Just wondering?

[celdemorg]

I was just wondering what you all did before you all became a childminder, do you miss your old job, ie: friends, a lunchtime etc.

I felt a bit lonely today, just needed someone to talk to about nothing really, I miss my old work colleagues sometimes and I dont get time to see them anymore

I'm enjoying minding and being with my own lo's but I do miss adults and of course gossip!!! Not that I ever gossiped

Anyway, hope you all have a good weekend, me personally am not, as I'll be doing a mountain or ironing the size of Snowdon!!. But next Friday i'll be as I'm off for 2 whole weeks.

xxxx

[caz3007]

I was a pub landlady, in a highly social environment to a sometimes lonely existance.

There are similarities, cos dealing with drunk men is similar to dealing with toddlers

Will be joining you climbing that ironing mountain on Sunday

[Tribe_mummy]

I'll be doing a mountain or ironing the size of Snowdon!!. But next Friday i'll be as I'm off for 2 whole weeks.

xxxx

So glad I am not the only one with an ironing pile this size lol

I used to work as a childminder previously and am looking forwards to do it again as I actually got to see and meet more people when I minded, do you go to groups and things with the LO's? They are great for meeting new people and you can never have too many friends

I did miss my "regular" friends during the working week, but just had to make the effort to see them more at weekends and evenings!

Would rather be childminding than working in retail management as I did before...I NEVER had a social life at all in those days lol

Hope you feel alot happier tomorrow, and from my experience you will never be lonely on here

Jac x

[TheBTeam]

Me, I worked as an Administration Manager for an Investment Banking company, managing the client portfolios and running the department, and then sidelined when i had my first child to work from home as an IT system tester for the same company.

I miss some things about my old job, especially the home based one as i did very little work had loads of free time and a huge salary!

I dont miss the travelling to London and the train journey, I was my own boss largely but had a director above me who was fantastic, and a team under me, that is worse than working with kids!!!!!

[karensmart4]

I worked in a children's nursery, before that I worked as a classroom assistant and in their after school club. Before that I worked in shops and restaurants.

I'm lucky I work with another childminder and if she's off we have an assistant so I'm not normally on my own.

My sister was against me becoming a cm as it can be very isolating, she even got me application forms for different jobs including one for a managers post in Sainsburys.....she's got to be kidding me!!

Do you meet up with other cm's? we do but it's only once a mth for activities with the mindees. We have just started having nights out with other cm's in a 10 mile radius, usualy to an Indian. These nights are a chance to make new friends and let our hair down a bit. We have a good gossip ( we are careful about confidentiality) and a good moan
Perhaps you could suggest this if you don't already do it.

Anytime you fancy a chat, come on here I'm sure someone will be available

Karen

[loocyloo]

i used to be a nanny (and also worked in a nursery for a year at the same time (whilst nanny charges attended !!!)

i loved it, and i loved being able to leave all the mess at someone elses house!

but i don't miss being told what to do and when to do it ( had a nightmare last family! - think that was why i gave up being a nanny to childmind! )

i still do pretty much all the same things i've always done, but this time I'M in charge and do what i want when i want!

[funemnx]

I worked in an office, then had my babies, than Tesco. I liked all my jobs and found childminding lonely at first until I got to know other childminders and mums at toddler groups

[sarah707]

I was an educational audiologist and then worked in typography.

I can't imagine not being a childminder... I love the freedom of choosing what I want to do and where I want to go!

[Stillgoingstrong]

...

[Stillgoingstrong]

Hello everyone,
I was a pole dance teacher. Have a nice weekend

[Donkey]

I worked as a customer relations executive for a telecommunications company.
basically I sat down all day while people ranted and raved at me. hated it!!
pay was fantastic though..

now I get paid to sit in the sunshine (or rain) read stories, make crafts, love it

I go out as much as I can but its still isolating at times. need to broaden my group horizons as I hate doing the same things all the time!

[heatherw]

I worked in a factory for 5 years, a bit boring but the pay was good and got on really well with the people i worked with. Technically i still work for them cus im waiting for my redundancy pay to come through.

[SaijaM]

This is a really interesting post

I used to work in a media agency doing online marketing ... then got my first baby and swooooooooooooooosh - my world changed drastically. I really love my life and being active and don't miss the office one bit!

I've already met so many wonderful people (childminders) in my area and I'm very much looking forward to working closely with them (and perhaps sometimes having a little gossip too!)


I cannot wait xx
Saija

[jaja]

lol, love this thread, i worked with disabled young adults, loved it but then i had my lo and couldnt do both things so started minding been doing this for the past 7 years and never want to stop, took a 6 months secondment working with disabled children through the council and loved the children, didnt like the hours or times and was really glad it ended and the amount of information and courses i have done through that time has proved invaliable.

I had a complament today the new head of school said me and hubby suited having lots of children around us only had 2 mindees and my 2, lol, lol

LOVE THIS JOB xxxxxxx

[moljak]

I 've worked as a cleaner, playgroup leader, creche superviser, nanny.
I'm happy working on my own but make sure I see friends regularly and have a life outside work

[huggableshelly]

I've worked in the following:
Mcdonalds and party entertainer
Nursery
Creche
Lesuire center Drop in care
Porta cabin nursery was the best one ever even though extremly shabby, staff and parents were wonderful
Nanny to 3 children
4 years off as a stay at home Mom
childminder for 6.5 years

now a lazy bum contemplating on what to do next with no real plan of action in place!

[celdemorg]

Glad I started this post now, very interesting and nice to know what you all did before you started childminding.

I used to work in Investments for a very well known High Street/Financial Organistion, I wanted to spend more time with my children but somedays I just feel that I don't iyswim, but I don't think I could ever leave him untill at least he starts school.

There are childminder's where I live and we used to meet up, but everyone just seems to busy to do it anymore. I do go to toddler's/playgroup, and chat to mum's, maybe it's just the juicy goss about co-worker's I miss, I'll just have to start some rumours

Well at least I know your all here if I get lonely somedays and thank you

[nelly]

i was a bus driver for 8 years, before that i used to drive lorrys n then before that post lady.

[wendywu]

I was a beauty therapist, or rather i still am as no one can take away my city and guilds.

[amanda1309]

I was an Analytical Chemist for a major pharmacetucial company.

I don't miss the adult company as I met 8 childminders on my ICP/DHC course and we still see each other 3-4 times a week. All our mindees are a similiar age so we get together to do crafts and activities. (easier with more adults) The mindees ask for each other if they don't see each other for a few days.

The minders I met have become good friends and we socialise together on weekends and even our hubbies now play golf together.