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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

New child starting

16 replies

mumtoall · 15/09/2006 21:16

I had a family visit me 2 weeks ago. They visited other childminders and decided that they wanted to send the child to me.

I require 3 mornings or afternoons at the moment and would like to increase the hours in the future.

I agreed for them to do some setterling in sessions (i usually do these). English is the familys 4 language. The child is 15months old and the parents have never left her with anyone else apart from Grandparents. I agreed to do 2 sessions this week they asked to do 2hour sessions and the grandmother would attened with her. this was to make sure that the child would settle.

As none of the family drive i agreed to pick up and dropthem off.

The child has settled very well. she will come to me and will talk to me. She does say some words to me in her native language. The child is 15months old. so is just learning all the diffrent languages.

The Dad has phoned me tonight to say that they are happy for her to start with me next week. he asked to do Wed, Thur, Fri mornings 10-12. i asked if it would be possible to do 3 hours as it would fit in better with our routine as 2 hours is quite short and it would disterb the other childrens morning sleep. Dad asked mum and the agreed to this.

They wanted to do 10-1. i explained that it would work better with our daily rounine If the child could come 9-12 then i can go from the school run to pick the child up and it would not affect the other childrens routines. They did not really want to do this a the child does not go to bed till 11.30 and gets up at 8.30 and it would be pushing it to get her ready.

then he said that the grandmother would be comming as well so that she could translate and make sure that the child eats. (grandmothers english is very limited single words)
the child is a very fussy eater and still has a bottle.
i explained that the child had been quite settled and it would make it harder when the grandmother stopped comming and she needs to learn english the best way may be not having someone translating for her.

thay are now going to talk and get back to me. it was quite a lot of things to say no to.

did i do the right thing

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lemonaid · 15/09/2006 21:19

IMO better to say no now than get several weeks in, fins it's just not working, and have to have the same discussion then.

Original poster

mumtoall · 15/09/2006 21:21

thanks, i have a very busy household so have a good routine which is flexable but i need to think of the other children and not putting to much on myself.

OP posts:

Katymac · 15/09/2006 21:23

I agree with Lemonaid - the number of relationships that go belly up because you aren't honest enough in the first week

It is very hard to say no - but your reasons are well thought out and you obviously considered the matter and explained them to the parents

Remember you are offering a service, the down side of that is that if they don't like the service you offer....they leave

Original poster

mumtoall · 15/09/2006 21:26

I know if they leave i loose the income. is it just me or do people think because we work from home and look after children (which is such an easy job!!!!!!!!! or not even a proper job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) that we can and will do anything.

OP posts:

Katymac · 15/09/2006 21:29

Yes you get asked the question "What do you do?" you say "Childminder" and suddely they see a different you to the one they had been talking to

I am a professional business woman with an expanding business, I am able to work the hours I want in my own home, I am only limited by the amount of work I want to put into my business......so why do they see me as a babysitter?

Original poster

mumtoall · 15/09/2006 21:37

We went to see some old freinds and one of them asked me if i was still childminding. i said yes and said i work on average 75 hour weeks he asked how i did this. Early starts and late finishes 7 days a week.
the next day he met my daughter for the first time in a year. Shes now 2 she was quite quite. he said children are easy and boring as she did not do much.
i challenged him to come for a week or even a day. still waiting.

OP posts:

Isyhan · 16/09/2006 17:59

Arent some people patronising.

sallyrosie · 16/09/2006 18:52

I'm not a childminder, but another thing to think about is whether your other parents are going to be happy about this grandma suddenly being in your house as well. I'd not be totally comfortable with the situation, as I wouldn't know her, she won't have police checks etc. and although she's probably lovely, you really never know...

sallyrosie · 16/09/2006 19:01

just to clarify - my feelings have nothing to do with english not being her first language - just that she is not someone I would know or trust and so wouldn't be happy with them being around my child

Original poster

mumtoall · 17/09/2006 18:40

Have not heard from the family since they phoned on Friday.
I asume that they no longer want my services.

OP posts:

Isyhan · 17/09/2006 19:46

Dont you find it funny that some parents want you to care for their child and almost not charge for the honour and some want you to take their child the next day and dont even ask what it will cost. It never fails to amaze me.

dmo · 17/09/2006 22:34

oh my god mumtoall how the hell do you do 75 hrs a week
i do 59 and i thought that was bad
mon/tues/fri 7.15am - 6.15pm
weds/thurs 7.15am - 8.30pm

i wouldnt be happy to have grandma around during the day if the child has settled shouldnt they trust you that you will feed her etc
you did the right thing

Original poster

mumtoall · 18/09/2006 06:52

I work 7 days a week sometimes with 6.45 starts and 9.30 finishes some days.
still not heard from them. So hoping someone will ring so I can fill the hours. has been really so but has started to pick up again with phonecalls. Anyone else found this.

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Original poster

mumtoall · 18/09/2006 10:36

Someone has just phoned who has a 1year old boy who she wants to put into childcare for a few hours per week. she is comming tomorrow to have a chat. If the other family do get back I will have to tell them that the hours have been taken up as they did not phone me back.

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looneytune · 18/09/2006 10:45

I agree that's the right thing to do, I wouldn't have been happy with that set up anyway!

As for your 75 hours a week . I refuse to work weekends apart from on odd occasions when people are desperate - then I charge lots more!!! I'm tired enough working 6.45am-6.30pm Tues, Wed & Thurs & 7.45am-6.30pm Mon & Fri. Don't know how you do it!!!

Original poster

mumtoall · 18/09/2006 10:47

My partner works shifts so often at work at the weekends. Am about to change prices for evenings and weekends.

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