My childcare career began years ago. I can pinpoint the moment when it was birthed. Typically I became a childminder when our children were young. It was one of those jobs that made you feel as though you were doing something useful while your children were at school. The pay was not great though. I earned £1 an hour and that was a lot for parents to pay because they had to make twice as much so that they had some left over on Friday after they had paid me.
Did I really make an money though? Of course not. Working with children was done for love then – pretty much as it is now. Although the pay and conditions have improved somewhat!
Minded children needed feeding and watering. Some were dropped off early and needed breakfast, then lunch and then tea. I provided it all. I was not the only one. Many of you from my era did just the same thing, you know you did. It didn’t make any sense whatsoever; especially when you consider that we often had to buy double buggies, stair gates and all manner of safety equipment.
Even so I love it and years later ‘my’ minded children and I still have a special bond.
Step 1 on the Childcare Career ladder was worth every minute.
Filed under: Childminder
