Marla, Johnny’s mother, initially dismissed the three-year-old’s tantrums and pleading with her not to send him to daycare as a passing phase. When his arguments became urgent, however, Marla made the decision to find out, and what she found was heartbreaking and disturbing.
Johnny cried, “No, Mommy, no!” and flung himself to the ground one morning. Exasperated, Marla looked at her watch. She had already missed many days of work that week. Johnny had always enjoyed daycare, but in the last week, he had started to get upset every time it came time to leave.
“Stop it!” Marla’s voice was sharper than she meant to be when she yelled in fury. As soon as she saw the horror in Johnny’s tear-streaked face, she felt guilty. There was a problem.
Kneeling, she drew Johnny onto her lap and rocked him till his tears ceased. She stroked his hair and murmured, “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” “Mom didn’t mean to scream.” Could you explain your reasons for no longer wanting to attend daycare?
“I don’t like it,” Johnny whispered as he held her close.
“Why, honey?” Gently, Marla inquired. “Are the other children being cruel?”
Johnny remained mute but shook his head. He glanced up after a while and said, “Mommy, no lunch? Not having lunch?
Marla scowled, perplexed. “What’s the matter with lunch?”
Johnny didn’t respond, but Marla could see he was nervous. “I’ll pick you up early today, okay?,” she assured her son, determined to find out what was bothering him. Prior to lunch.
Johnny nodded as he entered the daycare, appearing relieved. But Marla couldn’t shake the beseeching glance he shot her before vanishing through the door. There was something wrong, and she had to know what it was.
That day, Marla left work early since her employer, who is also a mother, understood that she needed to attend to a personal matter. Marla chose to stop over unexpectedly during lunchtime to see what was going on, rather than taking Johnny up before lunch as she had promised.
Because of the huge glass windows in the daycare’s dining area, she was able to watch covertly. Marla saw Johnny and the other kids seated at a table as she got closer. Beside him, a woman she didn’t know was sitting with a spoon.
Watching the woman scoop up mashed potatoes and press the spoon to Johnny’s closed lips made Marla’s heart sink. “Suck!” the woman yelled. With tears streaming down his cheeks, Johnny shook his head.
The woman angrily declared, “You will not be allowed to leave this table until you have cleared your plate.” The woman grabbed the opportunity to thrust the spoon in as Johnny opened his mouth to object. His tiny body shook in agony as he coughed and gagged.
Marla had had enough. Her voice pierced the air like a blade as she raced into the dining room. “Leave my son alone!”
The woman’s face went white as she froze. She stumbled, “Parents are not permitted in the dining room.”
Marla, hardly controlling her rage, uttered the words, “They should be.” It is abusive to force food into a child’s mouth. My son is a healthy, active boy, and if he says he’s full, you respect that. You don’t shove food into his mouth and traumatize him.”
As she went on, Marla’s voice became more steady. “This isn’t just outdated.” It is detrimental. A lifetime of bad associations with food, eating disorders, and obesity can result from making a youngster clean their plate. These children are not things that you can manipulate. They are small individuals deserving of dignity.
Red in the face, the woman got up from her seat. “I didn’t mean—”
Marla cut her off. “I’ll see to it that you are held responsible if this occurs again. My son will not be treated this way.”
Marla turned to Johnny, kissed his forehead, and dabbed at his face. “Come on, my love. Let’s go. Mommy promised you a treat.”
That afternoon, Marla sat down with Johnny to reassure him that he was safe. Over the next few weeks, she made it a point to drop in unannounced at different times, including lunch. The daycare staff, now on alert, ensured Johnny—and the other children—were treated with care and respect.
Soon, Johnny’s cheerful demeanor returned, and the morning tantrums stopped. Marla was relieved to see her little boy happy and excited about daycare again.
Lessons from this story:
Children’s boundaries matter. Forcing children to comply against their will can cause emotional harm and erode their trust in authority figures.
Parents should trust their instincts. If something feels off, it’s worth investigating, even if it means disrupting routines.
Respect fosters confidence. Teaching children that their feelings and boundaries are valid helps them grow into secure, self-assured individuals.
Share this story—it’s a reminder of the importance of standing up for what’s right and ensuring children feel safe and valued.
