What's your least favourite minding job...

[lizduncan72]

The endless amount of time in a week that i have to man handle car seats in and out of the car.
Car seats go in on a Monday morning but any time i need to go somewhere in the evening with my own kids they have to come out.
Then in the next day, then out, then in..............................!!!!

I counted up once that in a typical week i put them in and take them out up to 20 times a week!
I find it actually quite soul destroying

And having to store 4 carseats in the house cos i wont leave them in the garage in case they get chewed by mice.
Ditto having to store buggies in the house.

Me too!! Need to get a mini bus I think so that car seats can all stay in and I'll still have enough space for my family to fit in as well

[bunyip]

One the one hand, I love walking for leisure and discovery with children when we have lots of time and nowhere in particular to go.

The flip side is, I sometimes find it so frustrating to walk when we need to be somewhere on time. Especially cos I find it really tiring to walk so sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly.

Bunyip's First Law of Motion states:

"A child will always move at a speed inversely proportionate to that speed of travel which is required to arrive on time."
So if you're running early, they race ahead, arrive at school ages before the bell goes, and you have to stand around listening to all the banal playground chat from the yummy mummy set. Conversely, if you're late, cold, wet and in a rush, the lo will drag along like Shakepeare's boy - snail-like.

Bunyip's Second Law of Motion:

"A childminder will never position themselves in an ideal location relative to a child which is in motion."
Walk in front of the child to set the pace and they will either fall behind out of sight/earshot, or have an accident whilst your back is turned. Walk behind a child and they will set an ever-slower pace until you finally realise you've actually stopped moving altogether.

Bunyip's Third Law of Motion:

"A child will never move at a constant speed, but always at an inconvenient one."
This explains why a child will drag slowly along for 1/2 an hour, complaining they're tired, their legs hurt, etc. until within sight of their destination, at which point they will morph into Usain Bolt and sprint off at the speed "K" (where K = that speed which is > twice what a middle-aged CM can manage.) This particularly applies if the final 100m involves a busy road, large crowd or car park.

[lubeam]

One the one hand, I love walking for leisure and discovery with children when we have lots of time and nowhere in particular to go.

The flip side is, I sometimes find it so frustrating to walk when we need to be somewhere on time. Especially cos I find it really tiring to walk so sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly.

Bunyip's First Law of Motion states:
"A child will always move at a speed inversely proportionate to that speed of travel which is required to arrive on time."
So if you're running early, they race ahead, arrive at school ages before the bell goes, and you have to stand around listening to all the banal playground chat from the yummy mummy set. Conversely, if you're late, cold, wet and in a rush, the lo will drag along like Shakepeare's boy - snail-like.

Bunyip's Second Law of Motion:
"A childminder will never position themselves in an ideal location relative to a child which is in motion."
Walk in front of the child to set the pace and they will either fall behind out of sight/earshot, or have an accident whilst your back is turned. Walk behind a child and they will set an ever-slower pace until you finally realise you've actually stopped moving altogether.

Bunyip's Third Law of Motion:
"A child will never move at a constant speed, but always at an inconvenient one."
This explains why a child will drag slowly along for 1/2 an hour, complaining they're tired, their legs hurt, etc. until within sight of their destination, at which point they will morph into Usain Bolt and sprint off at the speed "K" (where K = that speed which is > twice what a middle-aged CM can manage.) This particularly applies if the final 100m involves a busy road, large crowd or car park.

Wish I could like on my phone bunyip, that's made me actually lol

[kellyskidz!]

One the one hand, I love walking for leisure and discovery with children when we have lots of time and nowhere in particular to go.

The flip side is, I sometimes find it so frustrating to walk when we need to be somewhere on time. Especially cos I find it really tiring to walk so sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly.

Bunyip's First Law of Motion states:

"A child will always move at a speed inversely proportionate to that speed of travel which is required to arrive on time."
So if you're running early, they race ahead, arrive at school ages before the bell goes, and you have to stand around listening to all the banal playground chat from the yummy mummy set. Conversely, if you're late, cold, wet and in a rush, the lo will drag along like Shakepeare's boy - snail-like.

Bunyip's Second Law of Motion:

"A childminder will never position themselves in an ideal location relative to a child which is in motion."
Walk in front of the child to set the pace and they will either fall behind out of sight/earshot, or have an accident whilst your back is turned. Walk behind a child and they will set an ever-slower pace until you finally realise you've actually stopped moving altogether.

Bunyip's Third Law of Motion:

"A child will never move at a constant speed, but always at an inconvenient one."
This explains why a child will drag slowly along for 1/2 an hour, complaining they're tired, their legs hurt, etc. until within sight of their destination, at which point they will morph into Usain Bolt and sprint off at the speed "K" (where K = that speed which is > twice what a middle-aged CM can manage.) This particularly applies if the final 100m involves a busy road, large crowd or car park.

Amazingly accurate, especially today!!

[kellyskidz!]

Checking the back of nappies for poo and it being right at the top of the nappy... Hello poo under fingernails. Anyone who has done this must feel my pain.
Worst.part.of.job. We need paying more!!

[smurfette]

Checking the back of nappies for poo and it being right at the top of the nappy... Hello poo under fingernails. Anyone who has done this must feel my pain.
Worst.part.of.job. We need paying more!!

Ugh! Yep been there done that think we would have learnt by now eh?!

[skatie]

One the one hand, I love walking for leisure and discovery with children when we have lots of time and nowhere in particular to go.

The flip side is, I sometimes find it so frustrating to walk when we need to be somewhere on time. Especially cos I find it really tiring to walk so sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly.

Bunyip's First Law of Motion states:
"A child will always move at a speed inversely proportionate to that speed of travel which is required to arrive on time."
So if you're running early, they race ahead, arrive at school ages before the bell goes, and you have to stand around listening to all the banal playground chat from the yummy mummy set. Conversely, if you're late, cold, wet and in a rush, the lo will drag along like Shakepeare's boy - snail-like.

Bunyip's Second Law of Motion:
"A childminder will never position themselves in an ideal location relative to a child which is in motion."
Walk in front of the child to set the pace and they will either fall behind out of sight/earshot, or have an accident whilst your back is turned. Walk behind a child and they will set an ever-slower pace until you finally realise you've actually stopped moving altogether.

Bunyip's Third Law of Motion:
"A child will never move at a constant speed, but always at an inconvenient one."
This explains why a child will drag slowly along for 1/2 an hour, complaining they're tired, their legs hurt, etc. until within sight of their destination, at which point they will morph into Usain Bolt and sprint off at the speed "K" (where K = that speed which is > twice what a middle-aged CM can manage.) This particularly applies if the final 100m involves a busy road, large crowd or car park.

you've hit the nail on the head. It's like trying to herd cats. My favourite is the scatter technique in which they all run off in different directions leaving cm wondering who to abandon in order to rally the troops once again.... Am tempted to get one of those nursery crocodile clips for them all including the 7 year old!

[mrs robbie williams]

Not having a handyman at my beck and call like I did when working in a office, now have to wait dh and he's not the quickest at DIY !!

[manjay]

It has to be car seats for me! They are the bane of my life. Not only do I have to take 6 in and out everyday for my own children but I also collect different children each day after the school run. So although I might have the correct seats for the school run I then don't have the correct ones for all the littlies! Nightmare!

[kellib]

The constant tidying, sweeping floors etc so boring!!

And making food for LO's for it then to get wasted, drives me mad!

[KatieFS]

Jackie I had that today too!!! Snot on my sofa!!!!

[mrs robbie williams]

mindee 19m decided to tip a bowl of baked beans on his head !!!!! he thought it was hilarious - needless to say i didnt

[GI JOE]

got to be getting everyone ready for the morning school drop off.... aaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smurfette]

My kids are off school for next two weeks and you can guarantee my first arrival who is due at 8 won't turn up Til 830,,,
Drives me mad cos I wouldn't have to be up as no school run!!!

[littleguy1]

My least favourite minding job is....changing a never ending supply of poopy nappies and wiping the constant stream of green snot which is ever present at the moment!!

I'm with you on that one its driving me nuts!!! All of mine have been ill on and off since before Christmas!!

[kats]

Same as phoenix, babies with very runny nappies who's parents swear blind they are fine at home and nappies are fine but the minute they arrive with me it starts!!! also parents putting every illness down to teething!!!

[shortstuff]

I dont like having to tell parents that their angels have been an absolute nightmare :-(