whats wrong with me?

[SillyMillysMummy]

Am working today (mindee asleep) and have just been to local soft play. On my way there I see another local childminder with around 10 children! Inside the softplay she meets another 5 ish cm's who between them have 2 full party rooms of children! I just feel as if i am going wrong somewhere I know that these are childminders that have been working for many years, and thats how, but it doesnt make me feel any better. Sorry had to vent Am coming to a point where i may have to give it up and get a normal job, putting my own dd into childcare.

some CMs think nothing of going over their numbers.
some have 2 or 3 children of their own very near or over the 8 year mark.
i know of one CM who would have her lot plus her niece - taking her over her numbers.
some have lots of children in the holidays but not as many during term time.

and sometimes when you are feeling blue, it seems likve everyone else is doing better than you are in your work . i often feel that way. especially around my DS's CM who is just lovely and calm and sweet and kind. (went to university Thursdays so needed childcare for DS and now he loves it so much he will keep on going)

do you go to CM groups? are you part of a network? do you advertise? are your details on FIS (previously CIS0 up to date? do you advertise on netmums?

sorry to ask pedantic questions. i had a very quiet period too, and it will be quiet until Sept if I don't fill my vacancy quickly.

i have no doubt that there is nothing wrong with you.

CIS not CIS0!

I've been like that since xmas - but we're all in the same boat round here. Too many cms and not enough kids. Financially I'm about 700 a month down on same time last year - if mortgage hadn't fallen so much in last few months we wud be in dire straits .

It's free breakfast clubs and discounted wrap around care that's affecting us round here too - local authorities are supposed to help us but we're finding the opposite, it's taking business away instead.

No4, in all fairness I dont really go to cm groups, simply because i feel daft going alone, I have been registered since Nov and currently only earn around £35/week, am about to do my accounts for this year and am scared at how -£ it will be. I am on all the usual websites etc and fis, our nurserys in this area (there are plenty of them) only charge around £22 a day, so I cant really compete on price. I am imo quite good at the marketing thing, i used to work in a professional sales environment, just anything other than what i am doing takes money really. I would love to do a mailshot type excercise but dont know where to start with the distribution (other than posting them myself and i wouldnt be able to get enough done to make a difference). Am just feeling generally down atm

Hi SMM, It's quiet here to and like underpaid I'm down about 700 month too, mine are dropping like flies, lots of shops, factories going out of bis and others cutting workers hours so lost a lot just since Dec, I'm doing some marketing again which is wierd cos I always had a waiting list, don't feel bad it's not personal it's like underpaid said lots of before school stuff at our local schools too which doesn't help. When I started i put posters up in local schools / nurseries / shops / docs etc you will find some are very helpful whereas some basically say get stuffed. I also did some small 1/2 a5 size flyers on my computer and asked the local newsagents if i could pop them in the morning papers (couldn't afford a proper print job or mailing) they were really nice and it was quite good fun getting up at 4.30am lol. Took me about 10wks before I got my first mindees, then I was full within the month and had to get an assistant DH lol. I've just got some flyers done from vista print they look really good got 750 for about 70quid with vat / post inc. going to put in kids school bags after 1/2 term they also have offers on for free bis cards (which are cheep anyway) but you can redesign them dead easily to say what u want would be a good cheep option to do a local mail shot with or hand out at school gates etc. Hope it picks up soon keep smiling

Sillymilly, I would really encourage you to go to CM toddler groups. It took me a while but through that, and through doing the DHC I have met some wonderful CMs whom I enjoy very much.

And of course remember that while you are the only adult in your group, you will be going for the children's sake mainly. They will really enjoy it (well, most of them do!)

I have been minding for just over 3 years and it has only been in the past two years, maybe less, that I have been feeling more confident about what I do.

Please ring your Early Years childminding officer to find out where the local CMs meet or have a look on Netmums in your area.

I hope you're feeling better this evening.

x (how very Netmums!)

I have always found the best way to fill vacancies is word of mouth, get yourself along to CM groups (we are not all scary. Honest!)

working totally alone can b very depressing as well, so if you have other Cm's to go to places with it dos become easier, plus if you know there mindees and visa versa, the parents are often happy for you to take their children on during CM holidays/CM sickness sort of thing, which broadens the range of people that know you and your childcare, this will also get you or work.

Good luck Summer.

hmm yes, i spose i need to get along to the groups then I am generally a very shy person

has anybody ever used a distributon company to deliver leaflets? I would stand no chance of doing any kind a=of amount in my area, there are alot of houses. If you have used a company how much approx?

silly milly , i was like u i worked on my own but over the last year or so i started going to a mums n tots with 2 other cm and now there is 5 off us soon to be 6 we also now have our own minders group ,cover each others holidays,sickness ect and we pass on any phone numbers to each other one off us who just reg was full with in 4 days so go do it u love ie xx

awww are there no friendly local mumsnetter childminder i know there isnt i have asked before

thanks anyways

Where do you live sillymilly

Sunderland

I live in North Tyneside - only 10mins through the Tunnel

We should arrange to meet up sometime, share some tips and have a good whinge . If you want to, please contact me through my profile - will get back to you asap.

Be warned, I may be 'middle-aged' in years but am still 21 in my head, despite the wrinkles and grey hair colourings

ooo yey (((dh warns me that meeting people of the internet is bad ))) will contact you

I've been registered since Jan 09 and i've not had one enquiry. People at the school have said they may use me but it all depends on a new job/familly circumstances blah..blah.
I live in a rural area in between two towns and they have quite a few childminders in each and they are so busy they are turning parents away.
I've been to a few groups but it seems that if you are new then you don't know anything .
I'm down on several "available" lists, i'm the ONLY childminder serving my DD1 and DD2 school and pre-school and still nothing.
Too many people around here have extended famillies with aunties, uncles and grandparents who provide free childcare and also lots of mums look after each others children on their days off.
I'm seen out in the community and i help out at the pre-school and school regularly but people just maybe can't afford us?