Was I right?

[sheeplikessleep]

DH just called to say that our CM isn't yet back from the school run (she rung us last night to ask if we could drop him off an hour later, as she is carrying another child on her back to school, as snow too thick for buggy and too deep for our DS. I was absolutely fine with this).

DH is waiting at CMs now, but just called to say that our DS is playing with another little girl, who is also waiting (in CMs house - the back door was unlocked and our CM always says to knock and walk in). The girls mum offered to sit with them both, to let my DH get to work, until CM gets back, which is very kind of her.

DH thanked her and agreed, but rang me to see what I thought, but I've asked him to go back in to wait for CM. I guess if anything happens, the other mum isn't a CM and I felt uncomfortable. I also don't think our CM would be comfortable either.

I just wondered what others thought?

TIA

If you're not happy leaving him and your DH can stay it's absolutely reasonable.

Am slightly suprised that CMs door is open even when she's not there though!

yikes

A big no no to an unlocked house there might be an intruder waiting in the hall cupboard [dramatic]

And quite right to not leave your child with another parent, a very kind offer of course

I think it depends how well you know the ohter parent.

Sounds like you don't know each other that well, os you did the right thing asking your DH to stay.

Noce of the other mum to offer, though.

We don't know the other parent, although the little girl gets on very well with DS.

My CM lives in a very rural location, where everyone knows everyone and even the neighbours curtains twitch when either DH or myself drop off DS. But yes, I agree, it is the first time I've become aware of her leaving door unlocked, so I will ask her whether it is always open or whether it was just today (as she knew we would be turning up).

It was very nice of the other mum to offer.

Thanks for posting.

i also find it very weird that door was unlocked, unless the mum was there before cm left and asked her to wait till she was back?

assume back door isnt always left unlocked.........

tbh as i didnt know the parent then i would have said no - even though children know each other

I know people who live in rural areas who leave their door unlocked. It's not totally strange. Although I wouldn't do it. Having said that...Ihave gone on the school runhaving left the front door wide open.

I just think it's a bit off for a CM even if everyone else does because of the amount of personal info they have. But no harm done in this case.

Is it not a violation of the CM's insurance policy to leave her door unlocked? I would not like to help myself to someone else's house because if anything like the telly ever did go missing I'd be the number one suspect.

Perhaps the other parent was there before the CM left and the house was not unlocked/unattended.

It is not uncommon for people in rural areas to leave doors unlocked, I have had a time remembering to lock up before I go after we moved!
Yes is a breach of any household insurance for you to leave the house unsecured.

As to the OP, think you done the right thing in asking your partner to stop with your daughter. I presume neither of you know this woman well, although it was very kind of her to offer. Also if something was to happen she is not the CM therefore there will be no insurance, first aid training etc etc.

As to the CM - wowweee - she is trudging through what sounds really deep snow with a child on her back - now thats what i call offering a service beyond the call of duty.

If the other mum arrived before the childminder left, why would she still have her child with her? Surely you go to a childminder to hand your child over to them and not wave them on while you stay at their house with your child.

Perhaps the parent stayed with her daughter in the warmth instead of expecting the minder to stick another on her back? Which incidentally i think a) the minder is absolutely bonkers for doing b) would make the school run quite risky
None of us know if this other woman was an actual client/neighbour/friend etc though. I have left my friend in my house whilst i went of on a (working) school run, a parent has turned up early with their child before I got back but thankfully my friend did not offer to have the mindee, nor did she invite the parent/child in as she felt it was not her place.

I just think it's unlikely as it would defeat the purpose of hiring the CM in the first place. That being said if I knew the other mum, I would probably have left my child with her and gone off to work.

Thanks all for posting, I've only just got back on.

To my knowledge, I think the other mum turned up after CM had left, so I think the door was left unlocked with the house unattended. In hindsight, I wonder if she left it like this, because she knew we were both turning up / cold outside on this one occasion. I am going to ask her about it.

To be honest, the CM seems to know all of the other mums very well (DS has been there just a year) and it is very much a community of everyone knowing everyone.