CM Club: Scared about the future

[KatyMac]

I am very concerned about the future - I think I may have to stop childminding as there are so few children (not yet - but maybe go p/t soon, if more leave)

I was working for a month & I hated it - I ended up ill (I have ME so it wasn't a complete surprise)

I guess I am just concerned about what I would do if I fail

I am also concerned about failing

Dont know what to say except [big hugs].

I suppose we are all under a kind of pressure to succeed and have bills to pay. We cant really think about failing.

Keep your chin up

Thanks - I feel very lost atm & I hate admitting defeat

I think with credit crunch you may find that more women who would have stayed at home go back to work - hence more work for CM's Have you thought about advertising a bit more widely? I was surprised that I had to CIS as I couldn't find any advertised CM's where I live. Best advertising is recommendation though - might be worth asking the parents of your mindees if they know of anyone looking for a cm. Good luck

So far I have children with parents being made redundant, those moving closer to home to access free family childcare combined with several moving to school/nursery all at the same time

I have a website, a reasonable presence on Google, posters in post offices & shops in the villages within 10 miles, village magazines and have even been n the BBC

I think a low number of births plus a local children's centre opening have all had an effect

Hi KM, sorry to hear you are still struggling to find children.

Your work you were doing was office based wasn't it? Would you consider child care careers out of the home? Or would these still affect your ME? {Kay whispers} - I will be looking at Children's Centres for work when ds at school FT.

Hope things start looking up for you soon.

Spottedandstriped - I have found the same as KM re: the credit crunch - childcare seems to be a bill parents cut first/begrudge paying?? Not trying to rile anyone who may read this by saying this - it's just what I have noticed from personal experience.

It should be possible to work part time.As a childminder the advantage in working for yourself is you can choose the hours and turn down hours outside those you choose.So you could just do before and after school.
With your illness it would be difficult but there might be another partime job around
which would fit in for you.It could be a good move to have two part time jobs

Working as a childminder is fine - my me is great and has been for 5 yrs

I tried the 'workplace' & crashed & burned

I guess lots of fresh air, no air con, no flicky lights is the environment I work best in

Some weeks I even do 50 hrs plus - I couldn't manage 20 at work