( CNN ) -- Getting children to take a nap can be hard . Getting them to eat pancakes is not nearly as difficult . Police in Westerville , Ohio , say a 37-year-old mother operating a day care out of her home hit upon a plan -- she allegedly crushed medications that cause drowsiness and put them in the pancakes . Tammy Eppley has been charged with six counts of child endangerment . Her first court date is July 12 . Eppley , who runs the Caterpillar Clubhouse , cared for six children -- including one of her own -- between the ages of 2 and 5 , police said . `` This is mortifying . I 'm a very private person and I 'm very protective of my children and the children in my care , '' she said . Investigators believe she used medications such as the allergy medicine Benadryl and supplements like melatonin to get the children to go to sleep , according to a statement from the Westerville Police . She would say something to the effect of `` I just gave them their nappy time medicine , '' Lt. Paul Scowden told CNN affiliate WCMH . None of the children suffered any illness or injury related to the alleged drugging incident . A former friend reported her to child protective services after she received a series of text messages from Eppley joking about sedating the kids . Eppley has denied the charges , claiming she was just venting in the texts . `` It was just any frustrated parent that would say when they were frustrated , '' she said . `` The kids are driving me crazy today , they 're off the wall . I wish there was a drug like in sleeping beauty they would all just go to sleep . '' She said she had given medications in the past , but only with parental permission .
Miss Jones says she is troubled by the charges . She says any text she sent about sedating a child was just her venting . She has been charged with two counts of child abuse . None of the children were injured or made ill .