Throwing tantrums before daycare turned into an everyday struggle, so when Marla Evans checked the clock and looked at her son, who was crying and screaming, she knew she would be late to work again.

Johnny used to love going to daycare, but something changed during the last couple of weeks.

All of a sudden, he found the facility repulsive. Not only he didn’t want to go, but he cried without stopping, begging Marla not to take him there.

Marla even took him to the doctor’s, who convinced her her son was going through his “terrible threes.” My this mom knew there was more to her son’s behavior.

“Johnny, I’ll come for you earlier today,” she said as she tried to convince him to let her help him get ready.

Mom,” he said through heavy weeping, “will you come before lunch?”

When he mentioned lunch, it made Marla wonder if her son had issues with the food there. He wasn’t a picky eater, but he didn’t eat much. It could be anything, so who knew?

That day, Marla talked to her boss, who was also a mom of a toddler, and explained what was going on. She asked if she could take the afternoon off so that she could take Johnny from daycare earlier, as she promised to him.

Her boss said it was fine, and Marla headed towards the daycare when she knew they were having lunch.

Marla walked to the dining room and peered in. All the kids were seated at the tables and eating. And then, she noticed her son.