what is the earliest you would start work

[Penny1959]

I start at 6:30 some mornings and I am prepared to start at 5:30 if needed. I am better in the mornings - not so good in the evenings (main issue being restless legs which stop me from sleeping and prevent me from sitting still in evenings).

However all my children are grown up so don't have those mad mornings trying to get own children to school.

The good thing about childminding is that you can choose the hours you work.

Penny

[claire'scherubs]

7am but that really is pushing it, Normal start 7.30am

[Ripeberry]

I start at 7.30am but mindee can come in between 7.30 or 7.50am. The worst bit is having to get my own two up and tomorrow is the first day since the clocks changed.
Thank goodness it's only one day a week at the moment

[mrs.h]

hi,

i wanted to write a thread like this.

i start at 7.30 on a tue and at 7.00 on a wed and fri. tuesdays and fridays i work until 5.30. tuesdays i have two 1 year olds, my two and two after schoolies. i am feeling it and are absolutely exhausted (ds doesn't sleep through which doesn't help). the 7 am starter only stays till 2 and mum can't start work later so if i decide to change my hours, she will terminate the contract.

mrs.h

[babs]

i do 7.30 3 days a week but mindee turns up at 7.10 one day she will catch me in the shower im sure of it

[zillervalley]

i startes at 6pm a few years ago as i looked after prison oficers child and of course they did shifts

start 7-30 at the moment sometimes the parent asks for 7-15 if she has to get the bus

dont mind 7-30

[HomefromHome]

i have done a one off 4.30am start before mindee arrived bundled in her bed duvet (she was 2.5 yrs) and i just laid her on the blow up bed next to the sofa - she fell straight back to sleep and i laid on the sofa next to the bed til 6.30 when i get up anyway. i'm willing to do early starts but then it's just me and dd so no qualms with it.

[clio0602]

My normal start is 7.30 and I do occasional 7am but wouldn't do any earlier unless it was just part time and I needed the money!

[Mollymop]

I used to work from 6.30, 3 days a week for a but a month. I also used to work from 7am, 3 days a week for nearly 2 years. Now I work from 8 or 9am. But I would go back to working for 7am again if it were schoolies who can occupy themselves while I go everything organised in the mornings. Wouldn't do it for a under 3 though.
If you are an early morning person it might suit you well.

[Happy Bunny]

I do 6.30 starts, it ok if it is just a few days but when i get a week of 6.30am to 6pm i am shattered.
I have had 4 weeks of this and to be honest it is now getting too much.

[linda2girls]

I am doing 3 mornings at 7am and there is no way I would do any earlier. I'm not really a morning person.

Linda.

[karen m]

i start at 6 so get up at 5.15 have breakfast ,would start earlier if needed shift workers still need minders but i only have 21 year old at home ,hubby works away and is only home every 6 weeks for a long weekend

[bandlady]

I start at 7.15 two mornings a week and I struggle to get up on these mornings and sometimes only just make it downstairs just as they are arriving.

When I first started minding it never bothered me doing early starts as my own children were early risers but over the years I am finding it more and more difficult to get up in the morning. Out of choice I wouldn't start before 9 and I wouldn't do school runs but needs must and the right opportunity never seems to occur at the right time.

Denise

[The Juggler]

i have done 6.45 in the past but I struggle with my 7.30 at the mo

[crazyhazy]

I start at 7am every week day and wouldn't consider any earlier than that, I'm not a morning person so struggle as it is, plus quite often me being up wakes my own girls up when it's a bit early for them so I end up with grumpy children so would hate for it to be even earlier.

[janminder]

I start 3 days a week at 7am, the earliest regular one in the past was 6.30am and I once did 6 weeks with some 4.30am starts whilst one parent was working abroad and the other had business trips which were long distance. I normally awake at 5.30 when my hubby leaves for work but stay in bed for an hour or so of broken sleep.

[grindal]

I start at 8am and 7.45am on Mondays. Last year I started at 7.30am - and the extra half hour makes so much difference. I am much calmer and more prepared in the mornings and have DS1 and 2 up and dressed and everything ready for school and playgroup before mindees arrive.

I am also blessed with really considerate parents this year - one sits in her car with mindee if she arrives before 8am, and I have seen the other walking up and down the road if he is early

[mrs lilly]

used to be 8 am but begrudgingly I gave in and he 1 at 7.45 - which although is only 15 mins I don't like. However I only work term time so its swings and roundabouts as since they are teachers they all pay me 1/2 rate during the school holidays! So I do a 7.45 start as it is worth my while to have 14 weeks paid holiday

[wendywu]

7.30 for a regular contract

[mama2three]

mm , what time I start work , and what time mindees arrive are 2 different things. It can take me a full hour to set everything up , displays etc , quick checks , so mindee starts at 7 but I start at 6!