Back to childminding!

Happy House Childminding

Back in Business

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted but I have been very busy and had lots of changes since the new year. I have tried so many times to write this post but it just kept turning into an autobiography! Basically I just wanted to talk about the fact that I have recently started childminding again after dipping my toes back into teaching for a short time. I was a teacher before I had children, then, when my son was born, I couldn't bear to go back to work so I decided childminding was a good option as it meant I could stay at home and raise my family while still keeping up my skills and earning a wage. I think I always had it in the back of my mind that I would return to teaching one day when my children were older and didn't need me as much

When we moved to Basingstoke in May 2014 I didn't set up as a childminder again as I wanted to help my children settle into the new area and new schools. My daughter was due to start school that September and I realised that that meant I had no more babies at home all day and so maybe it was time to go back to school. To cut a long story short, I started working as a Teaching Assistant doing supply work in my children's school but they didn't have any permanent positions and it got to the point where I needed to earn a more regular wage. I decided to start childminding again about a year ago but then the school offered me more regular work as a Teacher covering maternity leave. However, as much as I loved the school, the children and the wonderful staff, I soon remembered all the down sides to teaching. The stress, the pressure, the long hours, the impact on family-life. I saw the effect it had on the other teachers, especially those with young families. I also realised that my heart was still in childminding. So I started to advertise as a childminder again.

I am really excited about this new beginning. This is the first time I have childminded from our new house and I have much more room here than in the old house. We have a dedicated playroom now (see the blog!) the garden is a bit bigger (although it really needs an overhaul!) and there are so many more green spaces here many of which are even in walking distance. I love the freedom that childminding offers, we can just choose what we want to do according to the weather and the interests of the children. I also love the fact that I can still take my children to school and collect them again. Also I'm able to be with them through the holidays and the fact that I'm childminding means I am more likely to do more exciting things with them whereas when I wasn't working we probably had an awful lot more PJ days than we should have!


So hopefully now, as well as my previous crafty and mummy blogs, there will now be some childminding adventure blogs on here; different activities we have done, places we have been and that kind of thing. So if that floats your boat keep checking back!

Thanks

Elizabeth x