1st mindee

[maggi]

I'm newly qualified and have been waiting for my first mindee to appear. Well I think today that I have my first person after an interview tonight but now I'm feeling paranoid and self doubting. I'm all abuzz and don't know what to do with myself having spent all day cleaning and digging out all the baby toys. I feel like I've taken an exam!!!

Just needed to tell someone to stop my brain from spinning with delight/relief??

welcome maggot
hope they arrived good luck

GOOD LUCK
Hope it all works out & they are lovely & just right for you!
Let us know

hi maggi,

i am newly registered too, i have one mindee at the moment but i know just how you feel as i am waiting to hear back from a mum who wants a full time place for her baby girl..

she seemed really keen but she wants to see a couple of other cms to make a comparison.

i hope it works out for you, i am hoping that as i get more experienced i will less flustered over this sort of thing..

xx

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When I first started minding, I used to have pen, paper and a list of questions by the phone to ask prospective clients. If they visited, the house would be blitzed to death, all the "best" toys out, and me in my most suitable (and very clean) attire.

I've moved on from there ... I still have the pen and paper, but no list of questions. I do dust and do a vague tidy up (current parents notice the difference so know I have An Important Visitor!) but I certainly wouldn't worry if someone wanted to come round immediately.

Toys, cushions and children will be liberally strewn around the floor. And I am usually covered in baby sick and paint, and have wild hair where small children have "made me look beautiful".

I think most childminders will still have self-doubts, but I still get a buzz from getting a new mindee.

Good luck!

like the bit about children will be liberally strewn around the floor

I went to see a childminder today and came back in floods of tears. Not that I didn't like her but she wasn't me and she wasn't my mum... and she said she gave children wotsits at their lunch!! I'm sure I could ask her not to give my child wotsits but I was just so devastated at the reality that in a few months time I have to hand the most important, precious and delightful person I have in my life over to someone else that it has ruined my day. In many ways it's a huge relief to read this thread and hear how you feel. I had no idea it was also stressful for you!! I hope all goes well for you maggi, best wishes x

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the baby i've just taken on (well she starts monday) is 9 mths old now
i encouged mum to meet me at toodler groups so baby could see me a couple of times a week and i could see baby
its great this way as when i am chatting to mum i find out more about the baby
the baby also has been on visits to my house (3up to now and 1 more tomorrow) without mum for 3 hrs, to get used to my house, other children and me before she comes for a full day

baby only doing 2 days a week

Go and see some more childminders to find one that has similar values to you. p.s. ime parents can be put off by tiny things - I think I lost one once cos on their visit I had a bottle of coke out in the kitchen - in fact we hardly ever drink it, my dd1 didn't even know what fizzy drinks WERE until she went to a party aged 4!

.....BTW my message was for joolsandoliver

joolsandoliver please go and visit some more CM s everyone is different, and also if you said to her you dont want your dc to have wotsits she wouldnt give them, but all children and parents are different, good luck with your search

Thank you everyone. I've calmed down now. Parent has said yes but we are doing contracts etc next time and I'm just waiting to hear back on when she's coming again.

Joolsandoliver, if you can, just take your time and visit the cm again and discuss all your worries. Perhaps you can suggest alternatives or send a packed lunch. Sit quietly at home and make a big list, as big as you like, of all the ways you'd like your child cared for. Show the cm the list and see if she is open to adopting them/compromising. Today I had my first interview and from that time I only managed to gather minimal information from the parent as I spent most of the time playing with their child and seeing how they mixed in with my 2 dss. The next visit is where I will ask loads of questions and take loads of notes and between the parent and myself we will hopefully come out with a plan that's best for the child at my setting.

There will be some changes for your child no matter where you go. But if you are not happy your child will sense it and won't thrive there. My advice is to talk to the cm concerned and if there are other cms with spaces do go and check them out too.