Childminder let me down by text!

[pippylongstockings]

Hi

Just wanted some perspective on this. My kids have been off from their CM this week after getting pink eye there on Mon, they were due to go back tomorrow.

I have just got a text from my CM saying "Hi I'm gonna have to miss tomorrow as I'm away vistin my aunt in hospital she's unwell sorry to inconvience you. As usual on monday"

I am really cross.

Why could she not have rung me earlier to let me know ? Why couldn't she arrange to visit tomorrow once I pick the kids up - I could have pick them up early if she had asked. I know I don't know the full story but I have tried to ring and it just goes straight to a/p.

I feel like getting a nanny in for the day and billing my CM for the cost. I can't take any more time off work without serious eye-brow raising by my boss.

yes my mb texts me over stuff as i do to her BUT if it was something as important as me not being able to go in, or her child has gone to hospital etc, then I would call, just as she calls if she wants to ask me to work later

its just common sense and being professional

agree unwell doesnt mean dying

I'm not a fan of using text messages in a professional capasity.

I would let her know that it is not helpful for her to take time off work when you need to be at work and working. That if it happens again you may have to have meetings at work with your boss, this could result in you lossing your job. You understand that she wants to visit her aunt, but can she arrange this with you at a time to suit both of you, then you can be supportive when she needs you to be.

Smeeinit we shall have to agree to disagree.

The fact that her CM treats the children as part of the family (which of course can be a good thing) is completely separate from her CM messing her about in this way. It sounds to me like the CM is almost too familiar and treating the arrangement as a social favour. It's irrespective as to whether she will be paid for the day she takes off today,the OP is paying her generally to care for the children in a professional capacity. And this sort of behaviour and disrespectful communication is IMO very UNprofessional.

Well I still haven't heard from her.

I agree there could be lots of reasons why she couldn't ring - it was an emergency etc.etc. But I do not condsider text the new talk in a work capacity. I can not just text my boss to say I am ill and would not expect others to do so

Yes, on something little like 'Can you bring welly boots tomorrow we are going to the park' but not something like I can't work.

I know that I will have to take time off for the kids being ill & I have some back up for if I have to take time off work - firstly I get paid 5 days emergency leave a year but I have used these. Secondly my DH is self employed so he can sometimes jig stuff around - which he already has had to do this week to cover the pink eye. Thirdly I have obliging In laws who have come over today but I have to leave work at 2.30pm as they have prior commintments plus they are already sitting so I can work tomorrow and my DH can make up the time he has lost this week.

Smeeinit & dmo - as I say I have no problem with my CM, it is my DH that is a little unhappy. Envious I guess is the best way to discribe his feelings. She will often buy them treats like sweets, comics etc which is great but he would prefer treats came from us. Same sort of thing on doing too much - he will often go to pick them up at 5.30pm and find they are not there because they have gone to the woods/shops/park - which he finds annoying because it is the end of an already long day and she is not there at agreed pick up time. And she has several times planned a day out that has resulted in them not having naps or getting dropped home at 7pm because the day has run on too much.
I appreciate that she has other children to consider and if she wishes to to this then great fun for our kids but I guess what he gets narked about is we then get the grumpy/tearful children as a consequence.

pippy, yes i can see that would be extremly annoying her not being there at pick up time,thats really not on. like you say its the end of a long day and for you and DH too. and also returning your dcs at 7pm is also a bit out of order if no notice is given!
the sweets/treats thing i think maybe dh is a tad jealous?!

i have to say though,despite what ive said previously...... i would have expected a call or at the least a text from her by now and would be a bit pissed off,unless of course she has a valid reason.

all you need to say to your cm is not to buy them comics/sweets

and to make suer that if she goes out then she is back at the agreed time

Blondes - sounds easy but if she is buying he son sweets & comics and her grandchildren thatshe cares for too it seems a bit harsh to say our kids can't have anything!

The agreed time thing is something we have raised espcially my DH is self employed and can finish work as earliy as 4pm but again it seems tough on the other kids to say wait in,in case we are able to pick up early. We always try and give her notice if this the case but she hasn't always been contactable or seems to have disregarded the message.

I think you need to arrange a time to sit and talk with her. Tell her your concerns, and see what happens. I wouldn't be happy with this arrangement, although it does sound as though she adores the kids, and keeps them all happy. She just doesn't sound very professional and perhaps this needs to be addressed for you to feel more comfortable, and to avoid this sort of thing happening again.

I wouldnt text my parents if I couldnt work, although they do text me to say the kids aren't coming in because ill or whatever, and I have no problem with them doing this. It is quicker and easier to text with kids around. But I wouldn't do it, if I couldn't work short notice I would always phone, and also offer to arrange back up cover.

Ok the text thing is out of order no question but some people would be extremly gratefull to have someone care for their children as she does yours . Seriously they would think she was the best thing going . How lovely to have someone who is not family looking after your kids and treating them the same as her own . Your husband should seriously wind his neck in and say thank you to her for doing such a good job with his children .

The only time I text my parents is when I send them funny little comments their DS/DD has made during thre day (they love it when I do this!) - imo texts are not for general business use, but many people think it acceptable to text for all kinds of things sadly.