can act like this towards a potential parent-client! I think she's mental

I'd go with the snotty letter. Or do it face to face and let her know exactly what have been the problems.

(Did the woman complain about the baby in the car? All complaints are supposed to be on the ofstead report, I think its the number not the nature IIRC).

When I met my CM she was lovely, chatting away and immediately took DD out of the carseat, held her and chatted to her. Showed me her ofstead report and all documents. Couldn't fault her really.

I dont understand how this CM you have met manages to get any business!

neither do i! Another mum that knows my friend apparently told her she feels ok with this childminder for her school-age children to be minded for a few hours after school but would not leave a baby with her (wtf!! if you didn't trust the childminder with a baby surely you would trust her at all??!!!)

i think this other mum reported her to ofsted but these investigations sometimes take time. I'm also aware that she must feel that there's a lot of hearsay and rumour going round the school gates, maybe she's got wind of it and blames me!! feel very affronted because for once it actually isn't me gossiping!!! I asked my usualy childminder what to do before all this kicked off, when i was just a bit annoyed about the lack of positive impressions and she said just to write very objectively and not burn any bridges as it's a small community when everyone has to see one another at the school gates and all that guff. I'm very annoyed about this morning though!

I would never trust anyone who works with pre-schoolers who doesn't attempt to communicate with a child in some way. It's instinct to want to pick little ones up or make them smile and you want a carer to have those feelings so you have peace of mind. You are doing the right thing and your anger is justified. Call a friend you can trust and have a good rant over a drink/coffee.

How awful!!! Don't leave your bubba with her!
Yikes, she seems a little more than mad, just plain unsuitable to look after children!

What a strange choice of professions for someone who doesn't even seem to like children. I would just send her a simple letter. It IS annoying but, unlike the locking in the car incident, you don't really have any concrete facts to go on (beyond sounding a bit churlish by pointing out she does not smile at dd). Your gut feel is right but best not to step on toes for now.

Do you r4eally need to send a letter? Have you signed a contract or anything?

haven't signed anything but we discussed when i needed care and she said she was free and i said i'd be in touch. i was fairly sure i didn't want the care after that first visit but i didn't feel comfortable with saying outright 'thanks but no thanks' -it's just so awkward. i thought i'd leave it for a while then ask for her ofsted and stuff like that but in the meantime i heard about this other mum and the baby in the car, which made my mind up for me.

i'm now starting to wonder if my usual childminder said anything to her ages ago 'oh i hear you're not having moomin's dd any more' - that kind of thing, before i'd confirmed it. most of the childminders in the area know one another so it's not beyond the realms. still doesn't explain why she can't make eye contact though or show any interest in dd2 AT ALL!

Well it may explain it. If she's had to hear from someone else that youre not wanting her afterall. I think I may be annoyed if that was me. Her approach to children is another matter.

well i kind of think if she's that unprofessional anyway she can't expect everyone to always be the height of professionalism with her. i've written short letter just saying i no longer need her although i did add that i'd found dd2 'more suitable care' which you could argue could be seen as snotty but also could say it's more suitable as bearer to my house or something, so all bases covered as far as i can see.

bearer? i meant nearer