Comments on: driving a hard bargain http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/ Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:10:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: petite http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2305 petite Fri, 18 Feb 2005 21:58:30 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2305 test test

]]> By: petite http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2293 petite Thu, 17 Feb 2005 20:24:15 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2293 A very little one. Because she gets one every July anyhow. And Christmas vouchers. And birthday flowers... A very little one. Because she gets one every July anyhow. And Christmas vouchers. And birthday flowers…

]]> By: Bluegrass Mama http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2292 Bluegrass Mama Thu, 17 Feb 2005 19:17:15 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2292 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? 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 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2291 Jim in Rennes Thu, 17 Feb 2005 18:27:52 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2291 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. 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 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2290 witho Thu, 17 Feb 2005 17:31:28 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/17/driving-a-hard-bargain/#comment-2290 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! 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!

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