CM Club - THANK YOU - Can't believe this, what luck!!! :-)

[looneytune]

I've been very worried about my income recently since my full time mindee I've had since I started left. I immediately took other mindees baby sister on but that made me full Tues-Thurs with NO mindees on Monday's and Friday's.

Thanks to the advice on Mumsnet about chatting to mum to see if she will change the 2 girls to Mon-Wed instead, mum agreed

I had a lady come on Friday about ADHOC care. I just thought the extra pound here and there would help us. Well, she emails me the next day wanting Thurs & Fri all day (contracts tomorrow). She did mention in our meeting about not wanting a childminder with too many children etc. so I reminded her today that I will be advertising my left over space for Thurs & Fri unless she wants to pay me for 1:1 care (double pay). GUESS WHAT - she DOES want to pay for 1:1 care!!!!!

SO....THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, I'm now full again with under 5's!

Woohoo! wow, well done to you. That's pretty incredible that she will pay you double.

Good for you!

Excellent news, at least you now know where you are with this family. Don't forget to write a note on the contract about double fees for 1:1 care, it might also be an idea to put in a notice time if she wants to stop paying for 1:1 but you can take on another child (like when baby gets older).

Cheers, it's pretty good eh! I thought I'd mention that she could do that but never ever thought she'd actually do it!!!

Mumlove - good points, off to make dinner but may well be asking more advice before tomorrow's contract signing

Does she mind if you take on over 5's for after school and holidays?

is she paying you double time?????WOWget those contracts signed and bound!

That's brilliant!! Well done!!

That's fantastic I'm so pleased for you!

Thanks everyone

Mumlove - I told her that I could have 1 young after schooler and she was ok with that. That didn't work out as they have an after school club but they did say they promise they were about to give me the job until the school said they could go to afterschool club after all. Tbh, at this moment in time I'm only looking for 1 young school aged child IF one comes up. I don't have the urgent need for the extra income from school age child with them paying me double.

PinkChick - yep, I told them if they want to have 1:1 care then they have to pay £7.60 and hour instead of £3.80 Didn't expect them to go for it though - what a shock!

One thing that worries me is that we were due to sign contracts tomorrow and then I was having the baby for most of the day. Ds ended up with a sudden temp of 103.2, dh took him to the dr's and no school tomorrow. I left a message on mum's phone saying how sorry I was, it was her choice to come or not but no charge (obviously) if doesn't come. She's text back saying not coming, thanks for letting her know and she'll call tomorrow to discuss it all. She still put a kiss on the end (has done on all emails since first contact) so I'm hoping she's ok but what BAD timing eh!!!

So although I'm dead chuffed that I said something about 1:1 care and doubled that income , I won't feel like I've got it til she comes and signs!!!

Fingers crossed we can sign on Monday!!!

She emailed me last night and all seems ok. Fingers crossed

Glad I've got today off as ds is in bed and wanting special 'mummy' time. He's never like this, even when poorly so he must be really suffering today

Anyway, I can afford the day off if my income is going up that much after Easter

Well no phone call yesterday like she said in her email BUT she has got lots going on and a 6 week old to look after.

Part of me worries that ds being poorly may make her realise that these things can happen where she needs to find alternative arrangements HOWEVER this hardly ever happens, just very bad timing

I really hope she replies to my email or calls. How long shall I leave it before chasing her on this? I've now told CIS to remove my 2 vacancies for Thurs & Fri's.

If she doesn't use me after all that, it will teach me for being chuffed about the double pay won't it!!

Phew, she's emailed me and told me how pleased she was to have found me and not to worry, we haven't put her off! (big sigh of relief!).

BUT......I am worried about her and wondered what I may be able to do to help? She had a terrible birth where the uterus had to come out of her body to get the baby out and then put back in. She lost a LOT of blood and nearly died and has already had 2 blood transfusions Baby is only 6 weeks old so this is all very new to her and she apologised for not emailing yesterday, had a bad day and burst into tears when thinking about the birth etc. I think she may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - what can I do to help? Feel for her.

Looneytune, my boss also had a very traumatic time, not during the birth itself but due to complications after her c-section, she almost died and was terribly ill. She missed the first 2 weeks of her babies lives and I know she still suffers PTSD over this. I think the best thing you can do for this woman is offer her friendship and comfort in the knowledge that her baby will be well taken care of. My boss has only recently started talking about her experiences, but the Dad had explained everything to me when I started so I would be aware of the situation. Because I know what happened I am a lot more understanding of her sometimes odd/extreme behaviour, and I let a lot of things slide as she has a very good excuse for being the way she is sometimes. I know my bosses both appreciate my stable and flexible attitude towards my job, they know they can count on me. I think thats what this woman needs from you, just to know you are there to help. She'll really appreciate that. I hope she starts healing and can enjoy her baby soon. I feel so for her too, what a nightmare when it should be such a happy time. Bless her and her little one.

Thanks Nannyk

I actually replied to her email in the end, asking if she'd spoken to the Dr about how she feels and mentioned PTSD. I sent a link to a website and said to just ignore my interferring and to tell me to go away if she wanted! I wouldn't have just done this out of the blue with anyone but we've had a lot of nice communication and I felt I could get away with offering this help without offending. I hope I was right!

Anyway, I will just be there as a friend to her and I thank you for your comment about ignoring certain moods etc - I hadn't thought that far ahead!

Update: she was grateful for my info and I've even recommended a great healer for her too - I mentioned how she cured my PND within 48 hrs of seeing her and she asked for her details.