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View Full Version : If you were to give up childminding what would you do?



Jelly Baby
13-12-2012, 10:09 AM
I get ok money for what i do but am finding it all hard work at the moment in terms of the children and unreliability. Haven't had an enquiry in over a year and am feeling like i should look at other options. I have another part time job which has just been chnaged around and doesnt sound very secure but am unsure what else i could do.

So what would you do if you had to give up this job or just got fed up!

eddie
13-12-2012, 10:16 AM
I don't know to be honest. I have worked for myself for 7 years and don't know if I could go back to working for someone else. I would have loved to be a teacher but couldn't afford to do the training. I do think about this because I don't think I want to be doing this job forever. I agree that enquiries are slow for me as well.

heidilunn
13-12-2012, 10:22 AM
if i was to give up nannying i would go into retail.
i worked in a corner shop part time up untill july this year, i was there 2 years and absoloutly loved it!!

sometimes i wonder why im in childcare because retail was so much fun

TNT
13-12-2012, 10:28 AM
I was a teacher for 10 years and I can definately say that I wont be going back to teaching a class of 30 children, or a nursery of 60!!! Ever!!!

I have thought about working in a teaching capacity somewhere else though, maybe at a sure start centre (if they exist by the time I have had enough of childminding) or children with special educationsl needs.

Bear23
13-12-2012, 10:38 AM
If i could afford to i would be a dog walker

I use a dog wealker now and she earns well, but it would be the building it up, couldn't think of anything betterthan walking around the countryside walking my dogs while earning some money.

I am in the position now tho that i earn well, and couldn't afford to risk it all x

little chickee
13-12-2012, 10:41 AM
If I was to give up childminding the only jobs I could see myself wanting to do would be something within a school.
I would quite like to be a dinner lady.

I would be very loathe to have to work during school holidays!
My oldest 2 are nearly 16 and 13 so are old enough to be at home on their own but i wouldn't want that for them all day every day for 4-5 weeks in the summer holidays. My youngest is 9 and although i leave him with his brothers if i am popping out locally i really don't want to have to leave him all day.

And i really like being at home - although i do get lonely.

Mouse
13-12-2012, 10:45 AM
If I gave up childminding I'd open a shop selling all my resources. I seem to have enough to keep me going for a year or two :laughing:

After that I'd still want to work from home and with all the extra space that wouldn't be an issue. I'm not sure what I would do, but whatever it was, I'd have plenty of room to do it :D

little chickee
13-12-2012, 10:46 AM
If i could afford to i would be a dog walker

I use a dog wealker now and she earns well, but it would be the building it up, couldn't think of anything betterthan walking around the countryside walking my dogs while earning some money.

I am in the position now tho that i earn well, and couldn't afford to risk it all x

A friend of mine was recently made redundant and did just that. She also has dogs to stay over at her house. She has been doing it about 6 months now and keeps busy and earning a good wage. Its just biting the bullet though isn't it. She wasn't left with a choice as she was made redundant but i agree it is super hard to actually give up a job to branch out on your own.

Maybe put out a few feelers and see!

Ripeberry
13-12-2012, 10:49 AM
I help out at a local school on a Friday lunchtime as a volunteer but it would be great as a paid job.
I used to home caring for the elderly. But it was quite hard emotional work. I would like to be a helper for the elderly doing shopping or even a home help for a young family.

loocyloo
13-12-2012, 10:53 AM
I'd quite enjoy being a school cook.

But I don't think I could work for anyone. I don't even want a full time assistant to work for me! I like doing my own thing too much. Can't think what else I would do though!

That said, I'd quite like to work with the animals at the local zoo!

adele1985
13-12-2012, 10:54 AM
i was thinking about this last week as im really quiet at the momoent and my only mindee starts school in september next year ans i haventhad any enquiries for ages

i think id want to do a "9 till 5 job" in a shop or something where i can just go and do my job and come home - hopefully it wont come to that tho as i really do love minding just need more kids lol

lilac_dragon
13-12-2012, 10:54 AM
I've done this job for 28 years, and I agree, I don't think I could now work for someone else, especially at my age (going to be 61 in a few days).

I have 2x2yr olds on 3 days a week, 3x2 year olds on Thursdays, and 1x2 year old on Fridays. I have 6 children before school every day and 2 after school every day. So, at the moment my wages are quite good, but it's not always been like that, and in the New Year I will be losing 2 before schoolies. At Easter 1 of my lo goes to Nursery for her free sessions and the other 2 will do the same in Sept, so unless I can fill the places I will be earning peanuts.
This job isn't reliable, has no holiday or sick pay for most of us, and frequently involves working with ungrateful parents (and children).It has high stress levels, lots of paperwork, intrusive inspections of our lives, ways of working, and of our homes. Our homes are not our homes, they are our "settings", our place of work.
At the time of starting this job, I was able to earn a wage while bringing up my own children which was fantastic, and obviously there was a lot less pressure. Now, I have to weigh up the fact that my own children are adults and have children of their own, so if I need a toy or piece of equipment, I can't just use my daughters dolls, or my sons cars or share my childs buggy with other peoples children, I actually have to buy things from scratch.
If I worked in an office or shop, I could walk away from work every evening and not think about it til the next day,, no obs, no planning, no preparation, I'd have a lovely tidy home, sick pay, holiday pay, lower heating bills, less paperwork, no-one raising an eyebrow if I didn''t wash the kitchen floor EVERY day or if I leave last nights washing up in the sink or if I didn't run a duster round until the weekend - it wouldn't be my place of work, it would be my home.
I could read a book that had nothing to do with childcare, leave my sewing and embroidery (which has been packed away for I don't know how many years) laying around with a needle in it and scissors next to it. No potties in my toilet, no stairgates, flowers instead of climbing frames. It would be heaven.
Don't get me wrong, I love my job and always have, and at my time of life it's unrealistic to think that I can change careers, but if I coud do it all again I wouldn't choose this - but then that's the benefit of hindsight isn't it?
If I knew then what I know now....................................

gegele
13-12-2012, 12:09 PM
I'm going to study to be a midwife. I love pregnancy, I'd love to help French speaking mothers to have babies in england, expecting mother who are depressed or at risk pregnancy.. I'm interested in so much I'm not sure where to look.

It's going to cost me an arm and a leg to do the access course and GCSE I need BEFORE even applying to uni but I want it that much. :D

Jelly Baby
13-12-2012, 12:20 PM
Very interesting thanks for the replies!

In answer to my own question i would LOVE to own and run a cattery. There is a massive need for one where i live with only one nearish BUT we rent and so there is no way i think my landlady would appreciate me turning her back garden into a building full of cages!! Can't see it ever happening unless i win enough money to buy my own house with land!

I also clean part time and would love to start this on my own as a business but get put off seeing every van/car/ad advertising the same and worry thats just as unreliable. I used to do part time inbetween looking after the kids on days off but got busy so lost the work.

I cant really do anything else! I used to waitress and did that for 8 years and LOVED my job, wouldn't want to do it now though, however staff changed and i decided the childminding was the right step while my dd was young.

miffy
13-12-2012, 12:31 PM
I think I could learn to enjoy doing nothing! :D

Miffy xx

Toothfairy
13-12-2012, 12:47 PM
My after schoolers will be leaving me to go to secondary school in september and over the next 18m my little Mindee's will be leaving me to start primary school. I'm going to take this opportunity to gradually cut down the Childminding (not taking on anymore as the others leave) and build up my second job which I do at the moment evenings and weekends, into a full time job.

Before childminding I was a Dental Nurse, I worked with a Specialist in Oral Medicine and Dental Inplants (mainly in theatre), I then moved on to be a Practice Manager for two Private dental surgeries before giving up to stay at home with my DD's. In the evenings I also worked for the NHS running an out of hours Dental Emergency Unit (I did this for 20 years).
So with all my Dental experience and contacts, I have teamed up with another Dental collegue and we train dental staff in CQC and CPD. We also go into surgeries which are having financial & staffing problems and turn them around. At the moment I am doing it in the evenings and weekends but as the CMing tails off, I can give more time to this venture and hopefully turn it into a full time job.

Wish me luck :thumbsup:

dette
13-12-2012, 12:57 PM
[QUOTE=



That said, I'd quite like to work with the animals at the local zoo![/QUOTE]

isnt that similar to what we're all doing now..or is that just my house:laughing:

Bananabrain
13-12-2012, 01:05 PM
If I were to give up childminding I would go and live in Ireland with the sheep. By myself preferably. If Christmas doesn't come soon, I may just do that:D:D:D

Jelly Baby
13-12-2012, 01:42 PM
If I were to give up childminding I would go and live in Ireland with the sheep. By myself preferably. If Christmas doesn't come soon, I may just do that:D:D:D

lol!!! sounds interesting!!

Jelly Baby
13-12-2012, 01:43 PM
My after schoolers will be leaving me to go to secondary school in september and over the next 18m my little Mindee's will be leaving me to start primary school. I'm going to take this opportunity to gradually cut down the Childminding (not taking on anymore as the others leave) and build up my second job which I do at the moment evenings and weekends, into a full time job.

Before childminding I was a Dental Nurse, I worked with a Specialist in Oral Medicine and Dental Inplants (mainly in theatre), I then moved on to be a Practice Manager for two Private dental surgeries before giving up to stay at home with my DD's. In the evenings I also worked for the NHS running an out of hours Dental Emergency Unit (I did this for 20 years).
So with all my Dental experience and contacts, I have teamed up with another Dental collegue and we train dental staff in CQC and CPD. We also go into surgeries which are having financial & staffing problems and turn them around. At the moment I am doing it in the evenings and weekends but as the CMing tails off, I can give more time to this venture and hopefully turn it into a full time job.

Wish me luck :thumbsup:

Good luck wish i had something to fall back on x

mrstom
13-12-2012, 01:44 PM
If i could afford to i would be a dog walker

I use a dog wealker now and she earns well, but it would be the building it up, couldn't think of anything betterthan walking around the countryside walking my dogs while earning some money.

I am in the position now tho that i earn well, and couldn't afford to risk it all x

We had a flyer through our door offering dog-walking for £11 per hour. Crazy money!!

mrstom
13-12-2012, 01:48 PM
My after schoolers will be leaving me to go to secondary school in september and over the next 18m my little Mindee's will be leaving me to start primary school. I'm going to take this opportunity to gradually cut down the Childminding (not taking on anymore as the others leave) and build up my second job which I do at the moment evenings and weekends, into a full time job.

Before childminding I was a Dental Nurse, I worked with a Specialist in Oral Medicine and Dental Inplants (mainly in theatre), I then moved on to be a Practice Manager for two Private dental surgeries before giving up to stay at home with my DD's. In the evenings I also worked for the NHS running an out of hours Dental Emergency Unit (I did this for 20 years).
So with all my Dental experience and contacts, I have teamed up with another Dental collegue and we train dental staff in CQC and CPD. We also go into surgeries which are having financial & staffing problems and turn them around. At the moment I am doing it in the evenings and weekends but as the CMing tails off, I can give more time to this venture and hopefully turn it into a full time job.

Wish me luck :thumbsup:

And that's why you're the toothfairy! I love the way people's forum names link in to real life :D

toddlers896
13-12-2012, 01:55 PM
Ive only been a childminder for 10 months and I would hate to go back working for anybody else. Ive got so used to doing my own thing and have
nobody telling me what to do or treating me like an idiot, however saying that I do find all this Early years stuff a nightmare. When I went on my introductory
course I had no idea I had to do all these learning journals etc. I thought that to be a childminder you just looked after children and made sure they were safe. I didnt think i would be acting like a teacher and having sleepless nights. Will i be doing this in a years time??? who knows but I dont know what I would do either. My husband said to me the other night if I did as much paperwork and worked as hard as I do now as a PA i would earn a furtune because i never switch off.

kayz90
13-12-2012, 02:01 PM
I'm feeling the same at the moment, this week i have just been given noticed by a mum with imediate affect a family of 4 children (my biggest income!!!). So gutted iv had them for a year :(
It has left me with what do i do next? when will i get another enquiry through?
And like so many of you have said you enjoy working for yourself and i also have a 4 year old girl whose not at full time school yet, so i want to be there for her.
I'm looking into photography at the moment.

bernesewalking
13-12-2012, 02:38 PM
If I was to give up childminding and the last few months have really made me consider this, I'd love to do what my daughter is training to do and that's a veterinary nurse, I love to hear the stories about all the cute animals she get to cuddle up with and how rewarding it is to send poorly animals home fully recovered. Trouble is she'd love to rehome all the strays that come in too!

Bear23
13-12-2012, 02:39 PM
We had a flyer through our door offering dog-walking for £11 per hour. Crazy money!!

i pay 20 pound for two dogs, for an hour and a half

but if i didn't they would eat my house so technically i am saving money

emma04
13-12-2012, 03:40 PM
I don't know to be honest. I have worked for myself for 7 years and don't know if I could go back to working for someone else. I would have loved to be a teacher but couldn't afford to do the training. I do think about this because I don't think I want to be doing this job forever. I agree that enquiries are slow for me as well.

Im training to be a primary school teacher (should be qualified by the time my dd starts school)

It hasn't cost me a penny yet! I claimed all my costs through Student Finance England. This pays:

My £2000 per year Early Years Degree tuition fees
My £40 (yes £40!) Maths GCSE course (Monday 6.30pm - 9pm)
My £380 science distance learning course
My £380 English language distance learning course

And with some left over for books and to cover my loss of income whilst i do my degree (Mondays 1pm - 6.30pm)

Some of the money will need to be paid back once I am earning over £21k per year and even then, its only about £50 per month.

If you already have GCSE or equivalents graded C or above, you're half way there.

My PGCE will take one academic year (full time) and will start in Sept 2014 (providing i pass all of my exams) - This will be funded by savings/student finance due to no income

I CAN'T WAIT!!:thumbsup:

Bananabrain
13-12-2012, 06:28 PM
Im training to be a primary school teacher (should be qualified by the time my dd starts school)

It hasn't cost me a penny yet! I claimed all my costs through Student Finance England. This pays:

My £2000 per year Early Years Degree tuition fees
My £40 (yes £40!) Maths GCSE course (Monday 6.30pm - 9pm)
My £380 science distance learning course
My £380 English language distance learning course

And with some left over for books and to cover my loss of income whilst i do my degree (Mondays 1pm - 6.30pm)

Some of the money will need to be paid back once I am earning over £21k per year and even then, its only about £50 per month.

If you already have GCSE or equivalents graded C or above, you're half way there.

My PGCE will take one academic year (full time) and will start in Sept 2014 (providing i pass all of my exams) - This will be funded by savings/student finance due to no income

I CAN'T WAIT!!:thumbsup:

You see, I started down this road too. I always wanted to teach primary. Did an access course and started a degree course with a view to teaching. Then the recession/hubs job loss/ tuition fees kicked in.
After 6 years childminding, I have realised that I could not be a teacher. I would have throttled one of the parents by now. And that wouldn't go down too well:D
I couldn't do it and I take my hat off to any one that can.

FussyElmo
13-12-2012, 06:40 PM
Im really ambitious I would be a full time mum and housewife.

I used to want to be a librarian but libraries aren't the same anymore.

Or own tea rooms and have craft sessions there - lottery win needed though :-)

TNT
14-12-2012, 01:48 PM
I just watched a programme about adult babies, would utilise a lot of the skills acquired as a childminder, changing nappies, bottle feeding, bet it would earn more though. One couple even ran their own adult baby nursery.
Hmm

:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing: :laughing::laughing:

mum24
14-12-2012, 02:21 PM
Has anyone else noticed that all the replies involve work that still entails caring for others or animals, or helping others to achieve their potential.

It just goes to show what lovely caring people decide to childmind, rather than become investment bankers, for instance:laughing:

linzi133
14-12-2012, 04:37 PM
I would be a portage home visitor! Having been privileged to have a portage worker for my son it is something I've become very passionate about!!
I volunteer with them 1 morning a week with families who have a toddler with asd..... And it really is the highlight of my week!

silvermist
14-12-2012, 04:43 PM
Ive always wanted to be a window dresser, Id love to do the Christmas windows! xx

Jelly Baby
17-12-2012, 01:48 PM
I just watched a programme about adult babies, would utilise a lot of the skills acquired as a childminder, changing nappies, bottle feeding, bet it would earn more though. One couple even ran their own adult baby nursery.
Hmm

:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing: :laughing::laughing:

Saw this totally freaked me out though!!

oxfordshirecm
17-12-2012, 02:26 PM
Im training to be a primary school teacher (should be qualified by the time my dd starts school)

It hasn't cost me a penny yet! I claimed all my costs through Student Finance England. This pays:

My £2000 per year Early Years Degree tuition fees
My £40 (yes £40!) Maths GCSE course (Monday 6.30pm - 9pm)
My £380 science distance learning course
My £380 English language distance learning course

And with some left over for books and to cover my loss of income whilst i do my degree (Mondays 1pm - 6.30pm)

Some of the money will need to be paid back once I am earning over £21k per year and even then, its only about £50 per month.

If you already have GCSE or equivalents graded C or above, you're half way there.

My PGCE will take one academic year (full time) and will start in Sept 2014 (providing i pass all of my exams) - This will be funded by savings/student finance due to no income

I CAN'T WAIT!!:thumbsup:

Emma04 I would love to become a primary school teacher.... I already have my gcse's nd ave just completed my nvq level 3 ... But I was just wondering are you doing this course full time? If not how long did it take part time? Not sure i could give up childminding to complete it so was wondering if I could do it in the evenings etc?

emma04
18-12-2012, 01:41 PM
Emma04 I would love to become a primary school teacher.... I already have my gcse's nd ave just completed my nvq level 3 ... But I was just wondering are you doing this course full time? If not how long did it take part time? Not sure i could give up childminding to complete it so was wondering if I could do it in the evenings etc?

Im currently in my 2nd years of a 3yr degree. It is classed as full time but i only go to college on a Monday afternoon from 1pm-6pm

You will need a FULL degree at 2:1 honors level before you will be accepted on to a PGCE

The PGCE takes one academic year full time OR two academic years part time - I will be doing mine at Warwick Uni - providing I pass my GCSE's and the entrance interview and the entrance tests!!!



(Having childminded for 5 years and received hell from some parents whilst being paid a measley £3 per hour.....................Im sure i could cope with intollerable parents when in receipt of a better salary! - In reply to another poster:))

oxfordshirecm
18-12-2012, 02:45 PM
Im currently in my 2nd years of a 3yr degree. It is classed as full time but i only go to college on a Monday afternoon from 1pm-6pm

You will need a FULL degree at 2:1 honors level before you will be accepted on to a PGCE

The PGCE takes one academic year full time OR two academic years part time - I will be doing mine at Warwick Uni - providing I pass my GCSE's and the entrance interview and the entrance tests!!!



(Having childminded for 5 years and received hell from some parents whilst being paid a measley £3 per hour.....................Im sure i could cope with intollerable parents when in receipt of a better salary! - In reply to another poster:))

Do you find it hard working full time Nd studying th degree? Is there a lot of work involved?