I don't know if i can carry on cming

[Minstrel]

I'm having a real crisis with the whole thing. Nothing major, but about 50 small things are making me consider jacking the whole thing in.

How do you pull yourselves out of this when you get so down about it? I want to love my job again

[sarah707]

I remind myself of all the reasons why I love working from home - rather than leaving the house at the crack of dawn, dropping my reluctant children off somewhere, dashing to work, having to tell lies if they are ill to get out of work, dealing with office politics and gossip, not getting a lunch break, missing my friends who I meet at the park, rushing around like a loon doing everything at home in the evenings, not having proper home cooked meals because I am too tired after a day at work, not being there to help my children with their homework, being tired all time, not having time to get to appointments, paying tax and NI on the pittance I would earn, working for someone else not me, having to do what I was told all the time even if I disagreed with it...

Then I remember why I love my job, take a deep breath and wait for the better weather.

Sending hugs xx

[FussyElmo]

I remind myself of all the reasons why I love working from home - rather than leaving the house at the crack of dawn, dropping my reluctant children off somewhere, dashing to work, having to tell lies if they are ill to get out of work, dealing with office politics and gossip, not getting a lunch break, missing my friends who I meet at the park, rushing around like a loon doing everything at home in the evenings, not having proper home cooked meals because I am too tired after a day at work, not being there to help my children with their homework, being tired all time, not having time to get to appointments, paying tax and NI on the pittance I would earn, working for someone else not me, having to do what I was told all the time even if I disagreed with it...

Then I remember why I love my job, take a deep breath and wait for the better weather.

Sending hugs xx

Well I dont know about Minstrel but you have made me feel better about why *****mind

[jadavi]

Thank you Sarah - ever the inspiration

[hectors house]

Once you start seeing negative things you generally start seeing lots more - so write down all your negative thoughts, then put them in order of things that annoy you most at the top - then cross out half the list, if they had been that important they would have been at the top. Now start to think about how you can turn those negatives around - if it is a child bothering you then have meeting with parents about behaviour, if it is a parent bothering you - do the same and if you can't resolve the problems warn them you will be giving notice. If you are thinking about giving up then what have you got to lose by speaking out?

Hope you feel more positive soon, I think the last couple of weeks have had a big effect on morale for all of us - I tried to look at the job centre website earlier, but they have changed it and I couldn't make head nor tail of it - so I decided I would have to stick with the job I have!

[Starfish007]

Ha Sarah, you know how to make us feel better! Thank you x

[wellybelly]

Bless you Minstrel, the little things can build up into something massive sometimes. Are you able to get away for a day or two to for some fresh air and deep thinking? Don't rush into a decision until you are sure. Sending hugs xxx

[mrs robbie williams]

i get like this every now and again - but as sarah says there are lots of positives to childminding - yes my house resembles a nursery during the day but come the evening i can sit down more or less when last mindee goes home at 630 and know housework etc is done as ive done it throughout the day - this weather is getting me down big time - roll on the spring and days out at the park with picnic lunches xx im also in the process of writing a list of how to make my day to day life easier you will get through this

[lisbet]

[christine e]

totally agree with everything Sarah has said but take note of her last few words 'wait for the better weather' - I think many of us feel a bit blue this time of year - I know I felt so much better on Monday when I noticed that it was still light at 5 o'clock. I love childminding but do find Jan - Feb quite hard going.

Cx

[Minstrel]

Thank you all so much!

I've gone a bit soft lately and have very much 'give an inch and they'll take a mile' screaming at me constantly. It's making me tough and a bit stroppy at small things and probably the wrong people.

[loocyloo]

i know how you feel.

i'm fighting a bug alongside all the news that is drip drip dripping out, as well as settling a new LO who doesn't want to settle! its been a manic few weeks, with another couple to follow and i so hope i get my 'omph' back at half term! all i want to do at the moment is sleep.

take care, and try and see if you can have a break for a few days. xxx

[AliceK]

A few months ago I thought I was going to be forced to give it up. One morning at that time I was walking back from the morning school run, bumping into all the familiar parents that I see every day, passing the time of day with them, just smiling and saying hello to some. I suddenly realised how much I loved my job, how I love the fact that I know everyone (or so it seems). Then I remembered how much my children especially my DS who has seen the flip side of me going "out" to work love the fact that I can take them and pick them up from school. Now my DD has been referred to even more specialists which means even more hospital appts, I can be there for her, and all the mtgs I need to have with her teachers. I suddenly decided that I will NOT be forced to give it all up, I will fight tooth and nail to keep going. And I have but I now realise how much I love this job and I had forgotten that. It's made me a better childminder and a better parent. Sometimes we need to almost lose something to realise how important it is to us.

xxx

[RuthJ]

Some lovely replies. Hope you feel better about things soon x

[TAZ]

[silvermist]

I bet if you sat down and wrote a list of pros and cons you would have more pros for being a childminder. Sending hugs, hope you feel more positive soon xxxx

[Dionnefp]

It's been really good to read this thread because I've had a really difficult week and questioned whether I'm cut out for this job too.
I'm sure it will be fine. I've not felt very well and some of the children have also been a bit under the weather so it's no surprise we've struggled.
Roll on spring I say.....

[vickylou]

I've been minding 11 years and still have the odd time when I think I've had enough, it's hard when your children are young my youngest is now 12 and things are a lot easier. But last week after a full week of grumpy lo's (both 3'yr olds had injections) really naughty older ones ( windy weather) by Friday I'd had enough but this last week has been much better!! Lol

[bulldog]

Im in exactly the same frame of mind! Ive been looking for something else since Dec, and agree with whoever said that the jobcentre website is a nightmare!
I only have 4children across the week so my income is poor anyhow. I really cant face a house full of children (applaud those who do tho!) but need to make more money somehow!

Top hat for me was learning last week the child ive had longest who my family love to bits will go to nursery in Sept, and guess what?? on the 2 days I have him, so Im just needed to pick up. At the mo i dont do drop offs or pick ups at all, mainly because I love the freedom to be able to go out at 2.30 if i want to and not rush back for school run.
I feel consideration/loyalty just comes from one side, mine!
I know obv its a financial thing and I know I cant blame them but Im still a bit hurt.

Im starting to get on my own nerves being down in the dumps constantly!
Having read Sarahs reply I know there are lots of good points, but I think once you feel like this then everything does seem much worse!

Sorry to moan on!