Best and worst things about being a CM

[slipperandpjsmum]

I have been thinking of becoming a CM for sometime. What are the pros and cons.

Cons:
paperwork
confusing and sometimes self-contradictory regulations
your home being populated by strange children (sometimes to the detriment of your own)
long hours
unreasonable clients

Pros:
you get to be at home with your own child(ren) - and I would always rather have three children wailing at me than be stuck dealing with stupid emails in the office
you meet some nice people

I have been registered for 6 months and work part-time, term time only. My own children are 7 and 5. I have found :

Pros -
Being paid for doing fun things with small children.
Picking and choosing my own hours
Being able to drop off and pick up my own children from school.
I have been lucky and found really lovely, reliable families so far.
Maintaining social life with friends with toddlers even though mine are a bit older.
Not having a boss to answer to
Being able to plan days how I choose
Not having to have an office wardrobe.
Being able to buy playmobil as a business expense!

Cons:
Paperwork and regulations
Occasional tensions between my own children and mindees
Not being able to get rid of baby/toddler toys and equipment.
Needing to be more organised
Needing more storage
Fitting my own children's after school activities around work.

I have worked in a day nursery, run my own preschool and now am a c/minder
You can't beat it...I love being my own boss, run my business and enjoy caring for all ages ....and being out and about and not stuck in 4 walls every day....go for it !!!

What sort of regulations do you have to meet in your home? Its something I would be curious of but live in a little flat.

Gnocci - you can do it from a small flat, but they may restrict the amount of children you can have. You also need to show how you can let the children enjoy outside space, like a park etc, if you don't have a garden.

Ooh, no problem with outdoor space, have a massive yard. And live right next to a massive park. I dont have a dining table but I do have room for one. hmm.....

Cons

• the paperwork
• parents taking the piss (paying late, not paying at all, dropping off early, picking up late*)
• feeling your dcs are bottom of the list before mindees
• your house feeling like a nursery

Pros

the kids
working for yourself
working from home

*all of these can be cracked down on with a clear contract with late payment fees, late collection fees, payment in advance, and a professional approach that lays down clear boundaries. It's hard though and a bit of a learning curve.

I child minded for four years and it was the kids I minded that made me love my job, even the challenging ones, I do like a good challenge! I love working with kids and being able to run your setting exactly how you want is the best bit of being a child minder I think.