I'm a childminder caring for a 2.5 year old little boy. My working relationship with him is absolutely fine he has been with me for about a year and is happy and settled in my home. My youngest DD has only just started school and mindee is so excited when she comes home to play with him. We attend playgroups etc when he is with me (part-time hours because of Dad's shift patterns) eg 2 days one week & 4 days the next. His Dad is really nice and approachable, always speaks to my own DH and DC when he collects.
The problem is mindees mother, she is very defensive and closed to suggestions eg tonight I struggled to get child's shoes on and suggested he might be having a growth spurt (the 'doodles' shoes were wet & dirty with holes in the toes anyway) but she insisted they were ok sizewise. Also his coat has a broken zip so only the velcro flaps fasten (when he has a coat with him!) I feel I daren't mention that. His buggy is quite grubby & no raincover, doesn't really need it because they only live around the corner but mum always brings him in it!
Mum is a college teacher and is obviously used to being a 'boss'. The irony is we have to show Ofsted we're 'working in partnership with parents' dear EYFS when I praise his progress she ignores me and gushes "clever darling", if I mention something like the above she closes up and makes me feel I'm being negative. Dad is always punctual collecting, Mum turns up on time and then wastes (my) time negotiating to get him in the buggy for anything up to another 10 mins.