kellsbells
03-06-2008, 07:09 PM
Hi all, I'm just sharing an experience as a new child minder & asking the exprience of some of the pro child minders ;-)
I just moved beg of May, got my first two mindees about 4 weeks ago, Their mum is a dream, pays on time and in advance even when she has extra hours, the kids are wonderful and everything is going great, I then got a call from another mum who came to visit me for me to mind her two boys, I was very relaxed about it all and after a chat and a coffee, I told her I don't mind being flexible (only wants till July, may want holidays but not sure, but wants guarantee places) and off she went having encourage me to drop my fees, not sign a contract and convincing me that I should take one weeks deposit insted of two! Don't ask me how but after chatting and being friendly it all happened too easily.
So I slept on it, Spoke to my mum and she said that I should get it sorted all today before I started tomorrow otherwise I could be in for a bit of a ride with this mother and that I have to be top of these things and be professional about my business, as If I went into a shop and bought something I couldn't banter about the contract or deposit or cost of something but take the goods!
So I spoke to boy's mum today, told her contract has be signed until July and we will review for the holidays although if a contract isn't signed then a place will not be guaranteed for her boys, it took a lot of pursuading as she wasn't going to sign it until I advised her unless she signs I cannot take on her boys, she eventually signed but not without reading through the contract for an hour advising me that "she doesn't usually sign anything as she doesn't like too" I couldn't do anything about the reduced fees/deposit I had already agreed too so didn't mention that but at least I'm starting tomorrow with one weeks deposit and a contract and have safe guarded myself!
I'm just writing this post for the newbees to be warned as after meeting parents, you get along have a coffee and everything seems great, luckily I saw the light before anything could of happened, which is my fault I know, but as my first mother of my first mindees is so relaxed and good about everything I took it for granted that every other parent would be too.
This new mum even said to me, why do I need a pasword protection? and for you to be introduced to other people collecting them? So I advised for child protection and she said "well my children don't need protecting from their own family" - I think you are all getting the picture.......'Difficult' springs to mind
Be aware! and make sure you are very professional when it comes to starting a child, there are all types of parents out there and this was a lesson learned for me, even if she does turn out to be difficult I think I should be ok as I have the backing of the contract and NCMA and have hopefully safe guarded myself :thumbsup:
If any of the more experienced child minders out there have any further advice for me regarding this parent, please feel free to advise me as I want to make sure I've left no loop holes as I'm sure this won't be the end of the 'drama parent' I have completed child record forms and an "all about me" form for each child and sent the mother my policies by e-mail asking her to sign all permission forms and return them to me.
Kellsbells :D
I just moved beg of May, got my first two mindees about 4 weeks ago, Their mum is a dream, pays on time and in advance even when she has extra hours, the kids are wonderful and everything is going great, I then got a call from another mum who came to visit me for me to mind her two boys, I was very relaxed about it all and after a chat and a coffee, I told her I don't mind being flexible (only wants till July, may want holidays but not sure, but wants guarantee places) and off she went having encourage me to drop my fees, not sign a contract and convincing me that I should take one weeks deposit insted of two! Don't ask me how but after chatting and being friendly it all happened too easily.
So I slept on it, Spoke to my mum and she said that I should get it sorted all today before I started tomorrow otherwise I could be in for a bit of a ride with this mother and that I have to be top of these things and be professional about my business, as If I went into a shop and bought something I couldn't banter about the contract or deposit or cost of something but take the goods!
So I spoke to boy's mum today, told her contract has be signed until July and we will review for the holidays although if a contract isn't signed then a place will not be guaranteed for her boys, it took a lot of pursuading as she wasn't going to sign it until I advised her unless she signs I cannot take on her boys, she eventually signed but not without reading through the contract for an hour advising me that "she doesn't usually sign anything as she doesn't like too" I couldn't do anything about the reduced fees/deposit I had already agreed too so didn't mention that but at least I'm starting tomorrow with one weeks deposit and a contract and have safe guarded myself!
I'm just writing this post for the newbees to be warned as after meeting parents, you get along have a coffee and everything seems great, luckily I saw the light before anything could of happened, which is my fault I know, but as my first mother of my first mindees is so relaxed and good about everything I took it for granted that every other parent would be too.
This new mum even said to me, why do I need a pasword protection? and for you to be introduced to other people collecting them? So I advised for child protection and she said "well my children don't need protecting from their own family" - I think you are all getting the picture.......'Difficult' springs to mind
Be aware! and make sure you are very professional when it comes to starting a child, there are all types of parents out there and this was a lesson learned for me, even if she does turn out to be difficult I think I should be ok as I have the backing of the contract and NCMA and have hopefully safe guarded myself :thumbsup:
If any of the more experienced child minders out there have any further advice for me regarding this parent, please feel free to advise me as I want to make sure I've left no loop holes as I'm sure this won't be the end of the 'drama parent' I have completed child record forms and an "all about me" form for each child and sent the mother my policies by e-mail asking her to sign all permission forms and return them to me.
Kellsbells :D