Newbies .

Hi Eloethan, I actually jumped in and had a real go. I don't often get angry but they made my blood boil! One woman said that she wasn't paying a childminder when a woman up the road who was a retired teacher and knew much more about children than a childminder was looking after her children. Childminders were in it for the money. I saw red and said did she realise that this woman wasn't registered and didn't have any insurance or anything if anything happened to her children. Other childminders and Mums joined in and there was a huge row which went on for days.

I earn £3.50 ph. Having said that, parents can't afford to pay a lot of money a week/month for childcare, I do realise that.

I've 'waffled' again.

kitty hopeless aren't they? If I expand the screen I get half a dozen words - if I don't, I can't read.

And me . My iPad has a mind f it's own as regulars know.

I'd have been hounded out ages ago - especially since I got my trendy android phone.

Thankyou

I don't think anyone is too bothered about any mistakes - so please post!

Stansgran I have to say, your earlier post really helped me as I also take ages to get my act together,think and articulate succinctly(and thats probablly spelt wrongly) and then type it....... and if I don't preview,mistakes jump out at me as soon as I post.

I like your suggestion, Stansgran...could even be a sweet pea for summertime newbies.

Perhaps we could have an emoticon for Newbies a green pea would work and then a welcome symbol that means I don't have to do much tedious typing.people rush in with flowers and hugs very speedily and by the time I've got my act together the thread has petered out.

Minder I hope you suggested to those on Netmums slagging off childminders that they are very welcome to have a go themselves if it is so easy and so well paid. I bet everybody going out to work gets a better hourly rate than childminders do.

Thanks Gorki. I've been for the physio and been to see my husband. He looks so old and lost and has lost quite a few teeth.

That's really sad about your friend. I hope she settles, it must be very hard when you are mentally 'with it'.

Enjoy your day off Minder even though you won't have much free time to yourself. I am off to visit a friend who recently went into a nursing home and is not happy about it . She was disabled by a German bomb during the war but is mentally extremely "with it". Having been widowed she can no longer cope.

Morning all,

It's my day off and I woke up at 5:15am. . I've got physio on my back today and then going to see my husband and then my Auntie. It's all good fun when you get to 60 isn't it.

Grannyeggs, tell your daughter not to panic about her ofsted visit. It'll be fine, they are there to help when it's your first visit. She just needs to show them she knows what she's doing. Everyone dreads it and then says oh, it was fine actually

Galen, I witter on too. I call it waffling....

Have a good day everyone

Minder.

Ana re spellcheckers! This post is several days later than yourOP but I use Firebox browser and they give you a spell checker. However mine at present seem to be switched to USA English and I cant quite remember how to go into Firefox options to change it. I need to do a bit of digging to find it again.

I just witter on. (At least that's what DD calls the pearls of wisdom that drop from my lips)
Night all

Thanks Minder ,I have just picked up your post. My daughter is having an Offsted report done next week and is dreading it.As you say,it's much more than just entertaining kids nowadays, but she is so good with children I think she will enjoy it. Am off to bed now

Hi Grannyeggs, fabulous name

Good luck to your daughter, you are right to be proud of her. It's a very demanding job but so rewarding at the same time. The paperwork though...... We seem to be more like teachers these days. I started in 1987 when you just looked after children and you all had 'fun'. I do still have fun with them but so hate all the paperwork we have to do.

With all that's been going on in my life recently I'm waaayyy behind. Haven't looked at it since February and I will be in trouble if Ofsted come to inspect me. I'm well over a year overdue my inspection.

I lived in Herts for many years and a lot of the parents worked in London and had more money coming in. These days I'm in a small market town and they just can't afford to pay hundreds a week. There would be no point going out to work if all their money went on childcare. We really do do a heck of a lot for the money though so it is awful to read comments like I've seen many times on Mumsnet.

I hope your daughter loves minding as much as I have. I'm hoping to start winding down soon, I'm past it ha ha.

Thank you. I really hope to have more time soon to stay around.



Minder

Hello minder, my daughter is just setting up as a childminder, and I'm proud of her, she has had a difficult few years and is now back on her feet. I think your tantrum was justified, how dare they criticise. People moan about how difficult it is to get child care, but seem to not want to pay for it. I hope you stay on GN, you will gain friends here.

Thank you Gorki, sorry, I forgot to say that when I posted just now.

I only came to live in this part of the country 10 years ago and for 6 of those I was caring for my husband so I don't have many close friends really and my family are spread about.

Hi again,

Sorry, I disappeared again. Nonu, I personally didn't think you were critizing newbies at all. and AKA, yes, I'm also a childminder which is why I chose the name.......... In my spare time I like to.......... oh, forgot, I don't have any spare time.... .

I can't go on Netmums anymore, there were some Mums on there a while back who were really slagging off childminders and what 'we do for our money', Suggesting we don't do much to earn the money we get for doing the job It's very rare I have a tantrum but I did then.

I haven't posted much but have felt very welcomed from the replies I've had I have to say.

Minder.

I like to see new names cropping up on threads and in my mind anyone is only new when they first post. I remember being very nervous when I first started, but quickly got into the swing of things and I post on all sorts of topics. I have had so much support and encouragement from gransnetters that now I wonder how I managed without that support previously. Gransnet is mostly although there's an occasional thundery shower, a blast of hot air sometimes, and the odd bit of frost now and again...... but I quite like varied weather.

charleygirl that's brave

Thistledoo please join in

I am a newbie but I put my oar in several times a day!

I've been here for ages but I still feel like a newbie, everyone seems so confident about writing posts. I have been trying to join in much more lately.

For me someone who has posted a few times is an old hand. Especially when they start to welcome new newbies.