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

Original poster

Thursday Staff Room!!

51 replies

crace · 28/02/2008 08:47

Morning girls, we all busy this am?

My usual two mindees, dd and me today. Still all ill but misery loves company and all that.

DS is being a little so and so though. 11 - what a great age

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looneytune · 28/02/2008 13:23

Mo - how exciting, what time is your interview? Will keep everything crossed for you!

As for this baby, I'm worried that he's coming just 4 hours a week and that this is going to take, like you, months to sort. Under normal circumstances I'd see this as a challenge and go for it HOWEVER I'm 23 weeks pregnant, he might finally settle once I go on maternity leave and tbh, I just can't cope with something like this when I don't need to. Sound like an awful childminder now don't I but I'm struggling as a lot of you know and this on top would just finish it for me I think and it's not like he's coming back in September anyway. Soooo, do I give to the end of the settling in period and if still like this, just say I'm really sorry but under the circumstances I want to call it a day? I've NEVER done this before and probably never would but my situation is different atm and I already feel I have enough to deal with. As for not telling the mum, I did tell her it's totally normal and they get over it (true) and played it down a bit but I couldn't lie, his face makes it's OBVIOUS and I could tell she'd not be happy if I lied about it.

Oh.....what to do....what to do....

Just had text saying not needing for after schooler today so whilst my one mindee is napping (other off sick too), I'm going to make some lunch and a cuppa. Nice quiet day then....the calm before the storm eh!!! I'm actually off work with everyone else tommorrow as my best mate is getting married in the afternoon. Silly me said it's ok to have this new mindee as only til 12 but now I know I'm going to be all flustered and need to calm before the wedding!!

Sorry....moaning again aren't I

Original poster
crace · 28/02/2008 13:50

Hey LT, EM, and OO- this is the form you need for MA: www.dsdni.gov.uk/ma1.pdf

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Original poster
crace · 28/02/2008 13:50

linked

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Original poster
crace · 28/02/2008 13:52

Mo, sounds fab - what time are you going tomorrow?

LT - honestly, I would give up after settling in period if nothing gets better. Frankly, it just doesn't add up does it?

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Original poster
crace · 28/02/2008 13:52

Hi Rose and Violet, the flowers of the Staff Room

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MaureenMLove · 28/02/2008 14:04

Interview is 11.15. I shall do the school run, then have a long soak in the bath etc. I don't need to leave til about 10.45, its only 5 mins down the road. I'm thinking just passed 11 should be good, once I've found somewhere to park.

I think I would call it a day too, LT. Seems a bit pointless busting a gut for 4 hours a week, especially if its only for a couple of months.

looneytune · 28/02/2008 14:14

Thanks for the link crace but it just crashes me out of the internet each time. Anyway, think I know what I've got to get, just waiting til I'm a bit further gone as it's too early for me right now as not 24 weeks til Monday.

As for this mindee, yes, I think I'll see how tomorrow goes and if bad, make it the last session. It's just such a few hours a week I think it will take ages to settle. He saw me at toddler group on Monday and was all smiles but of course mummy was there. I just need to slow things down and take the pressure off a bit right now. Thanks for the advice ladies

vInTaGeVioLeT · 28/02/2008 14:16

ah crace- that made me smile! me a flower!

goodluck Mo - how exciting for you

looney - i didn't realise crying baby was not returning after M/L , in that case i'd give him up , i know it's a shame but it's really not worth it - you need to take it easy now.

ROSE how's dd doing today?

looneytune · 28/02/2008 14:23

Well she wanted to but I said I couldn't offer the 4 hours after maternity leave as need to fill my days and very unlikely to get afternoon only (plus tiny baby's mum wants me Fridays if Ofsted agree). Only reason I'm being flexible now as in theory, he's using up my unborn baby's space iyswim.

Gosh, I'm so f'ing tired today, if anyone sees me online after 9pm tonight, please nag me to go to bed!!!

Right, time to work again. Can't believe how much free time I've had today whilst baby sleeps. Going to quickly put some of my clothes away before baby wakes up then we need to get ds from school.

Bye for now x

MaureenMLove · 28/02/2008 16:18

He he! DD's mate (the one who did the txt last night) has come home from school with her. I hadn't even got through the door, when she was apologising to me for the txt message! Aparently her phone was 'jacked' yesterday and she didn't get it back til today, so I wasn't her!' Yeah right, do I look like I was born yesterday! They are both being very pleasant. I am being pleasant to them both......... until she goes home at 5, then I continue my war against disobeying my orders! mwhaa haa haa!

Original poster
crace · 28/02/2008 16:26

Mo, been there done that huh? I swear they just have no idea that we've actually been children before - bless their little hearts for trying though.

LT - just doesn't sound worth it does it?

And hour an 10 mins to go (not that I am counting) and I can't wait until bedtime. DH is out with his best mate for a long one tonight so I can go to bed early. Phew. One more day until Friday girls! I hate weeks like this, makes me feel so rubbish

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crace · 28/02/2008 16:27

Violet you ok hun? Thought I read somewhere you are feeling a bit disheartened?

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MaureenMLove · 28/02/2008 16:32

Aw, I hope you start feeling better soon Crace. Why is it that you always feel the need to stay up, even when you're ill, but DH's just bugger off to bed whenever they feel like it?

I'm going dancing with Kbear tonight. Haven't been for ages, so my hips will be dead sore tomorrow. SalsaMo is back!

southernbelle77 · 28/02/2008 16:49

Well thank god this week is over!! I'm knackered!

looneytune · 28/02/2008 17:37

Right, I'm done for the day Just preparing myself for tomorrow now and what I will say if baby does cry through the session. Do I just verbally say I'm sorry but don't think it's worth it for the 4 hours as by the time he settles, I may be going on maternity leave blabla?? Do I just make that the last session as we're within the settling in period? She's not working or anything, it's just to get her ds used to being without mummy so not letting her down with work but feel I'm letting her down with getting him used to people. I just think she needs to find someone else (problem she had is not wanting a childminder who goes to groups with him and I said the only day there isn't a group a lot of us go to is Friday but some don't work/don't have spaces). Oh...I hate letting nice people down The other problem with this mindee is that his naps are always lying down with his mummy so she wants me to try and get him off to sleep then transfer to a cot which goes against what I believe PLUS I usually have another mindee with me whose only just turned 1 so can't ignore her.

Mo - have fun, I've always fancied trying that, I LOVE dancing!!!

SB - how you feeling hun? You ok? x

Original poster
crace · 28/02/2008 17:46

Yes, verbal and in writing to officially terminate the contract. You aren't letting her down, she can get him used to other people with her family if needs be - she's making it quite difficult for a c/m to settle him really! I am sure she is very nice, but you can't really do all of those things she is looking can you? Laying down with him is impossible surely?!

Saying that I do lay down with my dd to sleep at night, but we've always coslept and she is now in a Z bed next to ours sort of an "extended cosleeping". But I couldn't and wouldn't do that during the day!

Mo, have a great time!

SB - all done for the week? Luckily girl, enjoy the rest tomorrow!

ALLLLLL DOOOONNEE, phew! We are muddling through this week, but getting there.

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MaureenMLove · 28/02/2008 18:08

Blimey LT, she's not asking much is she! I've never heard of a parent NOT wanting her lo to go to a playgroup before!

I can't believe what some of you are asked to do! If that's what the parent wants, then fine, that's out job, but I am always at some parents ideals for their lo's.

I think we must be a very layed back bunch, living round here! I don't think anyone has ever asked me to do something out of the norm! Its like they just say, 'oh you know what you're doing, just do your thing & I'm happy with that!'

Good luck though. I don't think it'll be a complete suprise, by the sound of things anyway. I'm sure she'll be fine about it.

eleanorsmum · 28/02/2008 18:21

thanks for the link to the form crace - will spend some time reading it through.

I am so cold! think it's all my energy being focused on lo growing inside but still, hands and feet mainly for the last two days. have more layers on but then my face is really hot! hope i'm not coming down with anything!

southernbelle77 · 28/02/2008 18:25

Yep, me done for the week Crace! And dd goes to the in laws tomorrow so even better I have got a parent coming tomorrow to do contracts for after school care but that's about it! Oh and some shopping given the fridge is looking a tad bare!

I am ok thank you LT. Just want my body to get to 'normal' now so can get back to trying again!! With regard to your baby, I know it will be hard, but in the long run it will be better for you and baby to stop now so they can find someone new for baby as it might be exactly the same for someone else when you go on maternity leave. You've tried, they will know that.

Have fun tonight Mo! Don't do your hips any injuries!!

MaureenMLove · 28/02/2008 19:28

My hip is already agony! I pulled a muscle some months ago, but its not easy to rest a hip is it? I've got a heat pad stuck on it and I've just had some ibruprofen! My feet are aching in my salsa shoes already! I'm too old for this shit!

ROSEgarden · 28/02/2008 20:41

aw Crace you little sweety.xxx
How are you feeling now?, hope you're off to bed for some rest?..

Hi Vi, dd still 'trying'..she slept right through last night and wouldnt get up this morn until id gone in and said she had slept through and coud not play with her ds..still snappy..had a nice talk with her tonight about how sad it makes me when shes like this..she said to me i know and it gives you a headache doesnt it!!??/..dont know where she got that from?, i dont say that??
Anyway, shes in bed now..had an accident at school today(toilet one-number 1)never done this in ages, TA said she just didnt make it in time..she didnt GO this morn before we left as she always does, so hopefully its as they said..will keep an eye out though??

ROSEgarden · 28/02/2008 20:42

Sorry Vi forgot to say, whats up, why you not enjoying work????.xxx

vInTaGeVioLeT · 28/02/2008 21:11

dunno really - i'm just finding it boring like we're stuck in a rut

my mindees and ds are all about the same age which is great as they play well together but they're also at that boundary testing age!!!

i think i need a little one to look after again as mine don't need much input IYSWIM?

also i just think i'm a bit crap at the job

vInTaGeVioLeT · 28/02/2008 21:12

they're all easy kids really so i don't know what i'm moaning about - someone give me a slap!

ROSEgarden · 29/02/2008 11:39

you ARE NOT crap!, youre a bloody good childminder!..youre that good you can do it easilly like you are saying, so a littly might mix things up a bit..hope you have a good day chick!, the nicer weathers on its way so more out and about days will make you feel better and glad that youre not stuck in an office when the suns sining.x