Comments on: driving a hard bargain

By: petite

petite — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 21:58:30 +0000

test

By: petite

petite — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 20:24:15 +0000

A very little one. Because she gets one every July anyhow. And Christmas vouchers. And birthday flowers…

By: Bluegrass Mama

Bluegrass Mama — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 19:17:15 +0000

French unions are in a class unto themselves. Glad you were able to work it out in the end.

Did she get a little raise, at least?

By: Jim in Rennes

Jim in Rennes — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 18:27:52 +0000

Well done, Petite. It really does feel like blackmail sometimes – especially with the faceless hordes of other evil (or at least depserate!) parents queueing up behind you. Our friends in Paris struggled with an identical quandary to yours, the Mum basically working to pay a childminder (also North African and highly skilled at negotiation), so she could work, to pay the…etc.
We found much the same here in Rennes, amplified by the fact that my ex wasn’t working full time. And Childminders HATE that! So we were twice dumped by them after agreeing terms, as they found a full-time child!

Then we moved to the absolute middle of the sticks, where we were chased by half a dozen assistantes maternelles, offering reduced rates and sunny gardens to play in!

The Tata we finally chose was amazing and the girls still love to see her and her family at every possible opportunity. And the bonus is that her eldest daughter (now a student in Rennes) is a fabulous and highly convenient babysitter whenever the need arises!

Ah, la vie en Province! I do wonder what my kids’ French accent will sound like to Paisian kids mind you. Ooo-arrr springs to mind.

By: witho

witho — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 17:31:28 +0000

I’m sure céline does not think you treat her badly.

I think the point she’s making is that childminders do play a crucial role in society – she spends 9 hours a day with your child, that is quite a responsibility. I can understand why careful regulation is required but evidently it sounds like an administrative nightmare and one which the childminder has seen as a potential opportunity to squeeze a bit more out of you…

Well, at least you’ve been able to prove your skills in assertiveness!

By: petite

petite — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 17:03:58 +0000

Between us and the other two couples who employ her, she earns £20k / €30k before tax! And the € 8 a day we pay her for entretien does not even cover nappies… We have to provide those.

Do I sound bitter? Maybe I should become a childminder?

By: céline

céline — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 16:38:47 +0000

I must say I’m really happy to hear that childminders have so much bargaining power (in France, at least). One of the things that really annoys me is that in our societies, people who do really crucial jobs (looking after kids, people in caring jobs in general) are undervalued and underpaid while others are paid millions to kick a football or dream up a new slogan. So I really sympathise with the working mum that you are but can’t help thinking that the unions are doing a good thing. Good to hear you found a middle ground with her.

By: Iain

Iain — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 16:02:45 +0000

//her odd interpretation of the clause stating that her daily allowance (for food and equipment) was payable for each day the child was present. She had decided that this was payable for each day the child should theoretically be present.//

That sounds like one of Baldrick’s “cunning plans”! Well done for sticking to your guns.

However, as someone on the other side of the fence (Mrs Iain is a registered childminder) I feel I should point out that there are also a lot of parents out there who have somewhat liberal interpretations of those same contracts.

OK, rant over :wink:

By: Ria

Ria — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 15:58:04 +0000

Poke me if I’m asking a stupid question, but what about creche facilities? How old is Tadpole?