I was devastated by what I observed when my son requested me not to send him to kindergarten.My three-year-old cried out every morning, pleading with me not to send him to daycare.
I decided to watch covertly out of concern. I will always remember what I saw that day.
I’m Marta, and I’m the mother of a content and curious boy named Janosch. For two years, he adored going to kindergarten. But after that, everything changed.
Every morning he would sob, cling to me, and plead with me, Mom, not to be gone.
At first, I thought it was just a phase, the so-called “terrible threes.” But I had a strong suspicion that something was very wrong. Janosch was a different person.
He seemed scared, withdrawn, and nearly trembling when I tried to talk to him quietly. Then one day he muttered:
“I don’t want to eat there anymore.”
After hearing those comments, I became icy. He had always been an excellent eater. What was happening while they were eating?
The day that everything changed
The next day, at midday, I walked to the kindergarten and glanced through a big window.
My son was sitting there crying as I looked at him. A female teacher I didn’t know was saying harsh things to him:
— “Express yourself! Eat now! She pushed a spoon into his lips with a snap.
He shook his head, cried, and started to cough.
— “STOP!” I ran in and shouted.
“Don’t touch him again!”
In an effort to stop me, the teacher exclaimed, “You can’t be here.”
— “And is that how you treat a child acceptable?” I retaliated, shaking with rage.
A new beginning
After that, I spoke with management, made further observations, and asked questions.
Over time, the workforce evolved. Janosch smiled again, trusted, and wanted to go back.
What I found out:There is always something for a child to beg for.
The experts are the parents. Trust your gut feelings.Forcing, yelling, and harassing—that is harm, not instruction.I acted fast to prevent invisible trauma.Tell this story. Listening to your child is a strength, not a weakness.
