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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

just started but thinking of giving up help please

48 replies

ihateironing · 15/01/2008 19:20

i registered last year and it has taken to now to get some mindees,i currently have 2 lovely mindees but im hating the job.they are on a trial and it ends this week.
any words of encouragement? i was to tell mum im giving up but my mother says tough your stuck with them

HELP!

OP posts:

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nannynick · 15/01/2008 19:27

What do you hate about the job?

Original poster

ihateironing · 15/01/2008 19:29

being in the house myself, being followed around

sorry they sound petty reasons

OP posts:

southernbelle77 · 15/01/2008 19:32

It might just take a little bit of time for you to get stuck in and used to it.
Are you a member of the local childminding network? Can you go along to the groups and get to know some more local childminders? That might really help as it can be a very lonely job if you are in all day with just the littlies for company.
I've been doing it just under a year and just starting to feel like I'm getting it fully into the swing of things and part of the local network!

southernbelle77 · 15/01/2008 19:33

The mindees are probably just finding their feet as well and need a bit of extra reassurance until they feel right at home.
I'd stick it with a bit longer and I'm sure it will get easier

MaureenMLove · 15/01/2008 19:33

what do you do with them all day? The only time I'm in with mine is if its a really rotten day or its lunch time!

nannynick · 15/01/2008 19:36

It's very hard being with young children all day long, without any adult company. So try to get out and about to meet other parents/carers - so the children socialise and you get some adult chat time.

Being followed around... hmm, alas it happens - can't even go to the loo without a child deciding to come in with me! It's alas one of the sacrifices you make with the job - you don't get you time, until the children have gone home.

Do you have any children of your own?

Original poster

ihateironing · 15/01/2008 19:37

thats the thing, the weathers rotten and were not been getting out, tomoorow were going to soft play as i know others who are going but thats it.

ive went from a busy working enviroment to this i dont know if i will get used to it

OP posts:

Original poster

ihateironing · 15/01/2008 19:37

i have 2 of my own nannynick

OP posts:

nannynick · 15/01/2008 19:41

Going from say an office based job, to being at home, is a major change. I've done it, so know what it is like - I actually prefer not being in an office.

Days like today are horrible - Summer is much much nicer. Winter is always a bad time I find, it is the time of year when I get the winter blues... but as the days get warmer and dry, you find that you get out a lot more.

Do you have any local woodland near you? Woods provide some shelter from the rain - so in light rain are good places to play (children in wet weather gear), children often love puddles especially muddy ones.

nannynick · 15/01/2008 19:46

Having children of your own, you aren't unaware of what problems there can be in keeping children entertained, in bad weather. You also have been there, worn the t-shirt, as it were - so things children do, won't come as a great surprise.

The trouble I find this time of year, is finding enough things to do which get us out of the house. Went to indoor-play, and to the doctors surgery today... not great, but did get us out of the house for a while and enabled 3 year old to let off some energy.

FeelingOld · 15/01/2008 19:47

I wouldn't rush into making a decision.

As nick says this time of year gets us all down when you can be stuck in all day, that's why it's important to go to your local childminder group or toddler group. Without going to these at this time of year I would go mad , its much better as the weather improves, even just getting outside in the garden and kicking a ball about can make the world of difference.

MaureenMLove · 15/01/2008 19:47

Have you looked on your council website for things to do? Our council have a fab list of everything to do with children, all day long.

The other thing I do, is try to pop into the Staff Room on here, just once or twice a day. It seems a lot more, but then I don't work on Wednesday or Thursdays! Sometimes, if I'm stuck in due to the rain, its nice to chat to other minders about their day and we do bounce ideas off of each other sometimes. You're very welcome, if you've got 5 minutes or whilst the mindees are asleep.

Original poster

ihateironing · 15/01/2008 19:48

i came from a hospital enviroment.

OP posts:

nannynick · 15/01/2008 19:53

I suppose it is like any job, there are bad things and good things. What makes any job bearable is when the good things outnumber the bad.

Consider childminding for a year... see how the year goes - and then after the year look back and evaluate if you still hate the job. Spring, Summer, Autumn are so much better than Winter.

chankins · 15/01/2008 19:58

Is it just the being stuck indoors that you hate ? Or are there other things as well ? I know someone who started then finished within a few months, as she was bored stiff being with little children all day. I guess it isn't for everyone. Def try to join a local com group if you have one, or find other cms at toddler groups and start your own ! My group is fantastic, we are all now very good friends inside and out of work, and the support I get is amazing. I couldn't do the job without the girls in my group.

chankins · 15/01/2008 19:58

That should sy cm group not com group !

Original poster

ihateironing · 15/01/2008 20:09

i dont think i like being with children all day!

that sounds really bad!

OP posts:

southernbelle77 · 15/01/2008 20:11

Where abouts are you ihi?

nannynick · 15/01/2008 20:13

Why did you decide to become a childminder? You must had your reasons at the time... and if you think back to those reasons, that may encourage you a bit more.

chankins · 15/01/2008 20:17

No that was exactly how my friend felt - she did it to stay at home with her own lo, and thought she would love it - but very quickly realised she actually did not enjoy being with children all day, especially other peoples !
I think enjoying being with children is a must to enjoy the job !
But maybe give yourself a bit more time to see if the feelings past ?

Original poster

ihateironing · 15/01/2008 20:18

what made me become a childminder?

staying at home with my kids

not paying childcare

picking kids up from nursery/school

being able to take the dancing etc.

i look after kids at work why not at home

thought it was a decent payer

thought it would be fun playing games all day

wrong reasons eh????

OP posts:

southernbelle77 · 15/01/2008 20:20

Why would they be the wrong reasons?

I started as I hated my previous job and I thought it would be an ok thing to do!! That was all my reasons to start with!

Original poster

ihateironing · 15/01/2008 20:23

this is also very selfish but i now dont have any spare time to myself at all!!

OP posts:

nannynick · 15/01/2008 20:24

They sound like the right reasons to me. Your own children are surely benefiting from having you around for them more... aren't they?

Original poster

ihateironing · 15/01/2008 20:26

no they are showing off and destroying my house

OP posts:

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