C/M Club: Advice please, re: pregnancy

[crace]

Hi ya'll, sorry haven't been around, finding energy for work is about all I have left these days!

I was wondering what you would all do in my situation, or how I go about tell parents..

My problem is that once baby arrives I go down in numbers, I am allowed 2 under 5 as I have my own 2 year old and will go down even more sadly after. Though frankly I think I will have my hands full.

I have my 2 spaces luckily full at the moment, one is p/t 6 hours daily and the other is 9.5 hrs full time. It seems logical to give "notice" when I tell them I am pregnant (16 weeks, 3rd baby so getting VERY obvious). How do I do that, obviously the p/t one but they both may run for the hills!

Problem 2 is that this is a planned c-section and I am taking 3 months off as I know what my recovery time is like.

So how do I hang onto them until I stop in May, and knowing them (as I would!) they would probably want to know what my plans are.

What do I do? Whine whine

Think you have to tell them and let them decide what to do, obviously you will have to give notice, like you say you will have your hands full enough!

At least if you are planning 3 mths off it gives you some time to advertise like mad and get some new customers ready for when you start back if you do lose your ft mindee.

Congratulations and good luck!

Same as LMGs - I told parents I was pregnant a couple of weeks ago and it was such a relief but everything I'd planned changed once they knew. They were all lovely and it won't affect my numbers after, even the new baby who was due to start is still coming in Jan/Feb and that will affect my numbers so I do know I'm extremely lucky. I'd just tell them and let them decide. I got so worked up about things and shouldn't have because it's the reactions etc. that made my plans firm iyswim.

Best of luck hun and I totally get the lack of energy thing - it's a killer isn't it!!

I suppose I will just tell them and say I am taking 3 months off and see what happens. Not give notice to the p/ter they may just leave anyway, and I have time enough for that later.

Thanks for the advice girls

HOLD THE PHONE!!!!!...Crace, when were you gunna tell me you were pregnant??!!!..always the last to know me..Hufff!!!!!!!!

{fgrin]..Really..congratulations Chcik, really happy for you!

TBH id tell parents pretty soon and explain that you wont be able to mind their children once baby arrives(if thats what you decide), then tell them you can either give them thier notice now or to help them out(and you), say you will work up till x weeks before your due and end the contract then?..good luck

(oh and BTW its PinkChick..think ill change back, i feel like i have too many personalities!)

Heya PC! Yeah I announced during one of my fickly ins and out visits

Good advice, I think I will announce and leave the ball in their court, frankly I reallly really really want to continue until beginning of May so hopefully they won't jump ship. I would wait to tell them if I could hide it longer

crace - could you not apply to ofsted for a variation or would you not want 4 lo's on the same day? How old will they all be after your 3 mths off?

when are you due?
could you not say that you will be finishing work on x date and 4 weeks(is that how long your notice periods are?) before that will be your notice to them, if they wish to end their contract before that time, normal notice will be required but you would love to help them out witht heir childcare as long as possible..is there a school hol beginning of Mya? could you say youd work up till then?, think its last week in may for us tho?)

I suppose I could ask for a variation, I will be getting a 7/8 seater people carrier (can't fit my own family in my car once baby comes!) so I could feasibly stick them all in the car but I think it would be a zoo. Could you imagine toddler group? My daughter will be 2.5 and not going to preschool until that Sept (due in mid May), mindee 1 will be just 2, and baby will be 1.2 and a newborn. Yikes, would be mayhem. Definitely worth a thought though, hadn't even considered that.

PC - due mid to end May whenever I get my c/s date and want to work until a week or two prior to that date. I have a feeling I want to keep working until I can - boredom will set in. I get to keep one but I think with 3 months leave on the cards they will all want to sort out new care. Like LMG says I can concentrate on getting a full timer I suppose during leave.

I suppose my fear is that they will all leave and I need to work until May really, we need the money.

Nightmare, little things they don't tell you when you get into childminding eh?!

i know!, but dont push yourself to far, you CAN do it, cos your a fab cm, but dont put too much pressure on yourself with a LO to get used to as well.x

Crace if you are going to buy a people seats carrier, buy a MAZDA BONGO its Fab!!!!
I can fit 3 0-4 baby seats accross the back seats and three backed booster seats in the middle seats, loads of room, can get a double, single and a seat2go in the boot with loads of room for all the bags.

Thanks PC, you are sweet.

Shosha ,cheers for the recommendation - it sounds fab!