A three-year-old sobs and begs his mom not to send him to daycare. She walks in unexpectedly, worried, and what she finds surprises her.

«No, no, no!» Johnny screamed and flung himself on the floor. Marla Evans exhaled a sigh. Never again! She checked her watch. She’d be late again if he launched a full-fledged rage.

She exasperatedly looked at her three-year-old. Johnny had been attending daycare for two years and had always enjoyed it. He’d been making a commotion for the previous week, asking Marla not to take him.

She’d consulted with her doctor, who had informed her that kids often experienced the ‘terrible threes.’ «Stop right now!» Marla heard herself yell, then saw her son’s fearful expression. Something was wrong.

Marla sat down next to Johnny on the floor and drew him onto her lap. He cried, pushing his cheek into hers. Marla determined that this was more than a tantrum, but what could possibly be wrong?

«Honey,» Marla said softly. «I apologize. Mommy had no intention of snapping. » She hugged him until he stopped weeping, then softly said, «Why don’t you enjoy daycare any longer?»

Setting and respecting limits is an important part of parenting.
Johnny shuddered in her embrace, murmuring, «I don’t like it!»

«But, sweetheart, why?» Marla inquired. «Do the other kids treat you badly?» But Johnny remained silent. Marla exhaled a sigh. «Baby, mother has to go to work,» she explains, «but I’ll tell you something… I’ll pick you up from daycare early today, okay?»

Johnny rose from her lap. «What, no lunch?» He glanced up at her, concerned. «Mommy, no lunch?»

Lunch? The concerned mother scowled. What was going on with her son?

Marla left Johnny after promising to pick him up before noon. He strolled into the daycare softly, but he gave Marla a begging look that crushed her heart.

She arrived at work and requested an afternoon off to deal with a personal matter. Fortunately, her manager was also a mother and understood!

Marla was desperate to find out why Johnny refused to go to daycare. She decided to drop in during supper, rather than before, as she had promised Johnny.

Johnny’s daycare did not let parents to enter the children’s playrooms or the dining area, but each facility entrance featured a wide, transparent glass window. Hopefully, Marla will be able to see what is going on, if anything.

When she arrived, the receptionist informed her that the kids were eating lunch. Marla entered the dining room and looked around. The youngsters were all eating at their tables.

Each table was overseen by a teacher or an assistant. Johnny was soon identified by Marla. Marla saw a lady seated next to him who she didn’t recognize.

As Marla looked on, the lady took Johnny’s spoon, scooped up some mashed potatoes, and put them to his lips. «Eat!» she exclaimed. Johnny shook his head fiercely, his jaws tightly shut, and tears streamed down his face.

«Open your mouth and eat!» said the mother fiercely. Johnny was visibly disturbed. «You’re going to sit here until you clean your plate!» said the lady.

Marla saw a little bit of mince, mash, and veggies on Johnny’s plate and recognized her kid. She wasn’t a huge eater, so she never pressed him when he said he’d eaten enough.

When Johnny opened his lips to complain, the instructor immediately inserted the spoon. Marla saw her kid choking and sputtering. She had had it! She stormed in via the front door.

«Get away from my child!» she screamed.

The lady raised her head, her mouth agape. «Parents are not permitted in the dining room!» she said.

«Then they should be,» Marla responded, controlling her rage. «Can’t you tell Johnny’s had enough of this?» He’s a healthy kid, but he doesn’t eat much. As a teacher, you should understand how stressful force-feeding a kid can be.

«Forcing people to wipe their plates is an old-fashioned idea. You should know how many kids are overweight or have eating problems and what causes them.

«And one of them is bringing up the subject of eating!» My little kid is an energetic youngster, and if he believes he’s had enough, you must follow his wishes and refrain from forcing him to eat.

«It is abhorrent to shove food into a child’s mouth in that manner!» You should have known better. These youngsters are not puppets to be manipulated at your leisure!

«They are small people with their own wants and desires.» You educate kids that they don’t deserve respect if you don’t respect their limits. I don’t believe that’s the message you want to send! »

The instructor rose to her feet, blushing a blazing crimson. «I never…» she sobbed.

«That’s sad,» Marla said flatly. «Because if this occurs again, I will make sure you don’t have a job!» «I’m not sending my child to daycare to be mistr.eated!»
Marla approached Johnny and gently cleaned his lips. «Come on, honey,» she softly invited. «This afternoon, Mommy promised you a treat!»

Marla and Johnny had a lengthy conversation, and there was no tantrum the following morning. She visited the daycare at lunchtime for the following three weeks to keep an eye on things.

Johnny’s good humor and excitement returned after the instructor never pushed him to eat again.