Need help with telling childminder we're leaving (with a twist)!

Sarahlou_2

Hi (not sure if strictly moneysaving!)

We are planning to give my sons childminder 4 weeks notice at the end of this week. He has been there since September. I am changing my working pattern in Sept so I will no longer require her. We are taking him out before summer because, in short, she has messed us around with her holiday dates and various other "niggles".

My son will be attending a holiday club in the summer holidays which has been recommended and is cheaper(which incedently is practically next door to her house )

I'm just really unsure what to tell her and how to word it! My hubby says "stuff it, it's nothing to do with her" (men eh?) - but I think I feel guilty because she'll have no income once we leave as he is her only "mind". She is also a bit of a drama queen which won't help matters...........I also don't want to lie and say I don't need childcare cos she may see me skulking past her house each day en route to the holiday club :rotfl:

Sorry for rambling.....

MrsE_2

Sarahlou wrote: »

Hi (not sure if strictly moneysaving!)

We are planning to give my sons childminder 4 weeks notice at the end of this week. He has been there since September. I am changing my working pattern in Sept so I will no longer require her. We are taking him out before summer because, in short, she has messed us around with her holiday dates and various other "niggles".

My son will be attending a holiday club in the summer holidays which has been recommended and is cheaper(which incedently is practically next door to her house )

I'm just really unsure what to tell her and how to word it! My hubby says "stuff it, it's nothing to do with her" (men eh?) - but I think I feel guilty because she'll have no income once we leave as he is her only "mind". She is also a bit of a drama queen which won't help matters...........I also don't want to lie and say I don't need childcare cos she may see me skulking past her house each day en route to the holiday club :rotfl:

Sorry for rambling.....

Thats your reasons, you won't need her after summer & you have found cheaper till then.

Sarahlou_2

Mrs E - love your answer! I just know when I tell her she'll be off handed with me for the next 4 weeks and tell me she cant afford to go on holiday now etc etc.....I'm weak!

MrsE_2

Sarahlou wrote: »

Mrs E - love your answer! I just know when I tell her she'll be off handed with me for the next 4 weeks and tell me she cant afford to go on holiday now etc etc.....I'm weak!

Thats not your problem.

Tell her if you keep paying her prices YOU won't be able to go on holiday:D

NoAngel

Totally agree, don't feel bad, you're giving her notice and you have perfectily good reason. Not very professional of her to make you feel bad about it and you'll be saving money. (so it is MSE!)

Paparika

agree with everyone else

Tell her here is 4 weeks notice, change of job pattern, childminder no longer needed... end of, no need to say anything else

tiamai_d

And school holiday club was just a way to get him socialising throughout the summer... (if she sees you that is)

minimoneysaver

Totally agree with tiami. That's what I was going to add.

Rachel85

Agree with all the other posters. If you think there might be some agro, I suggest putting it in writing also.

themaccas

I feel for you with this because I have sort of been there. Last spring I wanted DS to go to the afterschool and holiday club but the afterschool was completely full and was told that if I waited til Sept, I might be allocated a space but could use the holiday club. I was a bit stuck so contacted the 3 childminders that did a school pick up at his school but out of 3 only 1 said she might be able to help. I told her it was only for a fixed 3 month period until the summer holiday when i would be using the holiday club and she turned round and refused unless I would commit until October so she could earn money for her holiday. I didn't like the confrontation and being held to ransom so I changed my work hours and turned her offer down. I don't regret it for a moment and neither will you!

skintstudentnurse

Before I started uni I was looking around for afterschool care for my two girls. There was an afterschool club but not at my girls school so it would have meant that my DH would have had to have a late lunch break and used it picking up the girls from school and dropping them to the club.

Anyhow I thought I would contact some childminders, all of them apart from one had no vacancies. She told me that she might have space but we would have to wait as she had other prospective parents coming to see her that day. Fair enough I thought ,she was very pleasant on the phone etc. After some thought me and DH decided to use the afterschool club for various reasons. Phoned the childminder back to tell her... and boy did her attitude change oh she couldn't get me off the phone quick enough. I mean I hadn't even agreed that the girls were going there.

My point in all this is she is running a business, she should act professionally and if she doesn't when you give her notice then you'll know you have made the right decision (as I did with the childminder I came into contact with!).I would think the holiday club would be more flexible anyway,I only had to pay when my girls were going not any retainer fee.