Upset friend...now I am upset

[Crayola kiddies]

That's a lesson hard learned but you should try to stay away from friends, family, neighbors, and so on it generally doesn't end well. Unless you truly need the income this child provides I would give notice and advertise for the spot. It is impossible to guarantee that children will never get hurt even if you are right there cause kids lash out especially if they don't have verbal skills yet. They push, hit, bite, kick, scratch, pinch, throw toys at, whatever and there's no way you can always intervene before it happens. I think this parent is blowing things out if proportion and perhaps she is trying to upset you so that you will end the arrangement. Maybe it isn't working out so well for them and they think thus is the best way to go about it. Maybe they are the type of parents who try to keep their child in a bubble. Perhaps have an honest conversation with her and let her know that while you enjoy looking after her child you think that this might not be the best situation for your friendship and think she should look for care somewhere else but that you could still have play dates with the children ( space permitting). Good luck

[Dayhome Mamma]

I have learnt the hard way as well to never ever mix business with friends, at least not for very long. (I had taken in one of my friends daughter for 2 months at the last minute as she had landed a job before her daycare start, and that was great, but i let her know early on when she was debating about keeping her daughter here with me instead of the daycare that I really value our friendship and in this business something always comes up so I'd rather not do a longer term) and we are so both glad we did that!
Glad this ones not a super close friend to you. No matter how great they are or how great it seems, somethings always going to come up. I agree with Crayola Kiddies on this one. Mom is totally blowing things out of proportion. Of Course your child is going to get hurt here and there. That's what happens to kids. Especially in group care. I don't see this one ending very good. Would totally prepare to fill the spot and find a replacement and let them go. Especially cause she is on Matt leave, so not a big deal for her. If she thinks she can do a better job then let her do it. She's trying to grow a bubble wrap kid which is just impossible to maintain and achieve.