Her Strange Habit
Lately, my five-year-old daughter had been acting in a way that truly worried me.
She had always been bright, obedient, and never gave me trouble with meals. But all of a sudden, she started doing something I just couldn’t understand.
Instead of sitting at the table with us, she would grab her plate and disappear into the bathroom. She had already placed a small chair inside, and once the door was locked, only then would she begin to eat. When she finished, she would walk out with her plate completely empty, as if nothing unusual had happened.
She never used the bathroom for playing or hiding at other times—it had become just her dining spot. At first, I told myself: “It’s probably just a phase, a silly game she’ll get tired of soon.” But when it continued every single day for an entire month, unease grew inside me.
My Worry Grows
I tried asking her directly why she wanted to eat this way, but she would only stay silent, avoiding my eyes.
The more she refused to answer, the heavier my thoughts became. Could something be wrong with her? Was she hiding something from me?
One morning, with my heart unsettled, I decided to find out on my own. I quietly placed a small camera in the bathroom before lunchtime. I needed to see for myself what was happening behind that locked door.
The Moment of Truth
When noon came, she followed her usual routine. Plate in hand, she walked straight to the bathroom, locked the door, and sat down on her little chair. At first, she ate peacefully, bite after bite.
And then—something happened that made me freeze.
She suddenly raised her voice and said loudly:
— “That’s it! Alex gets nothing!”
My breath caught. Alex was her older brother.
The Conversation
Later that day, I called my son over and asked in a serious tone:
— “Do you know why your sister always eats in the bathroom?”
— “Yes, I know,” he answered without hesitation.
— “And why?” I pressed, dreading what he might say.
— “Because she’s scared I’ll take her food. That’s why she locks herself in.”
— “Have you ever taken her food before?” I asked.
He gave a little shrug and said:
— “Yeah, a few times. It’s not my fault—her plate always looks tastier.”
The Simple Truth
In that moment, everything finally made sense. All the terrible scenarios I had imagined dissolved.
It wasn’t anything dark or frightening—my little girl was simply trying to protect what she loved.
She didn’t want to lose a single piece of her favorite food to her brother. In her small but determined way, she had chosen to defend it at all costs.
She might only be five, but she was already strong-willed and unshakably firm in what she believed was fair.