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He seemed scared, withdrawn, and nearly trembling when I tried to talk to him quietly.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.
