CM CLUB - WWYD?

[LoveMyGirls]

I've just signed up to take on siblings (1 under 5, 1 over 5) (PT) they are due to start tomorrow, i've been trying to contact mum all weekend to find out hours as she does shift work. I'm getting nothing and i'm worried this is how she means to go on and that she will arrive when i'm out in the morning expecting me to take them.

I've had a lady enquire about a space for ft baby in june/ july but hasn't phoned to let me know for definate, last i heard was a text on 10th May saying she is looking for a job and hopes to let me know dates soon. I said I'd keep in touch if anything happened but don't want to bug her.

Finally I have a lady waiting to see if I have a space for September and asked me to phone her in june to let her know if a space will or i think will be available.

What would you do?

A. Run with the ones who have signed contracts despite being messed about.

B Contact the one looking for a job and see if she has got a start date yet (at the risk of bugging her?)

C. Run with option A but tell her it can only be a temp arrangement and phone Sept baby's mum and say it's likely there will be a space in Sept.

Hi lmg how much notice would you have to give siblings if the mum dos mess you about?

At the moment we're in settling in period which is up to a month of cancelling at any time (which i'm very tempted to do right now, as i still have no clue what is happening) I have let a mindee go to make space for this family as they knew if anyone with more hours came along and they didnt want the hours i was offering i would not be able to afford to keep them all. (complicated)

Perhaps family are away for weekend? Have you just got home telephone number?

I've just got in contact with her and sorted hours for this week, she didn't give a reason for messing me about, i did ask her to give me more notice in the future. She has booked less hours than agreed on the contract so we'll see if she turns up with the minimum payment, if she doesn't I'm going to have to tell her I can't see this working out as I don't feel she is treating me fairly.

Starting to wish I had waited for the baby in June, I was getting by, now i've lost a mindee I'm not sure I can just let this go so easily otoh I don't need the stress of this on top of the fact we are moving in 2 weeks.

Wish I could speak to the one with the baby, they were both so nice.

Have you got the space for baby in June? If yes, you could always ring to see how her job-hunting is going.

I would have the space for the baby if I tell this family I've had enough of being messed about and that I will carry on caring for her children for the next couple of weeks so I don't leave her in the lurch????

At the end of the day The baby is FT space and the mum is really nice, not the sort to mess me about and very keen to go back to work but is looking for work as soon as her mat leave ends which will be in June sometime. The family I have taken on have done nothing but mess me about and i'm yet to actually care for the children yet.

Have you really already made the decision that you would rather not have this family? I guess that you need to be sure that you are going to be messed around, or at least give the mum the chance to sort things out - does she realise that she's messing you around?

I haven't definately decided, I'm more worried that i made the wrong decision to take them on in the first place, I will give her a couple of weeks to prove to me that she does want to make this work before I make a final decision, this could just be teething problems that can be ironed out.

I always get a bit nervous whenever I take someone new on. I have explained everything (my expectations, really clearly from the start) so i'm hoping this is just a misunderstanding. It seems the mum never has credit on her phone, so says she will phone then doesnt which is very fustrating as I end up constantly chasing her and when i do get in touch I don't get given straight answers and have to wait/ hope she does actually phone me this time.

I'm still inexperienced at this side of the business and it's so hard to know if i'm making the right decisions.

How do you know when it's right?

The day I signed contracts I felt like it was totally wrong and it gave me a really bad feeling, but i felt like i couldn't back out for the sake of a gut feeling.

Today i'm thinking i'm just scared, it's probably just because i'm quite inexperienced with older boys and once i'm actually dealing with it all, it wont be so scary!! I hope!!

Any advice on what to do indoors with the older boys? Plus one who doesn't have a great attention span? Mum has said not too much wii, xbox, tv i'll try to encourage them to do craft type stuff and swingball but if its chucking it down and they're moaning what can I do that is going to make them happy?

Older boys I have like...
magnetix
knex
dominoes (for games and domino rallies)
cards
drawing
comics (can get proper thick simpsons, marvel etc, in my local library - free to borrow)
wordsearches (search for ones themed around films/charcers they like)
jenga
pop up tunnel
card board boxes
masks from dressing up box (usually halloween ones)
cooking / baking
skateboards/scooters
ball/frisbee games

I got a tiny clown bike from a car boot sale a few weeks ago for £2.50 - it's the best chilminding toy I have every bought. All ages fit on it, and it takes up little space!

Don't worry lmg - boys are usually lovely when you get to know them honest! I know how you feel tho - I was in an opposite situation with girl mindees a while ago!