I think it is great for a parent to be able to budget for the duration of their child's enrollment at daycare knowing that the rate won't increase. This is more than fair to the parent and at the caregivers expense in my opinion. Cost of living increases, minimum wage increases, so it's not "fair" on a parent that the cost of childcare doesn't increase, because the cost of providing childcare DOES increase and that means we make less money. Someone who quabbles at $3 a day needs to check themselves. I understand living on the breadline, but having done daycare in Halton for a number of years, she is also getting childcare at an absolute steal as it is. Good luck finding quality care for less than $45 a day in Burlington or Oakville. Even more the closer you get to Toronto. Each to their own, but I think for the most part, home daycare providers sell themselves short, make a number of self sacrifices in the name of fairness to parents, and in turn are the only ones who suffer. They are looking after their best interests and so should we.

Kudos to you for sticking to your guns. I would interview to fill the spot to be honest. I know you said she was a great parent because she pays on time, but you actually said there have been a number of issues aside from this that you have had to deal with and I don't think that just paying on time constitutes as a good parent. She should do that anyway. This is supposed to be a collaborative agreement and it doesn't quite sound like that from the little info you have given. If you can replace this child then I would do so.