CM Club - opinions please, need to speak to mindees mum..........(before Thurs)

[looneytune]

Those of you who have seen my other threads will know that I have a problem filling my 2 vacancies on a Monday and 2 on a Friday. This is because they are funny days to fill on their own. I'm full Tues, Wed, Thurs with 2 sisters. If you've read my other thread, you will know that although mum has said that she wants to sign new baby sister up, she's said things that have made me think she's looking at cheaper options now she has the 2 children. So, I'm worried that at any time I could receive notice and bang go all my mindees.

Advice so far has mainly been to chat to mum and get her to confirm things. Problem is, I have been and she says 'indefinate...for now'. It's the 'for now' bit which worries me. Any parent can give notice at any time but the fact these 2 mindees cause me to have 4 vacancies that are hard to fill (2 spaces, 2 days) makes me want to think of my business first. After all, the mortgage doesn't get paid if I have no mindees.

Today at group, the local childminding co-ordinator suggested putting a longer notice period into the contract. This is possible because we haven't physically signed contracts for baby yet plus sister's contract is due for renewal. So, should I say to mum that I have to cover myself and have a longer notice period? I could also bring up possibility of changing the days she works? The worst that can happen is she doesn't want to commit to longer contract (which would suggest she would have been leaving) and I persue other enquiries.

I've got a lady wanting to meet me about casual care on Monday's &/or Friday's for her 5 week old. Also another enquiry for a school run Mon-Fri so this will help out for now too.

I have to speak to mum before Thursday as the au pair told me this morning that they're off skiing again on Thursday. So, I presume the last time I'll see her is Wed night? I've waited a week to speak to her as they were away skiing all of last week and only came back on Sunday. I really want to bring this up this week or I may chicken out!!!

So, what do you think to the longer notice period idea?

TIA

i think its a good idea..cos i suggested it on your other thread!
id say 2-3 months notice?..or 8-10 weeks??..whatever you feel comfortable with?

do you want my honest opinion?

i think she'll leave eventually and use the au pair...just what ive gatherd from her situation

you did suggest that didn't you!! I don't know how I forgot that, all I can say is I've been in a right spin trying to decide what to do.

As for what you think they'll end up doing, I totally agree which is why I'm getting in such a state about things as I just want to do the right thing.

This lady who came to see me about Mon-Thurs full days for her under 1 year old seemed very keen at the time and wanted to come again with her husband until I let her down and took baby mindee (as of course I already have her sister). I thought she'd want nothing to do with me after letting her down but on her email she's asking me to keep her posted. Now IF she did want to meet me again and DID choose me, that one mindee would be approx £608 a month. I currently get £888 a month for the 2 girls midweek. IF I also got the school run, that would be at least £230 a month so then my income wouldn't be far off what it is now plus I'd be left with 1 full time vacancy and still the extra Friday space (and I have a lady wanting her 5 week old baby looking after on occasions, she wants to meet and put 'dates in our diaries').

Sooooooooooooo, now I'm wondering if I'm better off continuing with the 3 enquiries (original Mon-Thurs lady, school run + adhoc care) and then maybe giving notice for the 2 girls I'd be so so sad but money is VERY tight and I do have to think of my overall business.

Come on then CHICK , what do you think????

By the way, not so sure this au pair will do all that they want??? She didn't seem too happy this morning about the parents 'forgetting to TELL her' about the extra skiing trip so soon.

LT - go with your gut on this one. If you feel like she will give notice then you are going to be better off with definite income.

Perhaps you can be more assertive with the mum, i.e. sign contract or you will have to think of your business (said Waayyyy more nicely then that of course).

I would think though you should go with what better suits your business, and if that's the same pay but opens up another spot because the hours are better then that may make more sense?

Gosh I'm really going round and round in circles with this one. Part of me says to try for a longer notice period HOWEVER this still leaves me with the problems I have about filling the 2 vacancies on both Monday's and Friday's. The other part of me is saying that I should start again as I'm pretty sure they'll leave at some point soon and I may miss out on the Mon-Thurs mindee (if she still wants me).

Oh gosh, I just don't know what to do. I know if I speak to mum without mentioning extra notice period, she'll just sign up and then give me 4 weeks notice if/when required (as the only reason she's not signed is down to me!).

Anyone out there got a crystal ball???? Could really do with one right now!!!

Is she on mat leave? Do you think she'd change her days to make it easier for you to fill the other two days? I'm lucky coz 2 of my part time mindees mums are flexible on which days they work.

No, she started working when baby was less than 2 weeks old as they run their own business. Baby went to work with her til she was 7 weeks and it became a bit difficult so she started with me.

I wouldn't have thought changing the days would be toooo hard as it's their own company but I do know she has certain things like swimming etc on the other days, depends how easy that can be changed?

So, how do you ask a parent about changing their days? Feel really awkward about it and never done it before????

I would just tell her that you are struggling to fill the other two days because they are not consecutive days. If she says she absolutely cannot then you will have to consider giving her notice and going with the other job of 4 days per week.

Right then. Mum is coming to collect early so we can chat. I'm going to say that about the days and see how she reacts. I'm sure she'll understand why I'm asking as not only have I got difficult days but 2 of them and they've got a discount plus they reduced their hours slightly so all has reduced my income SIGNIFICANTLY as I lost my full time mindee last month.

So, either she can do something about changing her days or I explain I'll have to give notice due to my situation but I'll be happy to work more than 4 weeks (if needed) should I not fill my vacancy straight away. If she does change her days, I think it would be a good idea to put a longer notice period on the contracts still as it's 2 under 5's from the same family so income drops by £888 a month if they go so I really need more than 4 weeks to be able to find new work.

Thanks for all your help AGAIN!! Will let you know what she says

weeeellllllllll..my level headed me speaking here(no emotions!)..give the siblings/ski mummy notice...on paper(and in relaity) you will be far better off with these new leads(make sure you have everything signed from them before you give notice tho!)
and also leaves you will another place available meaning you will fill that and being able to earn more.

i know it must be hard letting them go but you are never going to know were you stand with this woman and i do believe she would drop you at a minutes notice..she sounds the type!

speak to the enquiries again, find out how soid they are and then give your notice

just read your last post, i would say to mum you have had new enquiries, permanent positions and they want to visit end of week.
you need a long term contract agreement or you will have to consider taking these children on and letting hers go as you need a little security.x

how'd it go chick???

Oh Strawbs, you make it sound so easy!! lol If only it was that simple, that I had no emotional attachment bla bla bla. I've had the older mindee since she was 6 months old and she's nearly 20 months now so obviously I care very much. And well, having baby sister since such a young age has also made me attached (not in a spooky way, just that I care a lot).

Anyway, spoken to mum and this is what we've agreed:

Swapping Thursday for Monday (she's happy to start as early as next week if I want) AND an 8 week notice period (I was worried about longer than that as I'd have to give that much notice too) for the new days of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

I've made the whole situation clear re: money/mortgage etc. so I'm hoping she wouldn't just dump me in it Well, tbh, you never know when any parent could give notice. I just hope she's quite happy with everything for now, she seems to be.

Think the whole lack of certainty in our conversations has been more due to her rushing to sort things, hormones making her unsure what to do etc etc. I HOPE that she's now happy with her decision.

Think that's all I can do for now. Just don't feel right trying to replace them just because of a niggling feeling. God I'm soft aren't I!! I know I'd be saying the same as you about giving notice if it were someone else but when it comes down to actually doing it.............well.........i just can't

Right, fingers crossed I don't come on here moaning saying I wish I'd given notice!

Thanks for all your help ladies

Just posted

LOL, im too soft, what i say and what i do are totally different!

so can you also take on any of your enquiries now too??

Well done! That sounds like a very good outcome!

You're obviously attached to the children and hopefully with the new days it'll be easier to fill your other 2 days then everyone'll be happy!!

LT, sounds like a good compromise. Well done - can you take anyone else on now?

Cheers

It doesn't mean I can take the Mon-Thurs but I can go ahead with the school run + adhoc care work for baby if they choose me. But at least when people wanting 2 days together, I'm more likely to be able to help.

Just going to keep my fingers crossed these days help. Can't be worse than what I had before.

Right........chatted to mum today and she said is it ok to stick with current days til I get work (if I do) on the other day. This is fine but now I'm not quite sure how to advertise my spaces. This is because I'm still happy to stick with my current days should someone happen to want the space(s) I currently have. I just think it will be easier if it's 2 days together.

Soooooooo, do I just advertise saying something like Monday and Friday vacancies but can change to Thursday & Friday if required OR am I better off just advertising the Thursday and Friday and see what happens???

Any advice welcome!

Part-time care? Flexible days?

Flexible part-time care?

Two days - a choice of Monday, Thursday or Friday

That way you catch everyone - you're stuffed if they want Mon & Thurs tho'

Great suggestions thanks. Yes, I will be stuffed if they want Mon & Thurs but if I advertise the way you've both said I can always say 'contact me to discuss further' then I can explain the situation.

Sorted, thanks!!

If your current mindees' mum is flexible then maybe you could advertise 2 days available but not specify which days until you have someone interested then try and negotiate days to suit you all. Or does that sound too complicated? If so, then I'd advertise Thurs and Fri. HTH