Should I hand in my notice

[Brokenfeathers]

Hi looking for advice. I'm a childminder of 3 children and have 2 of my own. 3 days a week. I also live in Ireland and do it cash in hand as a lot of childminders do. I started with 1 child at 7 months. She's a little dream and I've watched her grow quite happily. Everything was fantastic for almost a year. My day started at 8:45 and ended at 5. I was on call for their school going child too. I continued minding little girl while mum was on maternity leave so mum could have a break. New little girl arrives. Started taking her at 4 months so mum could get organised and rest while on maternity leave. No problem to me I was getting paid. Parents started asking for extra days and night time child care occasionally and I obliged as much as I could. When it came time for mum to return to work we discussed the money issue. We agreed an amount for the 2 smaller ones and after school care for the older one. The next day I was told that the day would start a bit earlier at 8 and the kids wouldn't be collected until 5:15. I said fine as they had no choice. However things changed for them and the original times should have been returned. However they stuck to the new times instead. When I first started holidays were agreed that I would be paid when they have holidays but not when I took some. However they always continued to use me while they were on holidays. So apart from a week at Christmas I didn't take holidays in a year. The kids have been sent to me with vomiting bugs and in turn has spread to my house. They actually told their school going kid not to tell me she had been vomiting the night before. I adore the kids but feel lately like the parents don't appreciate that I already provide a good rate (€160 and all meals included for everyone, they wanted more but I wanted to be fair) and feel like another year without any paid holidays is just too much on top of the new times which only adds up to an hour a day but is essentially free. Should I hand in my notice or just chill the hell out? Accept what it is and learn from my mistakes in future.

I think you need to address it with them; explain that they either need to go back to the later drop off time or pay more and plan your holidays ahead and tell them firmly when they will be and stick to it. Also tell them that if they continue to send their children when unwell without talking to you about it you will then give notice.
It sounds like they're taking advantage of you but unless you address it then it won't change and it would be a shame to give notice without trying to address it first. But don't just put up with it as no holidays/time off for you is not on.

I tried to address last minute changes before and it didn't go well. The mum wanted to drop earlier with no notice and I said no and she took an almighty strop. Would be afraid that would happen again and we'd part on bad terms. I can book my own holidays with no pay in fairness but usually can't afford that. DH thinks it's not worth it anymore.

Former childminder here. Yes def address it with them and charge them for ALL the time they are using. I had the same holiday policy as you and often got no paid holidays but I could accommodate that. I chose when to take my holidays and made sure I had them even if I wasn't paid. It's hard hard work!

If you can't work it out then give notice. It will be like a weight is lifted I promise! But be cautious of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. If they are paying you on time and generally ok then nip the extra time in the bid and remind them of your sickness policy. Call them every time their child is poorly or refuse them at the door if you have to. They will get the message eventually.

You don't even have to give notice if you've no contract though surely

Ok think I will address it and if they want to let me go then fair enough. I've tried to be fair. The sickness thing infuriates me because they always act like it's a big surprise if I call. Then my kids are off school with a bug and feeling poorly when it could have been avoided. If I book holidays they usually ask me to do different days to make it up.

@MrsQuim I wouldn't do that and would prefer to leave on good terms

If you allow them to treat you as a doormat they will continue to do so. You are the one incharge of your business terms and conditions they may ask for a negotiation but you don't have to agree. I would renegotiate say exactly what I will do hours wise for the money and stipulate an overtime rate. With regards to the holidays you could charge 50% for both your and their holiday, charge full for yours or say your going to give a 50% (or any other figure) discount for up to x number of weeks of their holiday which may encourage them to take some (worth considering if its your only family and yoru willing to have the same time off as them.....I personally if I did this would say I would give a discount if holidays are notified in writing with 6 months notice and once booked can not be cancelled...giving me time to book time off that matched.

Take hold of your business and advertise for new customers ....assuming of course you are following Irish regulations and legal childcare.

Explain to them that they can't drop kids of when Ill etc, and if they become ill whilst they are at yours contact them and say to collect them asap.
Reiterate the hours you are willing to take the kids for and make sure they pay for those hours. Stipulate the weeks you will be on holiday and stick to those. If she turns up with kids in tow while your on your holiday explain you are on holiday and she will not be able to drop the kids of.
If her behaviour continues give her a few weeks notice and explain since she hasn't listened to your fairly standard rules you can't continue to care for her kids.
She will struggle to find a childminder of those are her expectations.

Your business, your terms and conditions if they dont like it they can go elsewhere and belive me nobody else would put up with that! You are not there as unpaid childcare, why on earth should they expect you to do it for free?

YOU decide when you go on holiday not them! What the hell is this 'making up ' malarky?

Whats 'cash in hand' childminding? Is that unregistered childminding? Not putting it through the books?

You dont need a reason, you dont 'hand in your notice' you are self employed, just tell them as of x date the contract is terminated.If you give them an inch they will take a mile and probably be even later on the notice period.

Next time have a proper contract and t&c and stick to it.