As a mother, I trusted my instincts when I noticed a sudden change in my son Johnny’s behavior toward daycare. Previously excited, he began sobbing every morning, pleading not to go. He also stopped talking about his day, which raised red flags.

Determined to find out what was wrong, I secretly visited his daycare and witnessed a disturbing scene. I saw a substitute teacher yelling at the children, including Johnny, who appeared terrified and hadn’t touched his food. The teacher was harsh and intimidating, yelling at the kids and even throwing a little girl’s lunch on the floor.

I immediately confronted the situation, demanding answers from the staff, who explained the woman was a substitute they hadn’t known to be abusive. I pulled Johnny from daycare that day, filed a complaint, and reported the incident to child welfare. The substitute was fired, but Johnny’s emotional scars took time to heal.

This experience taught me the importance of trusting your child’s instincts and emotions. Johnny is now happy at a new daycare with kind, attentive staff. I’ve learned to never ignore my child’s cries for help, no matter how difficult the situation may be.