Fingers crossed!! This parent needs a bloody bollocking. Silly woman. This is totally her doing if this is what she does at home. If she isn't willing to work with you on this, she doesn't deserve you as a daycare provider. I know you say that she is a great parent in other ways but I don't care when she is so disrespectful to you and sabotaging all your hard work and effort that you pour into this kid. I can honestly say that this child may very well be a lost cause and I pray for his sake he grows more interested in nutritious foods as he gets older. In your shoes if he talked back to me I would discipline him, that kind of attitude is out of line. I also wouldn't include his mother on the goings on at daycare surrounding food. Her inclusion is clearly making things worse and in your shoes I wouldn't have any problem telling her to her face even if it cost me the spot, he can't be full time anyway right? If you are in Ontario he should be in full time school