i have just given up being a cm. its very hard work, lots of paperwork (mostly if you look after under 5's). its quite hard to split your time between your own kids and other peoples, also your rules (for eg you may let your lo in sit in the kitchen with you while you cook but you wouldnt be able to have 3 los in the kitchen when you cook, are you prepared to either start locking your lo out or have the other los crying to be in because you lo is??) silly things that you may not think about when you are looking at cm.
Also you have to be prepared that you are vulnerable and that you may be the best childminder in the world and doing everything by the book but that doesnt stop parents making complaints, sometimes they can be very nice to your face and then go to ofsted behind your back just because they can or sometimes i think its their own 'guilt' about leaving child.
also be prepared that it takes over your whole house and life!! you find yourself looking at everything practical and to suit everyone else instead of yourself.
its hard just to do things like go to drs app because you cant just take half a day here and there like you can at other jobs because there is no one to fill in for you.
last thing is although it can be good money you may find yourself working a lot more hours, for example 1 child might start at 8 am and go home at 4pm but another may start at 9am and go home at 6pm so you have ended up working 10 hours and as you only charge £3-4 an hour per child (sometimes less if you charge daily rates, fulltime discounts etc.) from 8-9am and 4-6pm you are only earning £3-4 an hour.
sorry if this sounds really harsh. it is a fantastic job but you have to be commited. i think too many people (me included) do this job simply as a good answer to being a sahm aswell as earning.
