why did you become a childminder?

[peach]

Just curious as to why you decided to become a childminder?

[carebear25]

I did it so I cud b at home with my ds, an it was goin 2 cost me 2 go back 2 work an now ive had dd its the best thing i ever did.

[nokidshere]

I became a childminder after I had had my son (now 12).

It took me 15 years to get pregnant, then, when i returned to work, I was leaving him in one nursery and going to work in another. It seemed a bit pointless after waiting so long for him to leave him to go and look after other peoples children.

[Trouble]

because my dd needed private tutoring and had to pay for it

[Pipsqueak]

Some days - no blooming idea


I sort of fell into it. the lady across the road was a minder and when she was giving up she asked me if i wanted to take on her mindees. I thought why not - so I registered and here I am 9 years later. I worked for about 18months of so and then took a break due to various reasons and then resumed at full throttle - am now accredited, just finishing up my degree, have been a support minder for 4 years, seem to specialise in children with communciation problems and single mums.

I loose my mojo occasionally but all in all i love it

[The Juggler]

went back to work after both my 2 kids. 2nd time had the most lovely CM. I had childcare help with work but was due to finish when he was 5 and started school PLUS CM moved and her getting ds to school was gonna be a mare. Also had been bullied at work for ages (but worked in HR so nowhere to go for help ) was getting depressed and tried and failed to find a job nearer to home so didn't have to commute anymore (live in London) So I looked into registering. Then told my CM. She was one of my ofsted referees on my form. Ds was nearly 5 and dd was 2 1/2.

My CM also had 2nd baby under 2 at same time I registered so think for both of us it all worked out for best. Haven't looked back. Been some tough times but mostly have loved it. In 6 1/2 years have studied for 4 1/2 of them Like Pip, My Level 3 then my degree - but mostly was funded due to being a CM so can't complain.

Thought it would be weird job once both my kdis were at school full time but actually easier as my dd is real challenge but love that I can take them/pick them up from school, be there in the hols and when they are ill. when I was working that often meant cancelling interviews, massive recruitment assessment days which didn't go down well

[Pauline]

It was going to be a temporary thing until my children started school.

'Temporary' seems to have run on a bit

[Trouble]

It was going to be a temporary thing until my children started school.

'Temporary' seems to have run on a bit

[flowerpots]

i registered after having dd, ds had attended nurseries for few years while i worked afer having him and then when dd came along i just couldnt face leaving them anymore (very clingy mummy)

[The Juggler]

It was going to be a temporary thing until my children started school.

'Temporary' seems to have run on a bit

[JulieA]

I was made redundant three weeks before I was due to start maternity leave when pregnant with ds. Constantly told I was good with children, so thought I'd childmind til ds started school. He's almost finished his reception year at school now and in that time I have almost finished NVQ level 3, bcome accredited and am a support/mentor for new childminders.

Trouble is hubby remembers the original conversation where I would go an get a 'proper' job when ds starts school.

[Toothfairy]

Although my eldest DD was grown up and had left home I still had 3 DD's left at home. They were 2.5yrs, 9yrs and 11yrs old. I had worked full time up until then and just decided that I wanted to be around at home for them more, especialy my youngest as I went back to work when she was just 5 weeks old!
The only job I could think of that bought in enough money and still allow me to work from home was Childminding.
I said to myself that I would just do it until my youngest DD started school but nearly 5 yrs later I am still doing it!

[sweets]

i was a nanny for 19 years since leaving college (NNEB). The last family i worked for were great and i stayed for 10 years, started when there little one was 3months old and left when he went to high school. it was a mutaul decision for me to leave, they just didnt need me anymore :-(

i was very much my own boss with them and virtually ran the house, i couldnt face starting with a new family who may have 'told' me what to do.
as i a few friends were minders i saw how the job worked and loved the fact that i wouldnt have to travel to work at unsociable hours! so i registered

that was 3 years ago and i love the job

[PixiePetal]

I was a nanny before - natural progression when I had my own children. Left nannying when 7 months pregnant with DD and registered and working by the time she was 6 months - 16 1/2 years ago!

[Monkey26]

I was a private nanny for a family. When mum had the 4th baby money was a lil tight and at that point they couldn't claim tax credits for using a nanny so asked if i'd consider registering as a CM instead... 4 and a half years later and i'm still here but now only part time xx

[Splodge]

I had been nursing since i left school and had been quite ill with what turned out to be coeliac disease and one or two other little things.

Once i started to feel better became bored and decided to do some retraining and settled on childminding. Thought it would be easier than nursing and a gentle return to the world of work after two years off sick!!!!!!

Not sure what planet i was on as it certainly isn't easier, but i love it, although there are days when i could give it up in a heart beat!!!

[maryp0ppins]

Worked a horrid twilight shift as it fit into hubby's work pattern from when both kids were 3 months old, then his work hours changed & I paid a childminder to have my kids for the half hour loop until hubby picked them up.........

Hated twilight wanted to become a childminder/not have to work till 10pm every blooming evening (especially when the weather was nice cuz it used to make me really knowing they were going for nice walks etc!!

Been minding for just over 4 years.

Like pipsqueak said I also loss my mojo, then realise I am very lucky to still be home when my kids walk through the door (now 12 & 13)

[snufflepuff]

Mainly because I wanted to be at home with my son. It seemed like the obvious choice because my qualifications are in childcare and i'd always worked in childcare- as a nursery nurse and a nanny. Plus it didn't make sense for me to care for other people's children while paying for someone else to look after mine! On nursery nurse wages there's no way I could have afforded childcare anyway!

[Leanne59]

Mainly because I wanted to be at home with my son. It seemed like the obvious choice because my qualifications are in childcare and i'd always worked in childcare- as a nursery nurse and a nanny. Plus it didn't make sense for me to care for other people's children while paying for someone else to look after mine! On nursery nurse wages there's no way I could have afforded childcare anyway!

I was in the same situation as you. I went back to work for 12 months and left to have ds2 and never went back! and then registered when ds2 was 17months.

[peach]

thank you for sharing.
Its nice to here why people registered x

I would love to be a nanny, its what I wanted to do.

I used to help my mum out with her minding as an assistant after I had ds1 I went back to work when he was 9 months old and hated leaving him even if it was with my mum.
After I has ds2 in the jan I thought bugg*r it ill register as a childminder as I didnt want to leave him and ds1 and I have been registed ever since lol

I love it, although I did al;so plan to do it till my ds3 goes to school but he will go soon and Im not ready for giving up lol I even bought my house spech for minding asd its got an extenshion thats perfect lol