cancelling contracts - heartbreaking stuff

[diddle]

I hate this part of the job!!!!!!!!!

I have just had to cancel the contract of my first ever mindie, i've had him since 8 wks olds for 3 yrs, and i am gutted. financially i can't afford to keep him on, as he does few hours and i have an opportunity to fill his space. Plus i'm pregnant with my own child due soon, so thats already lost me some income.

I feel so emotional about this, does anyone else feel as soft as me about this???
I wanna cry

Losing a child is hard, especially when it is your decision that the children is to leave, rather than the parents. We get emotionally attached to the children for whom we care, it's an occupational hazzard! However, for Childminders it is a business, so business decisions need to be made at times - financially some children just don't pay their way!

It's like farming... farmers can get attached to their animials, yet once the animal is no longer productive, or are ready for slaughter then they are sold. Emotional attachment may be an issue, but business must come first, else the farm will cease to operate.

Bad I know to say that children are like farm animals, but at the end of the day, you provide childcare as a service, not as a charity. You have to think about your income and your provisions longterm substainability.

diddle - I'm sure the parents of your mindee understand why you've had to do this. Knowing how some childminders work (in real life), I think being able to have the same childminder for 3 years is an achievement, and I am sure that these parents will appreciate what you have done for their son.

I too am in a similar situation I am about to give 4 months notice to two siblings one of whom I have looked after for the last 7 years and the other since he was a couple of months old.They will both be at school in September and the school is not particulaly near my house. I have a new baby starting in September and a little one starting nursery, in the afternoons, and nowhere near the other school and a waiting list a mile long. I just feel that it is time for them to move on. I know the parents will be very upset and annoyed by my decision and I am dreading the day I give them the letter. I know its the right thing to do but it is still a difficult part of the job.