CM CLUB: On a regular basis I think about giving up

[KatyMac]

I don't earn enough
I'm broke

The children eat better than we do

I have so much hassle

Then I spend a day with the children and I can't give up

know this sounds weird question but who lives in your house? not being mental- will explain in response to answer

Me DH & DD - we eat the same in the week & not at the w/e

I'm exactly the same katymac on every single thing in your post, we cms work so hard and regardless of the general consensus the majority of us are not 'raking it in'. I am working 11-12hour days, which I earn less than minimum wage for before expenses, then add on training and paperwork, I often wonder why I bother.

TBH I don't think I will childmind forever, but definately the next 5 years as it's good to be around for ds. I will always work with kids though as I have a real passion for it.

Will now explain reason I asked - lot's of childminders are lone parents and don't realise they better off on income support as only 3rd of wages counted plus allowed to earn £20 first so £60 is counted as £20 legal earnings limit.

Have you tried contacting your local council as we just been given further funding as shortage of childcare spaces in some areas also can you become accreddited, or do social services work? I find this can greatly improve your income I also take on teenage parents through care to learn all these schemes are so sought after often better paid good string to your bow and put you in good position to receive extra funding

Sorry Busymum - although I am a childminder, I do it different

I operate a group setting and have other childminders come in and we work together

I am the boss & I pay them

We are almost at the everyone cuts their hours point or Katymac goes & gets a job point

Social services won't touch childminders round here we need to register as foster parents & we only have 2 bedrooms so can't

There are solutions (see para 4) I just don't like them

So I whinge

sorry no ideas then - our social services are using childminders to avoid children being in care system they feel it very valuable parents appreciate last resort hope solution appears soon

The SS thing makes me so cross tbh

I am toying with the shelf stacking idea or admin or actually getting a proper job which would stretch me a bit

& then I play with the babies and go all mushy

Did you find out whether anyone using direct payments is looking for someone (SS can keep their sticky beaks out if so, nothing to do with them).

"& then I play with the babies and go all mushy " Kay {nods sagely}

KM - the hours I work I would end up having a breakdown if I took on more work and am sure you be the same!

That is rubbish about ss - I have a ss placement at the moment, charge the same hourly rate as any other child though but its a little extra income. I would love to foster but we don't have space without a loft extension which we can't afford!

Loft extension - I wish

Oh yes Direct Payments - there is an organisation isn't there

There is a 10 hr working from home admin/data entry

That would help

direct payments is when SS give people money to organise their own care etc. So SS don't provide me with respite but they give me 8 hour s week during the term and 15 hours a week in school holidays cash equivalent. I then pay people direct (I have been paying £7.20 an hour but I think it's just gone up). Sometimes I buy in an extra pair of hands but ds1 also goes regularly to a childminder. She's self-employed and I pay her directly with money provided by SS. They're not involved at all (other than putting the money into my account).

Often people receiving direct payments have a terrible time finding someone who will have the child. I'd contact local parent support groups and let them know you're available for dp work.

My placement is called a sponsored child - child is in private foster care and comes to me 4-7, 4 nights a week, paid for by ss.

The admin/data working from home could be doable KM I guess.

Instead of MN - more profitable

I guess contacting the groups is a good idea - nt a lot of DP's in our area tbh at least not for children

I have to say, changing jobs was the best thing I did.

I suddenly realised, when DD started secondary, that I didn't need to do babies anymore and I wanted my house back. The money was OK for us, but only because DH subsidised it really, with his wages. There came a point when enough was enough. I know your DD is coming up to secondary age Katy, do you think its time for a change?

Work is great. (food shopping is suffering a bit, but hey!) I get up and go out, lookiing posh, with high heels on and I feel important again. I know cming is ridiculously important, but its a different kind of important. I do miss the little ones, but its always a case of 'the grass is greener'.

The major difference is financial though. I get paid the same every month, without fail, without asking or chasing and no worries if I'm off sick.

I bet this isn't very helpful at all, but its food for thought.

Hi mml

Glad you are still enjoying your new job!

I don't want to go yet

& what would I do with my children & my staff (there would be redundancy payments) & my extension (which isn't paid for yet)

I am about to do some paperwork - at 9pm on a Saturday -something is wrong

I stress permanently about when I will find time to do my paperwork, obs, planning and accounts. Weekends are just as stressful as the weekdays when I work.

I think about giving up everyday but can't afford to as I wouldn't be able to afford childcare for my own Dc's in any other job.

I love looking after the mindees, taking them to toddler groups and on days out, craft etc but feel under increasing pressure from EYFS (and one particular parent) to do even more than I already do.

I earn a really good wage from my childminding but I'm permanently knackered, tearful and stressed when they have gone home and of no use to my Dc's whatsoever

People keep reminding me that childminding has to work for you and not the other way round but what do you do - cut down on mindees or cut your hours or like Mo says find a 'proper' job?