At first, I searched for simple explanations. Maybe it was separation anxiety. Maybe he was overtired or overwhelmed. Even our pediatrician reassured me that children his age sometimes struggle with sudden changes. Still, my instincts wouldn’t settle. One night, after I raised my voice in frustration and saw him freeze in fear, I finally listened. When I gently asked why daycare upset him, he whispered two words that stopped me cold: “No lunch.” It wasn’t food he feared—it was what happened around it. I promised him I would protect him, even before fully understanding what that meant. Continue reading…

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