When change is necessary (childminder sharing experience)

[MUM2BLESS]

Hello everyone

Been cm for almost 6 years.

I have not been on mumsnet for ages. I have been through many changes with my c.m. business this year. I hope this will help someone.

I got to the stage were I often felt overwhelmed with my workload (family/cm also).

I decided to give up the school run when the school ended in July. My youngest was already walking to school himself.

During term time I will look after the under school aged children. During hols I will also consider older children. I will however choose who I childmind and the hours I work etc.

Took some time off recently. Went to my mums (very refreshing and enjoyed being in her garden etc.)

Now i'm back I am seriously thinking of how I can take my business to another level ensuring that I do not over work myself.

If you want to give your best ensure you REST AND STAY BALANCE WITH WORK AND FAMILY LIFE.

What changes have you made because you had to and has it paid off?

Making this decision was not easy but necessary.

Gave up school runs when DD starter secondary school. Only take school children in holidays on an adhoc basis, so I can always say no. Work with DH which is much nicer than working alone.

I have 1 day a week without any children at all & 1 day a week when I finish at school pick-up. During school hours on my day off I have time to do chores, make any appointments, enjoy the silence of an empty house & having 2 free days after school means my kids can finally have swimming lessons & the other day we keep for playdates, visiting granny or just chilling at home. It's taken me 2 years to coordinate families where I have this time off & do work long hours with lots of children on my 3 working days but it's so worth it to have the time to myself & for my family.

I also work just 2 or 3 days a week in the holidays & try to avoid having too many little ones so my kids don't feel left out & can still do older activities like cinema, swimming etc.

And finally (no doubt controversial ), I don't bother with eyfs paperwork. I take loads of photos to share with parents, do daily diaries for little ones but observations, next steps, planning etc simply doesn't feature on my radar anymore. My parents couldn't care less about it & I was distracted from caring for the children & stressed beyond belief about keeping up. I'm not expecting Ofsted for at least another 2 years so will worry about getting up to speed then if I'm still CMing & with the children I mind then (as chances are they'll be different to the ones I have now!)

HSMMAcm - thanks for sharing. was giving up the school run a hard decision to make?

Phoebe.. thanks for sharing. How long have you been c.m.ding?

I have four kids of my own aged 9-18. I know everyone is not in the same situation as myself. Some have very young kids themselves and c.m.

Its amazing how many cm. try to have a day off in the week.

I have worked very long hours and made the money but was exhausted!! It very important to get the right balance that fits in with your own family.

I am so much wiser now than when I first started.

I love working for myself, flexibility and being able to make my own decisions.

My top priority is to keep the children safe in an stimulating environment. I love to go on outside adventures to see what we can see. Anything from looking at our shadow, seeing out reflection in the shop windows to visiting the clothes bank.

Over the years I have said good bye to so many kids who have moved on for different reasons. I would like to know that I made a positive difference in their lives.

What would I do different if I could rewind the years? I would have a day off in the week. Work perhaps from 08.00 to 5.00 max. Learn to say no to somethings I've said yes to. Think carefully before taking on a child in the same class as my child.

Would love to hear from YOU on this subject.

Giving up the school run was hard. I was the only CM at a school with no after school club. I had fantastic relationships with the head and staff and other parents at the school. Happened at a natural time when I didn't have to give notice or let anyone down. It also means a big cut in income.

However ... I don't have to wake toddlers from naps. I don't have to get then in and out of the car in the rain. I don't have to time outings around school. I'm home when my daughter gets home (even though she generally just walks past to get on with her homework).

I have my own dc age 7 and 10. I have cut back massively and feel so much happier. I was working every day including before and after school, The out the blue the mum of 2 of my mindees lost her job. This has left me with 3 days work with 2 whole days off. At first I panicked about the money but have realised my quality of life is so much better it is worth cutting back. Everyone in the family benefits as I am so much happier. Today I turned down new dc and will not take on any more for the time being! Good luck with your cutting back.

Work perhaps from 08.00 to 5.00 max

Is there much business around for childminders who only work until 5? The parent would have to leave work well before 5 to pick up so not really compatible with a normal working day.

I have a teacher who collects at 4:45 & another one who works close by who collects at 5 so certainly possible but have have turned away more lucrative jobs with 6/6:30pm finishes. It depends how long you can wait for a mindee that fits your requirements & how many enquiries you get.

I only work till 5. I have one family with two children and another family with one child. Both families do 8-5.

There isn't much demand for childminders in my area. I can't pick and choose jobs like some others on here. If I had said to my new family I wanted their hours to be the same as my existing family, they would have gone somewhere else and I would have lost them. I haven't had any other enquiries since I promised them the place. (In fact only two families this year, one I couldn't help due to school pick ups and the one I have taken on). I wish I could have a day off, but financially i can't afford to pick and choose, I have to take what is offered.

Sorry for not responding sooner. With kids off and childminding its a lot busier for me.

HSMMaCM- I too had a cut in my income with giving up the school run. At the end of the day my health and well being is more important. You can make lots of money but be overwhelmed by the work load. Believe me I have been there. ie own house work piling up. I think we have to look at our own situation as it differs. I had to stop the school run because I felt as though I was just rushing around clock watching. Making that decision was necessary for ME. I started cm'ding when all my kids were in full time education.

Cannotbelievthis- "i have cut back massively and feel much happier" I think as cms we need to ask ourselves "am i enjoying what I am doing?"
Doing school runs and looking after younger kids requires a lot of energy and planning as you are dealing with different stages/ages. Having four kids had enable me to be able to do this. It was hard at times. Looking after the little one then picking up the older ones who may want to go to the park. I think its necessary that cms know their limits; its easy to take on too much. Thanks for your encouragement!!!

alwaysdoinglaudrey - "Is there much business around for childminders who only work until 5?" it depends where you live. Each area differs. I have done 07.00 starts. I have finished at 18.00. I find that you have to know whats best for your own family. Too early can cause disruptions (noisy) finishing too late can also cause things to run late in your house. 08.00 to 17.00 ish is best for me. I would not consider hours too early or too late. Once you say yes and sign the contract you are expected to work those hours. Also take into consideration the changes that take place in your own home during this time. Children move to senior school, start univ etc etc. In live in Watford and in the past some of my parents worked in London. Need traveling time.

PhoebbeMcPeePee - thanks for your reply. How long have your been cm ing? what hours do you do?

Lucylouby - Accepting the hours of the parents needs to be done with wisdom. I once worked 07.30-18.00 with a family. It was lovely financially but tough going. Some childminders have taken on too much (only looking at the finances). You have to know what you can manage. I am aware that their are childminders who are the main earners. That's a tough one especially if you have taken on too much.

Making the changes as made a difference financially but I had to do it for my health sake. What use if lots of money if you run your self to the ground??

It is lovely to see you back mum2bless. I've never replied to any of your previous posts as I wasn't registered then. I remember you because I too have four children. Mine are 12, 8,6 and 4.

I spent a couple of years reading posts on here from childminders and parents and posts on another childminding site. Due to taking on board others experiences I feel I started off childminding quite aware of what I could do and couldn't do.

I was registered beginning of Dec and business was very slow. I was agreeing to work til 6.30pm etc. Anyhow come end of Jan I became inundated with enquiries and began to actually be able to choose. I was very, very fortunate.

I can only childmind 2 children a day. I am in Scotland and I can only have 6 children under 16 in any day. My own children are counted in my numbers.

By Feb I could have filled my spaces 100 times over with after school children. I didn't because it didn't make any financial sense to me.

I decided to go term time as alot of enquiries were term time and ideally this is what I want to work. I also managed to wangle that the two children came the same 3 days a week. This was fantastic. Of course time has now went on and I am working 5 days a week. I would love just to do the 3 days but feel I can't let parents down and I would be if I gave notice to stop working the other 2 days.

I work 8am until 5.30pm but would love to only do 8am until 5pm. I know of another local term time childminder who finishes at 5pm so must be possible in my area. Every Thursday I fiinish no later than 5pm and Fridays the same as I told those parents I only work until that time. My prices are lower than most other local childminders so feel this justifies my earlier closing time. I know one of my parents would struggle with 5pm but the rest all seem to pick up before 5pm. I mind all teachers children.

I also decided it would be best to try and mind children younger than my own. On the whole this is what I do. It has worked out great. My kids enjoy the time after school with the wee ones. When they want to get on with their homework or chill out they just leave the wee ones to it.

My older two at first got fed up at times at the restrictions of me now childminding. I explained they would be in after school if I was working in an office and wouldn't be relaxing at home. I also explaind that this paid our bills, their clubs etc. The kids are all great with the children I child mind and the child minded children seem to love them.

On the whole it has been a good choice for my family. I just get stressed at the state of the house. In the mornings when I know parents are arriving and also in the evenings when parents are due back. Though more so in the mornings. I am learning to relax a little more with that. Adopting a bit more of a take us as you find us attitude!

So after I have went on and on. I don't do after schoolers, mainly because I don't have enough spaces (only 2 a day) and also because I knew it would affect/upset my own children.

I am very fortunate that I have such lovely kids of my own, such lovely children to child mind who also have lovely parents.

Oh I also don't do paper work. Don't think we have to do as much in Scotland (though wait to be told differently I am sure). REcently had an inspection and it went very well without tons of paper work. I take photo's which I send and print off to parents and write daily diaries for all the kids. That is all the paper work I do. Oh I have also done training courses in the evenings. Maybe about 7 evenings since Decemember so not too bad.

So I am not too stressed as I only mind 2 children a day, none are after schoolers, don't do paper work and some days finish just before 5pm but never after 5.30pm.

Feel I have just about the perfect balance. Perfect would be if I could afford to only work mon til weds.

Trickydickie thank you so much for sharing your experience with us.

Due to being busy etc I have been away from mumsnet for a while, glad to be back. Especially reading this lovely comment. Nice one!!

My kids are 9 13 15 and 19.

From my experience you may take on a certain time with a family and be okay at first then as things change with your own family you may need to make some adjustment. Giving notice to parents due to changes is not easy. I have learnt that no matter how good a childminder you are when parents need to make changes they have to make them. Last year I had three siblings leave my service all at once. No bad feelings as it had to be.

There has been times when some of my kids have not always wanted the c m kids here. I have tried to make the kids welcome at the same time trying to keep my kids happy to.

Right now I am going through changes within my own family. My youngest is going into year six soon, oldest going off to uni in Sept. Its not always been easy cm and balancie being a mum too. I must however say that I am so blessed to be able to be there for my kids. I guess working from home gives you the best of both worlds.

Maybe one day I might write a book about doing both.

Do you want to know what I'd love to do? I would love to be able to help mums who are bringing up their little one in the year 2014. Maybe an outreach worker of something similar.

Feel free to share your experience.