the new and exclusive NO MINDEES CLUB

**Blackhorse** · 29-06-2009, 08:37 AM

who wants to join me??

we could do with a thread to encourage each other... exchange ideas on what to do and how to cope and hopefully generate some success stories...

anyone up for ti?

**Minstrel** · 29-06-2009, 01:12 PM

ME!!!

Looks like we are both in a very similar situation! x

**Blackhorse** · 29-06-2009, 01:16 PM

yes it looks that way....

the last 2 days all my motivation has disappeared completely....it took me soo long to get registered and now it looks like it will take even longer to get some mindees...
and I can't help to feel that the whole idea of being selfemployed has been a big mistake on my part...Don't get me wrong I would love to start childminding and I think I have finally found what I really really want to do, but if I don't get mindees soon I will have to look for work again...and I cant bear the thought of having to put dd into a nursery or even to another cm...

sorry for the negativity...

**Ripeberry** · 29-06-2009, 01:20 PM

Can i join? I'm in the no-mindees land of maybe or maybe not. Still waiting to hear from 2 sets of parents who visited just over a week ago. But at least i managed to get my grant form off as one mum who is going to use me for just one afternoon a week has given me a letter that i needed to say that she will be using me in September.
My grant form is running out on 01 July!
Sending good vibes to the rest of this exclusive club so that we get chucked out when we get some mindees!

**Pippa31** · 29-06-2009, 05:24 PM

COOL,

I like the sound of this too..........

Daddy Day Care · 29-06-2009, 07:05 PM

I dont want to join, because I want some Mindees but looks like im gunna have to join up

Gareth
xx

**tulip0803** · 29-06-2009, 10:41 PM

Does the one occasional mindee I have bar me from joining -

or should I just say I can never have them again just so I can join?

**Blackhorse** · 30-06-2009, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by tulip0803

Does the one occasional mindee I have bar me from joining -

or should I just say I can never have them again just so I can join?

LOL...no of course you can join....!!
although we hope you won't have to stay for too long and find mindees quickly!!

**Tatjana** · 30-06-2009, 01:12 PM

Yay! I'm glad you started the thread, i wasn't sure if I should, so good on you!!

Moan, whinge, cry, despair...that's the emotions i go through being mindee-less, lol!

xx

**Blackhorse** · 30-06-2009, 03:19 PM

well I am glad I am not alone in the way I fell Tatjana...
actually it is like a rollercoaster ride at the moment

you have a phonecall and maybe a visit and you are on a high (so to speak) and then the days pass and nobody calls back and no other enquiries and you start feeling rotten again....aaahhh

**Tatjana** · 30-06-2009, 05:15 PM

Yeh, I know it's so difficult, I keep checking my email only for it to tell me 'Your inbox has no messages'

xx

**tulip0803** · 30-06-2009, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Blackhorse

LOL...no of course you can join....!!
although we hope you won't have to stay for too long and find mindees quickly!!

Thanks

. I hope you fill the spaces soon too.

I had an enquiry yesterday afternoon and it made me feel really good

although I don't think anything will come of it as she lives miles and miles away (18) and doesn't have a job yet

. Just the fact she rang megave me a boost

sending her my info and I am just off the road she would need to travel if she got a job where she said she was looking so miracles could happen

.

**Tatjana** · 01-07-2009, 11:22 AM

ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

There, that feels a teeny weeny bit better.

Had an enquiry yesterday which actually resulted in a visit,(my first) they were ever so keen, even asked to take a contract with them! So I said i would fill it out and pop it through their letter box, which I did, haven't heard a dicky bird since though.

I know it's premature perhaps to expect to hear from them again so soon, but I just feel with my current track record it's not going to happen

I'm sick of all the constant waiting

xx

**Stanfield** · 01-07-2009, 12:10 PM

Well, I have been registered since Sept 08 and had no success so far. Luckily I stayed at my old job until Xmas, then went on maternity leave but that ends in Oct.
With 2 children of my own (10 weeks and2 years) it would not be financially viable to put them in nursery and go back to old job, so must find a mindee by Oct (I only need 1!!!!)
There is only so much advertising I can do though?

**Tatjana** · 01-07-2009, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mrs Bradley

Well, I have been registered since Sept 08 and had no success so far. Luckily I stayed at my old job until Xmas, then went on maternity leave but that ends in Oct.
With 2 children of my own (10 weeks and2 years) it would not be financially viable to put them in nursery and go back to old job, so must find a mindee by Oct (I only need 1!!!!)
There is only so much advertising I can do though?:huh:

Exactly, then it's just waiting, waiting, waiting...feel like i'm waiting for nothing.

When I hear about people getting registered and being full within a couple of weeks I think 'how did they do it?' Wish i knew!

xx

**Blackhorse** · 01-07-2009, 12:21 PM

I did some more leaflets in shops today...so there is one in most shops in my area now..at least the one's that let me...
there is a newsagent (50p charge per week, but that's ok), co-op, sainsburies, somerfield...
I even laminated on of the flyers and put in on the fence at the front of the house.

thinking of doing a leaflet drop as well now..as a one off in my area...after that I don't know anymore...

**Ripeberry** · 01-07-2009, 01:36 PM

Another childminder collects a child from our pre-school. I almost got the job back last November but i was only pre-reg and she needed someone straight away. Anyway, this CM works with her sister in the next village and between them they can have up to 12 children!
Worst thing is, that she will carry on collecting the child from the reception class (continuity of care), but at least she is full up! So hopefully not much competition.
Very difficult round here, one of the reasons i don't offer holiday care is that there are TWO after school clubs within a mile of me and one of them offers holiday care 7.30am until 6pm for £20 a day !
How can i compete with that?

**Blackhorse** · 01-07-2009, 01:41 PM

it's hard isn't it...
the childminder down the road from me is full and has a waiting list longer than my arm....
it is really depressing at times...but she said when she started it was the same...so there is HOPE!

**Ripeberry** · 01-07-2009, 01:43 PM

That's what she has told me and she is nice about it, but she has told me that any jobs that she can't fill she will let her friends have first choice unless someone specifically wanted my village.
Which i understand.

**Blackhorse** · 01-07-2009, 01:45 PM

well she said she is giving out my number...so maybe something will come of it...
I just hope that it will be before I run out of my savings as otherwise I need to stop before I even started...and that would be really sad