Rachel's witham St hughs childminding

Well it has been an exciting week introducing these two new babies into the setting, all the children and families have taken to them so well and love having them in the setting.
They are very playful which the children love and have brought so much fun into the setting!
Welcome Monte and Cleo 😻😻

Well I can’t believe it’s November already! We’ve all had an amazing summer and have introduced some amazing children and their families into my setting.
It’s sad to see children leave, but also amazing to meet new ones too.

As of January I will have a space for an EYFS child on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Please feel free to get in contact if you’d like more information. Xx

Well after a really strange year and last few months these words must ring true to so many mums and dads out there, especially when there hasn’t been soft plays, toddler groups etc to attend.

But please don’t struggle alone, there are many childminders out there who would love to meet other adults so that their children can play with the childminding children at the local park, or surrounding outdoor areas. Even soft plays and toddler groups when they can re-open. Allowing your little one to interact with a small group of children which may not be as daunting, especially if they haven’t been able to interact due to the pandemic, but it also gives you, the parent, time to have a chat with another adult or even ask for any advice or tips on parenting if needed. I’m a parent myself, as well as a childminder and I am no way perfect, but I will always listen and help where I can.

So please, please....... don’t ever be lonely 🙂 # #

Copied from a friend.......
Say bye to my husband as he goes out to work. Take the eldest to school. Just me and the 2 year old again. Alone.

What shall we do today? All alone.
Farm? Soft play? The park? Just us. I wonder if anyone fancies a brew?! But who is there to call?
I’ll just do some jobs, have a brew. What time is it? Shall we head out and get back for dinner? Where shall we go? Just us.

The loneliness creeps in. Should I ring my husband? No he’s busy at work, I mustn’t disturb him. Who shall I message?
I’ll just scroll Facebook and maybe the gram. See if anyone’s about.
Should I message that mum from school? No she’ll be busy. You only know her to chat to, will she even want a brew?

We play some games. Read a book. Shall we watch some telly? I’ll just scroll Facebook again... get some contact with the world. Something other than these 4 walls.

Now it’s dinner time. Maybe someone will be around after school?

Hi are you in this aft? x
No sorry.
Ok x
Why what’s up?
Nothing (not strictly true), was just seeing if you were free for a brew. x
No I’m not sorry.

Hi what you up2?
Just in town.
Ahh ok.
Why?
Just seeing if you were in and fancied a brew.

Are you home?
No I’m at work.

It’s just me, the toddler and these 4 walls today. There’s always tomorrow.
No-one messages, maybe it’s me. Maybe no-one wants to meet us. It’s ok. I’m ok. No adult company today. The loneliness is creeping in.
We pick the eldest up from school. If I’m lucky there might be a parent about for a chat. Only I can’t hold a full conversation as the youngest is clinging off me, running about. I need to keep my eye on her.

We go home and there’s now 2 little voices to contend with.
By the time my husband gets home from work, we’re eating tea. He joins us. We chat about nothing much. I’m exhausted.
Exhausted from being lonely.
There’s always tomorrow for some company.

The days blur. The loneliness sinks in. So much so that even after you’ve had company, you still feel lonely.
You stop asking if people are free. You stick to the 4 walls, your kids and your brew.
It’s the loneliness that numbs my brain. Does it numb anyone else’s? No conversations to make me think, to make my brain whir.

I forget how to interact with people. I can’t make new friends. The ones I’ve got don’t have time to meet up, why would anybody new? It’s ok. I’m ok.

The loneliness sinks deeper into my skin.
There’s always tomorrow.

Well what a crazy year it has been, however my beautiful childminding children and their families have all been amazing. We have all supported each other through lockdowns, school closures etc and we have come out of it still smiling!!
The children have all been amazing and taken all the changes in their stride. They have grown in personalities and their friendship with each other is just amazing. It’s times like this when I realise how lucky I am to work with such wonderful families and by playing a part in their children’s lives makes me truly honoured!

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Make lots of memories and I look forward to welcoming you all back next year!

That also goes to all the other amazing families out there who have got through this year in whatever way they found possible!! You’ve done it, we’ve made it..... well done all. 👏🎉🥂

Well what a crazy year! Lockdown number 2 has commenced but I am so delighted to be able to keep my doors open and welcome the children into my setting.
We have still managed to get out and about to parks, local woods and a favourite one of mine.... daisymaid.
We have had lots of fun being back together again and have even welcomed a new baby into our setting.
As always we have loved making arts and crafts...... here is a snippet of some 😍

Wow what a crazy few months. It’s been the longest but quickest year so far 😳
It’s been a strange one for all of us but luckily it looks like we are coming out of it the other side, and I am so pleased. Children have slowly been returning back to my setting and I absolutely love it. It’s so nice to see their little faces again but also the mummy’s and daddy’s who have made lots of memories and have lots of stories to tell about their ‘lockdown experience’ and don’t worry it’s definitely not all been full of roses for everyone. So if your experiences have maybe been a little ‘testing’ at times don’t worry, we get it!! There has definitely been some ups and downs for us all, but I can honestly say we have all done an amazing job.

One thing I’m proud of is not only keeping my little people alive 😳🙄😬😂, completely home learning and discovering new places to explore, but finally getting the back garden sorted. I’m so pleased with it and love the fact that we can now go out what ever the weather without it being a big muddy puddle.
It’s been lovely seeing the tiddlers enjoying the new area and we’ve all definitely been making the most of the milder weather. ☀️

What a transformation!! We’ve even had a little visitor!

I hope you’re all well and surviving these crazy times. Thinking of you all and hope you’re doing what you can to get through the days in any way possible.
The best way to get through this is to think....... it really doesn’t matter how much home schooling other families are doing compared to you, or how many times your little ones have eaten chicken nuggets and chips for tea, how many films you’ve watched, if you’ve got out your PJs all day or not, if your neighbours haven’t shouted at their kids for weeks or has made the most amazing artwork to put up in their windows compared to how many bottles of wine you’ve consumed!!
None of this matters!! All that matters is how you get though the days in a way that’s right for you, that makes you and your children happy, what keeps you sane!! This won’t last forever, but the memories will so make them count in the best way you can and not by comparing your family to others!!

All I know is I’m missing the tiddlers loads and cannot wait to have them back and hopefully back to some sort of normality, (whatever that looks like).
Stay safe, stay sane and stay smiling 😉

Well I haven’t posted for a while and with all the crazy chaos that’s going on around us, I just wanted to post this for all the families and children out there who I cannot wait to see again when all this is over. I will miss you all, stay safe xx

Happy New a year to you all. I hope you all had a great Christmas and made lots of lovely memories with friends and family.

We had a great Christmas here and enjoyed lots of fun and games and Christmas parties. We also visited an old people’s home and sang Christmas songs to them.

Going into this year I will now be excepting funding for both 2 & 3 year olds. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions regarding this. X

I pinched this off another site as I think it’s just perfect.

Absolutely love my job and the little people and their families 💖

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💙💚💛🧡❤️
An Ode To A Childminder

There was a childminder who lived in a shoe
But being professional, she knew what to do.
She made best use of the space she could spare
And set up her home for family childcare.

She took CPR and First Aid classes, too
And brushed up on all the things that kids like to do.
She advertised, interviewed, contracted with glee
She counted the kids carefully—no more than three.

She fed them good meals and fresh fruit too,
She potty-trained Ben; helped Connor tie his shoe.
Collected art items and made a new batch of clay
And cut out cute pictures for a new theme’s display.

She changed, she bandaged, and she wiped every nose,
She comforted Amy when Murray stepped on her toes.
She cooked and she washed, scrubbing floors, scraping glue,
She recorded attendance; did her book keeping too.

She sent newsletters home about the kids in her care,
Gathered paintings etc, eager to share.
She read to the children while they sat on her lap,
And she sang to them softly when they started to nap.

She helped out at toddlers on a Halloween quest,
She spoon-fed the baby, then got him redressed.
She picked up and dusted when they went out the door,
She updated records, picked up toys, mopped the floor.

She started the laundry, checked the post, made a list
Of the shopping she needed and the chores that she’d missed.
She collapsed in a chair and put up her feet,
Then in came her family wanting something to eat.

She fed them all quickly, heard their stories, gave them hugs,
Then she rapidly washed up all the dishes and mugs.
As the family retired at the end of the day,
She got out some books to plan Mondays play.

She reflects on her day, in her eye there’s a gleam,
For this childminder is developing pride and esteem.
She works a long day and the hours aren’t fair,
But the kids that she works with get quality care.

Their parents commute to their worksites each day,
Concerns about childcare aren’t in their way.
They know that their children are loved and cared for,
By a childminder who plays, encourages and more.

If you live in a big house or even a shoe,
Great is the work that a childminder can do.
Be proud, stand up tall, wear a smile on your face,
You are helping tomorrow be a much better place.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💙💚💛🧡❤️

For all those tired mummy’s and of course daddy’s out there........

What a lovely day visiting Hill Holt woods today. Such a lovely place to take the children. We had such fun exploring the woods and finding out facts about bugs 🐛 🕷 🐜