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She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say more, but I didn’t give her the chance.
I was beyond livid because I’ve always believed kids know when they’re full. So, seeing someone ignore that, pushing food on him until he cried, was the final straw.
“Who is she? Where is her badge?”
Nobody answered.
I took Johnny and walked out.
That night, after the bath and bedtime stories, I sat on the edge of his bed.
“Honey,” I said gently, “why don’t you want to eat at daycare?”
He curled up under his covers and whispered, “The lady says I’m bad if I don’t finish. She tells the kids I’m wasting food.
Everyone laughs.”
His voice broke at the end.
That woman had turned his mealtimes into a punishment.
By Monday morning, I’d called into work and told them I needed to work from home, especially since my son was home with me. Then I called the daycare director, Brenda.
“We don’t force children to eat,” she said quickly, sounding surprised when I explained what I’d seen.
“She picked up his spoon and shoved it into his face,” I said. “He was crying.”
“That doesn’t sound like any of my staff,” Brenda replied, suddenly quiet.
I described the woman: gray bun, floral blouse, glasses on a chain.
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