My three-year-old, Johnny, suddenly started throwing tantrums and begging me not to take him to daycare. He’d loved it for years, so I assumed it was just a phase—until one morning I snapped and saw real fear in his eyes. That’s when I knew something was wrong.
When I gently asked why he hated daycare, he wouldn’t explain—only begged not to stay for lunch. That scared me enough to take the afternoon off work and show up unannounced during mealtime.
Through the dining room window, I saw a teacher I didn’t recognize forcing food into Johnny’s mouth. He was crying, shaking his head, clearly distressed. She kept insisting he “clean his plate,” even pushing the spoon into his mouth as he choked.
I stormed in and stopped it immediately.
I told her exactly what she was doing wrong—how force-feeding traumatizes children, creates unhealthy relationships with food, and teaches them their boundaries don’t matter. Children aren’t puppets. They deserve respect.
I took Johnny home, comforted him, and promised things would change.
They did.
I spoke with the daycare, monitored lunches for weeks, and the behavior never happened again. Johnny’s tantrums stopped, and his happy spirit returned.
That experience taught me something powerful: when a child’s behavior suddenly changes, it’s communication—not misbehavior. And protecting your child sometimes means speaking up loudly, even when it’s uncomfortable. Respecting children’s boundaries isn’t optional—it’s essential.
