Having a bit of a downer about childminding

[KatyMac]

I work very hard
I make very little money

I enjoy it
Going out to work scares me

I love running my own business
I seem to spend my life working towards goalposts that OFSTED have just moved

I can't make it all balance

I so agree - I am very proud of what I have achieved. I love my all my kids, many who have become little members of my family - but am feeling more and more resentful of the paperwork and extra hours spent on this position with such high expectations for such low income. Also this weekend a "well meaning" realative complained that we don't go to see her very much - I explained I was working a 50 hour week (not including cleaning - paperwork - college work - courses) said well it can't be that hard as kids love the TV and the Wii, and at least I am at home so can get some jobs done and look after my DH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP

p.s I took half term as holiday for the first time in 5 years and have absolutely loved it - lots of self-doubts setting in

p.p.s

I have still spent more than 1 day on my (unpaid) holiday time, catching up on learning Journeys, planning, college work and general "sorting out".

Thanks Rosiegirl

I know it is hard but I try to think of my hourly rate as what I charge times the amount of children I have and that makes me feel better - no job outside childminding could pay me what I earn per hour when I calculate it that way. The paperwork does sometimes get me down, but then when I worked in an office the paper work got me down too, without the freedom I have now to just up and go out when I feel like it, especially when the sun is shining. I watch my mums go off to work and I never feel jealous, I have no boss, my kids see me whenever they are at home, I can go straight away and pick them up when they are ill at school, they can bring friends home when they want and I don't miss one moment of their growing up. No I wouldn't change my job. I do take 3 weeks summer holiday EVERY YEAR, where even if we don't go away, I don't have any minded children. This helps me have time with my own kids and keeps me refreshed and ready for the year ahead. I have a wonderful bunch of parents and children, I keep my paperwork to the very bare minimum and live for the day.

This is why I am moving out of cm'ing.

and going into {gulp} fostering.

I want more family time and I don't mind other kids being here for that.

I can only have two under 5s and charge £2.65ph, so even looking at what I earn overall, still no worth the stress, extra unpiad hours, courses out of my pocket, house being wrecked, parents messing me about, etc.

I will always work with children as I genuinely love to but definately need to wave bye bye to ofsted childminding.

It isn't the hourly rate - I made a loss last year

They just change the rules so much; what is acceptable or good one day is against the rules or forbidden the next

Must admit if I take off my expenses and look at my overall net pay at the end of the year it's not much. My house does resemble a nursery and if I am honest only I get something out of it now. My kids are older and my old man, although he's patient and understanding would much rather I was out at work. I think the rules are changing because everything is new to everyone, ofsted, childminders, parents alike and what works one day doesn'f fit the next. It is all very frustrating but I'm hanging in there for a bit longer. My ofsted is due this month and I am going to see what the outcome is, who knows the decision as to whether to carry on or not could be taken out of my hands on the whim of the inspector. My paperwork is up to date and comprehensive. My kids are all genned up on when to wash their hands, they know what to eat to make them super fit and that they should drink loads of water while she/he is here. They have their own veggie plot in the garden and will be digging on the day, my toys and equipment would put an early years catalogue to shame, all pics on boxes, I risk assess breathing, I log all the babies poos, there are books and mirrors everywhere, tents with cushions to be cosy in, to read or tear the books in (which ever the children choose - free choice). We may fit in a trip to the library, local butchers, look for a policewoman and do a bit of road safety. We might fit in a fire drill, music session and creative painting session. Think I will be ok ??????? Have I forgotton anything ???? Oh and I have observations on my children, mindees, the cat and the two dogs. The rabbit didn't take long he is not meeting the eyfs development matters so I am logging his progress under the early support list.

You have up and downs in this biz. I once had no work for a year, now im earning an embarrassingly great amount.

Hope things pick up for you.

SammyK - Is that the going rate in your area? Im charging £4.50 an hour.

Katy mac, have posted similar thread re ofsted. Love cming hate the stupid ridiculous ofsted hoops.. ama waiting for my inspection to let rip, sorry give feedback to the inspector, that its quite frankly getting ridiculous, I am NOT writing a hand washing policy.. i am just NOT...

Yep going rate some charge slightly more, some charge slightly less. Wish I lived where you do! Very poor area, poverty, low employment and education levels, social deprivation etc where I live, all these factors keep childcare fees low, as does the nurseries popping up everywhere which charge less.

Not feeling much more positive atm tbh

On the plus side (although I fully agree with all the above comments)

• I am home when my DD is home
• I can take her to school and collect her (although I never get a chance to talk to her teachers, or other parents)
• I don't have to employ a childminder
• I can occasionally get washing done during the working day (and then observe physical skills as the children tread it into the grass peg it up)
• I don't have to deal a my boss's hormonal moments
• I don't have to ask permission for holidays

There must be more ....

I have just been on holiday for a whole week over half term, DH has noticed that I am so much more relaxed when I am not thinking about work.

He is sick of me still working at 10pm every night.........I know that a lot of people say there isn't a lot of paperwork with this job, but there is, about an hour a night.

I have decided that I am going to give two families notice, and just spend less.

Katymac - not sure if it would be your cup of tea but how about managing or working in a children's cenre, lots of different roles involved, liaising with children and community, etc. This is what I would do if wasn't going into fostering.

HSMM - I can add negatives toevery one of those positive points, been childminding long enough I think, feel very deflated abut it and a tad jaded.

HSMM - I am at home with my own children too, although they are more and more being told to get on with something because mum is busy and their homework gets left until late at night. (makes me smile when some people worry that childminders look after their children more than mindees) They can't bring their friends home when they want to because it messes with my numbers. I watch the mums of my mindees take a day off but still leave the kids with my so they can have some "me" time - off they go to the gymn, health club, horse riding - god I am so jelous, even if I take a day off (and feel horribly guilty that everyone has to find alternative arrangements) I still have my own children and no childminder to leave them with.

Booh I also took half term off and absolutely loved it, my husband said I was a different person in the evenings. I said I would love to do this job, but not in my own home - which rather defeats the object doesn't it.

Sorry to moan even more guys but I am also feeling rather fed up. I am working towards my NVQ3 in the hope it will open up other opportunities.

Know how you feel RosieGirl, I feel my dd is a bit peeved sometimes at the amount of time I spend with mindees at her expense, shes 9. I used to counteract this by going into town with her every other sat for a pizza, shop and girly time but with the credit crunch and hubbi not currently working I cant do this.
It is a very invasive job isnt it, keep up the study though, what about a nursery post.

Spent the evening laminating - so I feel a bit more enthused (ish)

Thanks guys

i earn £3.20 an hour as i have just one mindee ATM so far this year i have only worked 7 days,
i have had to pay my ofsted yearly fee and my insurance is due next month - i'm keeeping my fingers crossed for more work.

on a positive note -
i love working with pre-schoolers
i like being my own boss
and i've really enjoyed staying at home with my son

so for me the pro's out weigh the con's

KatyMac you sound like a great c/m too me and very professional too.

Paperfreek - I loved your post above! Motto in your house is clearly "Do not stand still otherwise you will be observed, risk assessed, monitored, have labels affixed to you, your poos monitored and your hands wash. Be Warned"

With every job there are positives and negatives.

Yes, the paperwork and ever-changing OFSTED goal posts are frustrating and consume much time. After a 10-12 hour work day I then still have all this to do, and mostly do it on wkends. There are courses I go on in my own time, plus I am studying for my DHC. I don't have kids and our home looks like a nursery.

BUT

There is no contest btwn the so called high profile corporate job I had before, and me being a part of my mindees lives, watching them grow and develop. They bring me such joy.

I am fortunate that I am full, but this can change at any time (only this am a parent told me they might lose their job in April...), that is the risk of having your own business.

I am knackered at the end of the day, but it's a GOOD knackered I am my own boss plus I get to spend the day with these incredible little people.

I started childminding in Sept last year. I must admit that the paper work etc was a lot. It was worth it as I was inspected in Nove and got GOOD.

I have four children of my own and childmind three PART TIME, one of which is over eight. I will choose carefully with the two vacancies I have. Why? my avice to any childminder is dont take on too many children if you feel you cannot manage, even if the money is good. This can cause you to be stressed out, which will mean that you cannot give the best to your own family and to the children you are minding.

Join a good childminding group in your area. This will enable you to talk to other minders as well as the children benefiting from the facilities provided.

Hope that helps!!!

MJ

i am feeling the same. been minding for 8 years. paperwork, no matter what they say, is endless. .....so i dont do it until it is a huge pile and then have to plough through. i dont get the whole obs thing....say im thick, i dont care. i have folders, diaries, posters on walls. its goes on and on. yes, i earn fab money £5.50 per hour and i get paid for 5 weeks holidays a year. but, my kids hate my job i work through most school holidays and they have to amuse themselves....10 and 12, feel constantly guilty about being a bad mum cos im spending all my time being a good cm. and ofsted, well dont even go there....been waiting 4 years for my inspection!! even had the odd nightmare about them.

My younger son invited a best friend over for tea tonight and I forgot about them, they were playing good upstairs and i was totally involved with the kids i mind. The mindees were 'played and fed' and i only remembered my son and his friend as his dad arrived to take him home (not best pleased that he hadn't been fed).

My older son should have been taking his theory driving test today, I know where all my observations, assessments, policies, procedures, risk assessments etc are BUT I DIDNT KNOW WHERE MY SON'S PAPER PART OF HIS LICENCE WAS and he COULDN'T TAKE HIS TEST. I am so sorry I let him down.

I am now on my second half of a bottle of wine and feeling human, not 'outstanding' on all counts as Ofsted has graded me on two occasions, HELP!

Umm Paperfreek how is his license your problem?

Paperfreek, these things happen! You could have forgotten children playing quietly upstairs even if you weren't a childminder.

But a 17 year old's driving licence should really be his problem not yours - why didn't he know where it was? It's his paperwork, so perfectly reasonable that you keep track of YOUR paperwork and he keeps track of his.