Originally Posted by
tiredandemotional
Need to offload and have some advice really about a new child I had start yesterday. The mum threw me in the deep end a bit as she contacted me last week, filled out the paperwork but then implied she would be in touch once she started work. Anyway, she asked me to pick her dd up after school yesterday morning for that afternoon. I hadn't done my usual settling in procedure and 'vetting' especially as the family were new to our school and I'd only met them in passing at the park but felt I couldn't say no. Mum said she would collect at 4pm, so a nice easy hour to start with. Anyway... the daughter (aged 6) was incredibly rude, cocky and 'confident' (think how your own teenage daughter would talk to you, on a bad day!) and, although got on well with my dd was definitely a bad influence on her manners. I had to gently ask her to rephrase things several times but found it hard work as she tended to go off in a sulk or get angry if she was frustrated. She has a complicated home life (I've heard mums life story, several times) and, bless her, her dad died last month and they've pretty much fled Austria where mum is from (although DD is English). So, I was trying to work with her but after a long day with three toddlers, including one with seperation anxiety, and a hectic after school session, it was all a bit much - especially as mum was TWO HOURS late! :angry: She didn't even contact me until I sent a polite text at 5pm asking if she was OK!
It was all so stressful and I can't imagine it getting any easier. I think mum expects a totally flexible service; picking which days to send her (she's self employed) and what hour to pick her up. As a CM I try and be as flexible as I can but I have to work round others and my own family; I have three small children, and I just can't see it working. If the girl is already this over confident with me it can only get worse (although I am quite firm so maybe she'll learn!). I have no idea how to 'sack' this family and am conscious of the bad time they've had recently. There are other CM's in my town but I'd feel bad 'dumping' such a difficult family on them as we're all quite friendly (although they are older and more experienced). I'm also thinking I should give them a chance, but then it will only be harder to turn them down, especially once their contract (which I hadn't even had a chance to draw up yet) kicks in.
Thanks for reading this far and I'd love any advice. xx