Childminder sick / self employed / deadlines looming, what do you do?

[decaffeinated]

Hello,

Just wondering whether any other mums have any suggestions as to what to do when you're placed in a situation like mine?

My 2nd baby's due in 5 weeks.

I am self employed, and contracted to deliver on a project before the baby's born.

My toddler's poorly, my childminder/nanny's just called to say she won't be able to make this week's care as she too is poorly.

My work isn't the kind of work I can do with a screaming toddfler in the background, and he won't be amused by anything other than me, besides which I don't want to leave him feeling ill without me caring for him.

Yet the deadline for getting my work delivered moves ever nearer, as does having the baby, so I really need to get it done!

I'm so dog tired in the evening I can't think to work, my husband's going to be away this week, so I've not got a lot of support going on.

Does anyone have any coping strategies?

How do you deal with getting work done on time when you're let down by your childminder and you've no back up, and no option for back up (family have their own committments and can't help out)?

I'm assuming something has to give, I'd rather it wasn't me, but I feel really stressed by the whole situation. There's no option for more chilcare than usual next week to catch up, and I can only get so much done in the time I have where my little boy's cared for.

Desperate! Help!

Telly.
Biscuits.
Panicked call to Mother / MIL.

It's crap and there are no easy answers. If your DS really won't settle down for a while in the day, then I guess your only option is working in the evening / late into the night, or letting your client know that you won't be able to deliver.

Husband - I always make sure he is onside when there are tight deadlines and has it pencilled in his diary - so in case of dire emergencies, he can take the time off. If his diary is too tight for the week then I don't take the work on.

No easy answers to this really.

Hi Bramshott,

Done all of the above, no joy. What a nightmare, sometimes wish I wasn't trying to juggle it all!

Thanks for replying though, sounds as though I'm not alone.

how old is your boy?

sometimes my toddler will sit in my office with the portable DVD player and watch a film while I work

sympathies...

does the cm know anther cm who might be able to step in for a few days? not ideal I know but cd give you a bit of time. other than tht can you rationalise a change of deadline and/or end product to the client? if you are thinking on these lines you need to sort that out as soon as possible.

hard to do but also you might find it more productive to spend 2 hours outside in the park exhausting toddler, then do 2 hours work while he/she naps or watches telly (it won't harm!), rather tahn spend 4 hours getting distracted/frustrated at the computer with toddler on your lap.

Thanks morning paper, it's hard at the mo, as husband is just about to take on a bigger workload / change of role at work, so he's pushed too, and his work will now take him away a bit.

I had it all mapped out, but several things have got in the way of getting it all done in good time - childminder hasn't been able to do as many sessions as usual due to other committments I didn't know about, same with MIL, my mum lives 150 miles away.

I guess working into the night is the only way. I think if I wasn't so heavily pregnant, and toddler wasn't having a sleep issue, it would all be a whole lot easier.

MP, he's 22 months. He'll watch in the the night garden til his eyes turn square... might be the only way!

hatowman, I might just ask her. I thinkn I will take him out for a walk, although coz he's poorly, he's not in great spirits for a good ole run around, otherwise that's a great suggestion!

Right, action needed, off into the fresh air to see if I can wear him out somehow and get him to nap...

Wish me luck!

good luck!

These guys are worth a look, you can look up your postcode and find childminders who have spaces even on the morning you need them.

www.emergencychildcare.co.uk/index/index.php

Thanks jimjams! They list the one lady who I've been considering as a possible alternative childminder, so are a useful resource! Emergency over with now, but useful to know for next time (although I'm hoping there wont be one - arrrgh!).

This is what we do:
We are Lithuanian mums. We pay £2-£3 per hour to other mum who comes/drives and takes the kid/s to her home (so she ends up loking after her own and other kids). Its a network of cheap and reliable help. Mums said they saved a fortune! And not only! they said they are not scared to leave the kid with someone they know. Networking and helping is the key in this life and this country when parents and grandarents are not around.You get good people looking after ur kids and no need to complain! You dont need certificate, you dont need license, Its like asking your friend to help you out.

Can you drive to your mum's? And camp out for a week?