CM Club - terminating contract, please help!

[fruitloop79]

I've had enough of fussy parents who take parenting far too seriously and make me feel so anxious. This really is the last straw. Trouble is, they don't know how I'm feeling, I always put on a happy face.
I really cant cope with talking it through and giving them a chance (that's even if they'd want it). It would make me feel very awkward in the long run.
What do you think is the best way to go about it? I was thinking maybe making the reason to be about me rather than them but dont know what to say.

Any advise would be most welcome

Peronal reasons. nuff said

Say you are very sorry, I think to give them a negative opinion on the parenting methods would just be upsetting for everyone. Just say as much as you feel comfortable with, so that it ends hopefullywithout bad feeling.

have you got more than one? anyone waiting in the wings?

is it not worth talking to them? cos you cant expect them to change/give you breathing space if you dont tell them?
a chat often clears lots up?

I'm not sure they can change really. They're both very professional people who probably see me as an employee rather than self employed.

Mindee very sweet but these parents have made me lose sleep in the past. I was up a lot of last night worried about something trivial which is completely out of my hands anyway. I've had mindee for a year now so a bit worried about uprooting him.
I think they would be more suited to an Au Pair or nanny TBH

I've been told to end contract by various close CM friends as I'm always moaning about the latest problem.

Kaysmuels Surely if I say 'personal reasons' they're gonna want me to elaborate?

Sweetsnowflake Places get filled quite quickly round here (touch wood)
I thought I might find someone then say to start in 6 weeks time. That would give current parents enough notice. A friend knows someone who's looking for a full time space starting March so I could hang on till then.

It's just that I hate confrontation and especially letting people down

Weel you have obv thought it out.
Think about why you want to terminate and try and put it into 'tactful' words, cos if you'll be taking another on straight after they wont fall for the 'personal rasons' as will prob find out..tricky one, good luck

what would you say to the parents thou if you took a new mindee on? they are going to know its them!
when i had had it with one set of parents i just wrote a letter giving them notice explaining that i couldnt give the level of care they expected and needed and that a nursery/au pair would be better suited to their needs

is there something that they want you to do that you simply can't? If so perhaps just state that you are unable to provide X and a nanny would be better suited to their needs.

Nightmare- this is why I could never childmind!

Thanks guys

I might try dmo's letter idea. I'll wait till new year though. I need to make sure I've got another full-timer lined up.
Feel really crappy even thinking about it but I suppose my sanity is quite important!

A childminder had a similar issue recently and terminated a contract via e-mail (the child's mother checks her e-mail very frequently).

It went along the line of this:
-
Due to a change in my personal circumstances, I will no longer be able to care for X as of 1st January 2008. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

I have chatted with other local childminders and I have found a local childminder who has a space available, who would be delighted to chat with you about caring for X. X has previously met CM-Name, as we go to the same toddler group.

CM-Name - Phone - Email

Best regards...
-

You don't have to give a reason to terminate a contract, and if parents do ask more info, you can decline to provide any due to it being of a personal family nature.