Help - all childminders...what would you REALLY appreciate as a leaving gift...???

[JolieGirl]

DS1 leaving CM this week to start preschool. He has been with her 18 months and she is fab, he is immensely fond of her and vice versa. Really want to say thank you and buy her something she would appreciate. Is this the 'done thing' first off??!!

If so, then I am stuck. I don't really know much about her personal life ie hobbies or interests, she is married with 4 kids of her own so that takes up all her time I imagine. I would say she is not bothered by the fancy things in life, but then nor do I want to go down the bottle wine/chocs/hand cream route. Bit yawny. Budget up to £50 ish. Any bright ideas?

JolieGirl - I have been racking my brains about this too. DD is about to stop going to her childminder (in term-time at least). I was thinking a card, a photo (in a frame? on a mug?) and a maybe some theatre vouchers.

Did your DS leave today? What did you get in the end?

LOL don't blame you MaureenMLove, I am desperately trying to think up an escape for myself too

Nope. None. It was my time anyway. Not just because of EYFS and bloody OFsted rules, but dd is almost 13. She doesn't need me around so much and I was tired of toys and stairgates in my house! I love being out in girl shoes and clothes again. I feel important again. I know and you know, there is nothing more important than nuturing the next generation, but the outside world doesn't recognise CMs as important and it gets you down in the end. I did 12 years. Now I try to nuture the teenagers! Not easy, but equally as rewarding. I saw a lad in the village today from my school and he shouted to me across the street! He was positively gushing to see me! Lovely!

Hewletts, theatre vouchers would be wonderful!