Am I being spoilt and any childminders?

Plans_all_plans

MSE part: Can any childminders on here tell me if they'd be likely to accept a child for a one off 2/3 hour slot?

Edited: given lots of info out!

balletshoes

maybe your mum feels she can't cancel the lift to the hospital for her friends because she had already offered before you asked her to visit you and help out?

as to emergency childminders, have a look on your local council's website, ours has a list of emergency childminders you can get details of to contact.

Plans_all_plans

Yes I do see that my mum is in an awkward position with having offered them the lift first.

I suppose I have just been exasperated by the friend's daughter's behaviour in the past and that is possibly clouding my judgement.

Alikay

Yes, I think you are being unreasonable: Your mum has a prior arrangement. It happens to be taking a friend to hospital, but equally it could've been a theatre trip, MOT booking or whatever. She has a right to her own life, and frankly I think the childcare/meeting clash is up to you to sort out. If your OH has no holidays left and you don't have anyone else to take your daughter you'll just have a rearrange your meeting or opt out of it.

I doubt any childminders would take a child for a one off 3 hour period as the child would need settling in etc, but I guess you could give one a call?

andrealm

Maybe the friend's daughter doesn't have room in her car for herself, 2 adults and 2 children. so it may not be possible if she has nobody to look after her children. The children might need picking up from school, or have appointments themselves.

I don't have family to help out, so my dh always tries to save some of his leave for emergencies, like me being ill.

I think there are some childminders that will do one off care, you could ask on your local netmums board, they have a childcare section, where childminders advertise and parents looking for childcare can post.

Is there nobody nearby that you are friendly with, that would do it as a favour?

PudseyDB

Spoilt!

Your mum had already arranged to take her friends before you asked, so she probably doesnt want to let them down.

Also the friends daughter has two young children - who no doubt have car seats. In an average car - these two car seats would go on the back seat leaving little room for two elderly people to get in easily. Or maybe the daughter has to make a trip to school/nursery that day which clashes with the hospital.

Your mum is probably happy to drive there and stay until theyve finished and bring them both home again. For a mum with two young children this would be stressful.

Your own daughter is 4 - if its only for a couple of hours, would it be possible to ask one the mum of one of her friends if she might be able to come over and play. You could offer to look after the friend another day in exchange.

BB1984

Do you have a friend that could come to your house and babysit for a few hours?

Also, your husband should be entitled to take some "special leave" in this sort of scenario, I'd have thought (depending on where he works I guess). It's not a whole day, so can he take some time off and make up the hours?

BB

Plans_all_plans

I have a number of local mum friends, but there is only one I'm friendly enough with to ask to help out in this manner. I will try to find a childminder using the avenues suggested. Opting out of the meeting won't be looked on too favourably (although I might have to) and it can't be rescheduled as people from all over are going to it.

Spendless

Whilst I understand why you are cross, your mum has a prior arrangement. Is the 4yo in nursery or reception? Does the school have an after school club (wrap around care) s/he could attend? Mine does them for 1 off events like this, providing there are spaces. They will even do this for school nursery aged kids, or might as a 1 off if youe xplain the problem. If in private nursery could you ask if you are able to extend your hours that day.
What sort of times are you talking about?

Friendly with any other mums? Can you ask to see if any can help? No neighbours of friend with older teenagers that might want a babysitting job for a few hours?

zfrl

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

My mum has said "no, because she has 2 young children".
...
My mum always makes the assumption that as a mother I'm able to cope with every situation I'm posed with, but that every other mum alive is a complete incompetent who needs to be handled with kid gloves.

I know exactly what you mean about this point! My mum is the same!

Plans_all_plans

It is a lunchtime meeting, so any teenagers we know off will be in school themselves.

Our DD is in a school nursery