CM's - do you feel like you get enough respect for our jobs?!

[chel86]

I'm sure he doesn't mean to do it, but sometimes the comments my DH makes about me being a CM makes me feel a little useless. No more than a glorified housewife!

I am pretty proud of the fact that I have set up my own business, and it was hard work adapting from becoming quite a high profile para-legal in the solicitors I worked in to being at home all day with not only my own children, but other people's children as well. It is hard work at times looking after kids all day! Stopping them from bickering with each other, keeping them all entertained, making sure they get to the toilet, sit at the table to eat their meals, and going out on outings! It can be very rewarding but very stressful at times as well! Then there's all the paperwork and dealing with the parents. Am I wrong?!

And I don't deny that there are times when I can sit down for half an hour while the kids are at school and the younger ones are playing nicely or having a nap, but no more than the lunch hour you would get in a 9-5 job!

And your day doesn't stop when the mindees go home after a 10 hour day (minimum) because you then have your own family to care for still and the housework to do etc.

So it does gripe me a bit when my DH and other "smart" mouthed people (men mainly!) ask "what do you do all day?!"

I agree, My DB (ha ha, sorry 'DB' made me laugh) thinks that I should be responsible for keeping the flat clean and tidy because it's part of my job as a childminder to do it! aaaggh. I makes me so mad.

No, it annoys me All the time!!

I work very hard, don't make a great deal of money, I dont even get respect from mindee's parents half the time which upsets me because I work really hard trying to make their children happy and encourage their developement etc I think they shouold appreciate the effort i put in.

Maybe all the new quals coming in will alter the way people think but that's hardly a reason to go on a course stating the bleeding obvious (DISCLAIMER - this is my personal opinion) I went on the B23 intro course and all they did was tell me things I already knew and if I hadn't known them I would seriously have doubted my ability to parent, nevermind care for other peoples children, nevermind have the cheek to charge people! (there's me off on one.....sorry)

Back to the point I hate the way people swing from one extreme to the other one minute they think you can solve all their child's issue's single handendly (sp?) the next they know best and you are just the hired help!

I'd love to join in this coversation, but I've got so much to say, it'll take me hours and knowing my PC, I'll loose my connection just as I press Post! So instead, I will keep it short and sweet.

Arrrrrgggggghhhhhh!

DH knows better than to question what I do all day. He's happy enough to use my money for a pint on a Friday (which is fine, I use his money too!) Anyone else that says it, I just say, 'well if you could stay at home all day with your feet up and earn money, wouldn't you?' Soon shuts them up!

My 70 year old father-in-law soon learnt NOT to say 'how the babysitting going?' as I kept correcting him with 'the childminding business is going well thank you, got my accounts and tax return to do and hoping to implement another set of development targets next week' or spruced up words to that effect!!

LMG Agree totally with you on B2Three, I almost thought I was missing something until I realised it was yes, it is the bleeding obvious, but WRITE IT DOWN anyway! As if we haven't got enought to do and gosh EYFS looks three times as long......

definately not enough respect - but some of the mum's do say "i really don't know how you can do this job" so they obviously appreciate how hard it is

most people do seem to think i've got it easy though. . . . grrrrrrrr

Hello ladies. You get lots of respect from me, as a CM-user (does that make you sound like a Class A drug?). My dds have been so happy with the CM who's looked after them for the last 4 years... she's part of our family. Now she's on Maternity Leave and we have a new CM (for a while anyway) and she is utterly fab too. You put heart and soul into your job and those of us who rely on you are incredibly grateful. Thank you.

My step MIL is terrible, she often used to ask "How's the babysitting going", followed by "Do you never wish you were a proper, qualified nursery nurse like X(SIL)".
Thankfuly she's shut up a bit now that I'm not minding at the minute, although she does ask "Are you going to get a proper job now". GRRRRRRR

Oh thank you Ellbell! I know the parents do appreciate what I do and they often say I look exhausted (not a great compliment!) and they don't know how I do it! But I do find it's my DH and his mates that think it's an easy life. And DH has now learnt NOT to tell me that cleaning the house, cooking for him, and looking after our kids is part of my job! And he also thinks that my job extends way in to the night and in to the weekends! Saturdays and Sundays are "his days off" but I'm not entitled to days off?

Sorry, that was another rant! I'll shorten the rest as MML did.. AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!

my MIL was highly disgruntled that i was having a lie-in when she came over a few week-ends ago - so no i don't think we're allowed day's off