I'm surprised she made the appointment for July 4th- it is a national holiday after all that young kids usually love. Save for ER doctors and nurses most people don't work if they don't have to (unless they don't celebrate it). It was poor planning on her part but she sounds like she was trying to be flexible and didn't think. With a family she should have not made promises that she might have suspected she couldn't keep.

Both my pdoc and T have young kids and the bottom line is things come up and appointments may be cancelled last minute. It should go happen all the time, however outside of unusual circumstances. There could be some inflexibility with scheduling and time due to childcare as well. My pdoc has to leave on the dot on certain days to pick up his kids- which is of course normal but stinks if you're the last client and running late. Still thats on the client to manage since he's there when he should be. My T on the other hand isn't as organized and was late a lot and often cancelled. With very small children that is the reality, but as they get to school age an organized T should manage their time well. It's just important for them to be straightforward about what they can and cannot do, targeting than offering appointments they may not be able to keep (like on a national holiday). Seeing clients back to back shouldn't be an issue so long as you are getting the time you pay her for. If she needs to take a break that's up to her to manage, which I'm sure she does somehow; that is not for you to worry about.