Not all CM's are bad. Most of us work hard, love our mindees, and take our profession seriously.

[shosha]

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i havent noticed any bad childminders on here

only talk to lovely hepful ones

I have had the same chindminder since I returned to work after DS2 (now 3 yrs) was born. She is a part of my son's family now and I lurve her.

same as teachers chick!

My CM was fabbo, and now a great mate of mine

have always had fab childminders as well

but it's kind of like why we only hear about the bad teachers, bad husbands, bad relationships......generally when people are happy they don't boast about it, it's usually complaints and moans instead.

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Tis true that everyone moans about the bad things in life more than they tell everyone how great things are for them.

shosa have you had a name change?

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oh i must have not come across you b4 then!
agree with you tho........wouldnt it be nice to have a whole thread about how wonderfull us cms are?!!

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shosha. Sorry, if my thread has upset you and I am all in favour of minders usually. We've just had some bad luck with 2. 1st one was brilliant (she was my sister but regardless of that was brilliant anyway).

I'm sure you're great too. Do you live in Surrey?

My CM is great. We had one sticky point in the summer where I was slightly concerned. She was complaining about the children (not like her) and saying how could she entertain them for the summer if they didn't want to go to soft play etc (it wasn't DS)and I made an alternative suggestion which she dismissed. And then the next day she was off with a sore foot. And I talked to one of the other mothers at a party voicing our concerns. Then the next week she was off for a day sick. And since then she has been fine. So I decided that maybe she was coming down with whatever she had, and had been feeling under the weather.

Yesterday she took the 4 mindees to the cinema to see HappyFeet and DS thought it was great. Today they are going to soft play. Don't know what plans they have for tomorrow. She has also been very understanding of DS's grumpiness - especially this time last year when he was struggling with school/tiredness.

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When with other "real live" minders, my minding friends and I often have a general moan and groan about any minders who "misbehave" (probably because it makes us feel all holier than thou). Talking about perfect childminders just makes us feel inadequate, so we certainly wouldn't want to do that! Any conversation is very private amongst ourselves.

It's easy to forget that the chats on Mumsnet get read by lots of different people, not just other childminders.

The posts here can sometimes be fairly dire, but people will always post negative stuff or ask about problems. Not many parents are really going to start a new thread praising their childminder! (Can you imagine ... "my childminder wants to feed my child organic, free-range 10-vegetables/day meals, is this OK?)

I think I will have to do a namechange or two and come on praising myself.

We are collectively the parents of children minded by ThePrisoner and would just like to say that ThePrisoner is the best childminder in the whole wide world.

Wow! That's spooky!!!

lol @ the prisoner!!!

It was complete coincidence, honest!!

Actually, it is one of minding parents who introduced me to Mumsnet, but she is a very infrequent poster. I think I will give her a bit of a nudge and see what happens (but then you'll never believe it's real).

Cna I ask a quick query actually? If on the 27th you text to ask for your money when not C/M the child in question till mon 8th, and the person turned up with cheque on new years day evening, otherwise another week wait for money, would it be appropriate not to answer the door even though you know the person can see you sat there in the lounge??!

bit confused by that fff?
why would you not want to answer the door?

Sorry. I am totally baffled by my cm. Ds adores going, but we have had issues recently. I wondered if it being her day off means it is appropriate for her to not bother opening door on what is, in a way a work related item. Even though I felt I was doing it (taking her the cheque) in her interests and took us out of our way. I'm just trying to ascertain whether it was wrong of me to rack up on CM's doorstep, admittedly with only intention to hand over cheque, on her day off (new years day).

I had a terrible expereince with a CM but I don't assume all CM are bad. I am however wary of using one as you can imagine.

reasons for not answering door..i am eating dinner, been drinking, not properly dressed, feel i look a sight, don't want to do work chat or combination of the above (i am not a childminder)