I need some help. Actually, I just kind of need everyone to push me over the edge.

I have a client who I have had before/after since I opened. She is under no contract, no policies. She's older, but not old enough to not count towards my numbers anymore. I just recently did a small rate increase (July 1) to bring her in line with everyone else.

I have 2 clients on mat leave right now. When they both return in November I will be 5 little ones full time. I will no longer have room for my b/a school client.

I know I have to terminate based on numbers alone, and I'm hoping to do it in the next few days so that I'm giving 3 months notice, but it's a hard one. She's friends with my daughter so I'd like to still invite her over for play dates. And truth be told, I don't think mom will be upset, I think she'll just be in panic mode as her hours are very early and very un predictable. Some weeks I have her 3 days a week, some weeks I don't have her at all. Some weeks she's here before 6am and others she's here right until 5:30.

I feel like I'm terminating someone for no reason. But If I keep her I'd have to term an entire full time family. So, I know it doesn't make any sense to keep her, but I don't know how I'm going to explain this to the family. I feel horrible for her, there's no one around my area with my flexibility, and even I'm tighting up on my hours to come in line with everyone else.

Help! How do I do it? How do I do it and not feel horrible for doing it?