A toddler throws a fit and pleads with his mother not to leave for daycare. Concerned, she arrives unexpectedly and is shocked by what she sees.

“No, mommy, please no!” Johnny collapsed onto the ground, yelling loudly. Marla Evans exhaled heavily. Not again! She checked her watch. If he starts another full-blown tantrum, she will be late once more.

She looked at her three-year-old with frustration. Johnny had attended daycare for two years and always enjoyed it. Recently, unexpectedly, he had started causing scenes, begging Marla not to take him.

She had spoken to her pediatrician, who told her that toddlers often go through the “terrible threes.” “Stop it!” Marla heard herself shout, then she noticed the fear in her son’s eyes. Something was wrong.

Marla sat down on the floor next to Johnny and gently pulled him onto her lap. He cried, pressing his tiny face against her chest. She realized this was more than just a tantrum, but she wasn’t sure what was bothering him.

“Gently,” Marla said softly. “I’m sorry. Mommy didn’t mean to get upset.” She held him until his crying subsided and asked softly, “Why don’t you want to go to daycare anymore?”

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Johnny shivered and whispered, “I don’t like it!”

“But why, sweetheart?” Marla asked. “Are the other kids mean?” Johnny refused to respond. Marla sighed. “Mommy has to work, but I promise I’ll pick you up early today, okay?”

Johnny sat upright in her lap. “No lunch?” he asked anxiously. “You won’t get me lunch, mommy?”

The worried mother frowned. What was happening with her son?

Marla dropped Johnny off at daycare, promising to pick him up before lunch. He entered quietly but looked at her pleading, and her heart broke.

She went to work and asked her boss for the afternoon off to handle a personal matter. Luckily, her boss was also a mother and understood.

Marla was determined to find out why Johnny was hesitant to go to daycare. She decided to visit during lunch — not before, as she had promised — but during the meal.

The daycare didn’t allow parents in the play or eating areas, but each room had a large glass window. Marla hoped she could see what was happening inside.

When she arrived, the receptionist said the children were eating. Marla moved to the dining room and looked inside. The children sat at their tables, eating.

There was a woman she didn’t recognize sitting beside Johnny. As Marla watched, the woman picked up Johnny’s spoon, scooped mashed potatoes, and pressed them to his lips. “Eat,” she commanded. Johnny shook his head violently, his mouth shut tight, tears streaking down his face.

“Open your mouth and eat!” the woman snapped. Johnny looked very upset. She yelled, “You sit here until you finish your plate!”

Marla saw a small amount of meat, mashed potatoes, and vegetables left on Johnny’s tray, and she knew her son. He was not an eater, and she never forced him to eat what he didn’t want.

Johnny opened his mouth to protest, and the teacher quickly shoved the spoon inside. Marla saw her son struggle, choke, and cough. That was enough! She pushed the door open and stormed inside.

“Stay away from my son!” she yelled.

The woman looked up, stunned. “Parents aren’t allowed in the dining area,” she said.

“Then they should be,” Marla replied firmly. “Can’t you see Johnny has had enough? He is healthy but not a big eater. Forcing food on a child is traumatic.”

“Making eating a fuss is old-fashioned,” she added. “You should know the link between forcing children and issues like obesity and eating disorders.”

“Kids who feel forced to eat learn bad habits. My son is active and knows when he has had enough. Respect that,” Marla said. “Shoving food into his mouth like that is wrong. Children have their own needs and boundaries.”

“If you ignore that, you teach them they don’t deserve respect. That’s not the message you should send.”

The teacher blushed and stood up sharply. “I didn’t mean to—”

“That’s unfortunate,” Marla cut her off. “Because if this happens again, I will report you. I won’t leave my son where he’s mistreated.”

She went to Johnny, gently wiped his mouth, and said, “Come on, sweetie. Mommy promised you a treat this afternoon.”

Marla talked with Johnny that evening, and by the next morning, he was no longer upset. Over the following weeks, she visited during lunch to check on things.