I’m a nanny in Illinois and the dad told me this morning that yesterday they made their 4 year old eat hot sauce because he wasn’t listening

(you should know that both parents have absolutely no patients whatsoever... so a lot of times when he “isn’t listening” it’s the parents that are the issue)

They have only ever threatened to make him eat it but yesterday they made him actually eat it

Is this abuse??? (For where I live)

UPDATE: so I made the call to DCFS... they can’t investigate because I didn’t witness it... they said that just the parents telling me that they did that isn’t proof enough.

They are however going to be investigated a different incident that I spoke with them about and are going to be going to their house within the next 24 hours.

They assured me that I did the right thing by calling... and I know I did the right thing as well... but a part of me is scared and also feels like I’m doing something wrong

I don’t know how to explain it.... like I know I’m doing the right thing (based on what they are investigating).. I know that what I witnessed needed to be reported and that it’s not okay... but at the same time I feel guilty that I’m hiding something from them and like I’m breaking trust or something... regardless, I’m glad I called and so is DCFS.