What about when your children get older?

[singlewiththree]

At the moment I have

under 5's
2 mindees
1 DD

Between 5-8
1 mindee
1 DD

over 8
1 DD

Now in Sept I will have all my 5-8 spaces filled, two of those with my DD and I will fill up my under 5's.

At the moment I fill the 7 seater car with my own 3 and the mindees, come Sept I will have too many children in the car (unless I can persuade my DD to walk to school!!!) I just feel that I already have 6 children to care for and from September potentially 8 children and it seems such a lot to have on a school run. Is it just because I have a big family? Would you employ an assistant for after school?

I suppose I'm thinking is my children will just keep getting older which would mean I could have 6 mindees and my own 3 making 9 every day.

[Mouse]

I have 5 children of my own. Add in 6 mindees & that's an awful lot of children (not that I ever actually have that many!). Now that my children are older I limit myself to having 3 under 5s and only 1 over 5. I usually have 5 children walking to & from school (my youngest & 4 mindees) which doesn't seem a lot to me as that's only the same amount as my own children. I could happily have a few more without it seeming a lot.

I have a cm friend who will often walk home with anything up to 16 children...now that is a lot! She does it by herself & always seems to manage. I think it's something you get used to doing.

[christine e]

I have 5 children of my own. Add in 6 mindees & that's an awful lot of children (not that I ever actually have that many!). Now that my children are older I limit myself to having 3 under 5s and only 1 over 5. I usually have 5 children walking to & from school (my youngest & 4 mindees) which doesn't seem a lot to me as that's only the same amount as my own children. I could happily have a few more without it seeming a lot.

I have a cm friend who will often walk home with anything up to 16 children...now that is a lot! She does it by herself & always seems to manage. I think it's something you get used to doing.

16 is a lot of children - where does she get insurance from for 16?

I try and keep to 6 children in total that way we can use the car I have in the past had 8 but these days prefer to keep to the 6. My insurance covers me for up to 12.

Cx

[mushpea]

I have 2 children age 9 and 11 and one day of the week i have 7 children to walk home with including them and at the moment thats my limit , you have to go with what you feel happy with and you will reach a number when you look around and think, acutualy, thats enough, I would happily have 2 or 3 more but i dont because my son has social interaction problems and more children would be too much for him.

[singlewiththree]

Its just I get funny looks now when I have the 6 children with the comments how do you cope, I look at them puzzled, its my job! and I always point out that 3 of the children are mine. I know a lot of childminders around here leave some children with their husband so they aren't taking them with them on the school run as it seems to attract negative attention.

[Mouse]

16 is a lot of children - where does she get insurance from for 16?

I try and keep to 6 children in total that way we can use the car I have in the past had 8 but these days prefer to keep to the 6. My insurance covers me for up to 12.

Cx

I'm not sure about the insurance.

I have asked & she says she's checked it out & it's OK as she's registered for lots of children (she has 2 assistants). I do believe her as she does everything by the book. I always thought there was a limit to the number of children you were insured for, but perhaps it's changed. I'm not sure if she's with MM or NCMA. I think they're different.

[jumpinjen]

Its just I get funny looks now when I have the 6 children with the comments how do you cope, I look at them puzzled, its my job! and I always point out that 3 of the children are mine. I know a lot of childminders around here leave some children with their husband so they aren't taking them with them on the school run as it seems to attract negative attention.

I love seeing someone with a bunch of children together, CM or mummy, it just seems right, not negative at all, some people are funny aren't they.... I wouldn't have 16 though... wouldn't fit them in the house!!!!

I don't have a people carrier so don't do school runs in the car so that not a consideration for me!!

jen x

[mumof4]

I often collect 6 children from school plus my own ds but at the moment I leave the little ones with my husband, mainly because of the looks and comments I get from other minders, mums are great and full of admiration usually. Soon though hubby will be working long hours and I will have to take the lot! I have 4 lo`s usually due to variations so taking them and collecting 7 will be interesting!!:eek:

[claire bear 72]

I walk home with 10 after school.......3 under 5 and 3 between 5 and 8 and 4 over 8' s......yes I get funny looks and plenty of remarks but I have been minding for a long time and all the children been with me since they were very small.......they know to hold hands crossing the road and the buddy system for them works really well!!!!! I am very concious of road safety and NEVER listen to other people's remarks!!! lol :D