Hi
I'm a newbie childminder how currently looks after one little 3 yr old boy on a part time basis.
I started looking after him in September when his mum moved into my area after divorcing his father. He was very unruly and I was to be his 5th childminder in the last 2 years!!
It has taken a while but me and L finally got to an understanding about my rules. i.e he walks with me when out (and doesn't run off like he does with mum) He doesn't spit, hit or kick etc....Mum has a very different approach to him than I do. I have discussed it with her but I think she just sees it as something he will grow out of and doesn't really have any type of control over him. She is forever running around the playground after him!
Anyway things have been ok. He settled in well and mum is very pleased as he really likes being with me and even asks to come to mine at weekends!
However the last few days have been horrendous! Yesterday I handed him back at the school gates to mum. Just as I was about to leave to collect my daughter from her class she called me back to ask if we could talk about changing hours (nothing major) I then asked her where L was? He had run off towards to the road. The mum was wearing high heels, so I obviously went chasing after him with her to help her out.
This was seen by the entire school - who probably now think I'm an incapable childminder and didn't realise that I had actually handed him back already!
Then today I picked him up from preschool and he decided he didn't want to leave. He is used to being "manually removed" as his mum puts it, but for obvious reasons this isn't something I can or will do. The entire staff at the preschool came to investigate and it ended up with one of them carrying him out to my car! Again making me look like a bad childminder!
I live in a very small village with only two other childminders who have both been minding for the past 25 years, so I am trying to establish myself. I dont think this is something I'm going to be able to do while I mind him.
When I first started I had quite a few of the parents at the school say that they wanted to talk to me about looking after their children as they wanted to go back to work. Some of them have since commented on how much of a handful he appears to be and the others just avoid talking to me about minding their child again......
I feel like a total failure if I do give up on him but I also feel as though he could be a reason that I am not getting any enquires at all. Being a childminder is all about how you present yourself and how you are seen whilst with the children. The mum has no control over her son and I dont feel as though I can impliment this without her doing the same. Something that she doesn't seem able to do.
If anyone could help I would be much appreciated. I honestly feel like crying at the moment.....
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