CM CLUB - URGENT.......meeting parents cancelled, they want to start tomorrow still.....ADVICE......

[LOONEYplayingachristmasTUNEy]

I need some advice please........

Lady was supposed to come yesterday with her son (6) at 4pm but texted half an hour before to ask if could come today instead. I texted her a couple of hours ago to ask if she was planning to come at 4pm and she's just texted back to say she's stuck in X and could she just come earlier than the start time tomorrow (i.e. I thought she was planning for me to have him from tomorrow afternoon).

The deal with this mindee is just to come here for 1 hour, once a week (Wednesday 4.30-5.30). Mum is aware this is preparing and eating dinner time for the children and that I cannot possible do activities or anything with mindee for this hour and that it would have to be free play (felt bad but what can you do - funny time!). She's fine with this. I also explained that I'll charge just my hourly rate for now as I'm not really going to be doing anything with this child HOWEVER if I get an enquiry for longer, things will change.

Anyway....what do you think about a mindee coming tomorrow and just arriving a bit earlier? I've not met either of them yet - is this a worry do you think? I'll obviously explain about the amount of paperwork that needs filling in, that I must have money in advance etc.

What are your thoughts?

no way, i did it once should have known better, the parent was as bad with time kkeping as she was at keeping the appointment, money was always late. Go with your gut feeling LT, if she cant come tonight it is not fair on you or the child.

That's what I thought - worries me about the letting me down twice now!! I think I'll text back saying I never agree to taking on new mindees until I've met the child in advance - at the end of the day, it's £3.80 extra a week FFS, not like I need THAT money

I would tell her if she can't keep her appt time that you are not willing to meet with her at all. (its not worth the hassle and paperwork for her to be forever letting you down and causing you stress and it will cause you stress i know what you are like! and you are in no fit state to be messed about, you have enough going on)

If she comes back grovelling tell her one foot out of line and she will be looking for new childcare.

Really get fed up of people thinking we are sat at home anyway waiting about for them..moan moan grumble grumble

I agree with the others. Its just not worth the extra hassle.

Update - texted back to say I have to meet parent and child before commiting to having them as need to make sure we are ALL happy. She asked if she can come at 5pm as should be back by then but I explained that from 4.30-6.30 I'm tied up with making dinner then feeding kids (takes time with a baby) and then writing diaries etc and that kids go at 6.30. She said 'what shall we do then' and I've offered to see her tonight after 6.30 or another day but if another day, I can't have child until next Wednesday. I've left it with her now as it's not like I need the business!

Thanks for the advice.

LMGs - don't worry, I'm not at all stressed and hadn't prepared any paperwork anyway - I don't work like that so no harm done

Oh no! Not for an hour, its just not worth the bother. Explain that you have to meet with her before any minding starts and you just don't have the time to do it before as you have other commitments that you have to keep.

If she's that cavalier about things before it even starts, just imagine how bad it could get.

I have learnt once you take them on its not easy to get rid so think very carefully before agreeing.......

Don't worry, I'll have NO PROBLEM getting rid if there's any messing with money or timekeeping!!! It's £3.80 a week FGS, not going to worry about getting rid!

Definitely not worth it imo. If she's unreliable to start with then who knows what she'll be like in the future.

Now go and answer my really important thread here.

Thanks mate. I've decided I don't want this job so if I don't hear back tommorow, forget it!!

You're very important thread has been answered.......such a serious topic!!

HELP

Had a text yesterday which i've just seen:

"Hi, I'm so sorry I've just realised I never replied last week, could I come round after school tomorrow (i.e. today) to meet you?"

Help me with reply which nicely says no!

You could lie and say that you assumed she didn't want the place as she hadn't replied so have given it to someone else.

Oh and obviously you are so sorry

I did think of saying that but it would look odd because i'd told her on the phone i don't get many of these calls. Suppose I could say one of the minders locally is moving and I was asked to take on a school run for her (it's true we have 2 mindees stopping here actually)

If she can not reply to a txt, so can you! I'd just ignore it. Not worth the hassle is it?

but she'll only text again won't she - or worse, may actually pick up the phone!!! (and don't want to talk to her as resting my voice as it's almost gone!)

Text back then and say you're most dreadfully sorry, but you assumed that she no longer wanted the place, so it has gone.

Same as above-just 'tx' back and say as you hadn't heard back from here you assumed the place was no longer required, and after a similar enquiry that is offering double rates you are having a re-think and will obviously have to take the one that fits best and can she match the money x

Gosh sorry that was waffled! Big deep breath now....
hadn't heard back from her*

chick, dont explain yourself, dont make things up cos you will forget and drop yourself in it, just say youre sorry but as you hadnt heard back from her, the place has now gone..full stop..not worth it for couple of hours a week, dont stress over it, she sounds terribly disorganised anyway, so would be same with picking up/paying etc

Thanks everyone. I did text back saying basically I presumed the space wasn't needed and it's no longer available (which is true isn't it as I don't want to offer it). I haven't heard back so hopefully that will be the end of it!

there you go, you told her the truth, the space isnt there as you dont want it filled