Thursday, September 13, 2007

Another Toddler Milestone



My little guy has entered an ugly new phase. One that I feel like I can't talk about. But can't stop talking about.

He's biting.

And hitting.

And crying.



We talk, read books, tell him "nice hands", and still get the sad note (that's really what they call it) at the end of the day about biting, and hitting, and crying.

I hope it's a very short phase, I hope it's not a sign of things to come.

I hope that I can get over talking, and talking, and talking about it.

Feels like a self-fulfilling prophesy if I just keep talking about it. Like I'm stuck on the the n-word (naughty).

I'm bracing myself for the worst.

But he's only just one. And he's my baby.

[My baby who is the happiest little guy right now, smiling and laughing as he plays.]




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10 comments:

LoriAnn said...

Oh goodness, it's so hard isn't it? You don't want to be the mom of the hitter or the biter (or both!) It's true though, you can't help but talk about it because it just nags at you all the time and you need some reassurance that it is just a phase and he's not going to be some big bully.

I remember my best friend was holding her daughter as she was gathering up a bag of groceries (in small town Gothenburg) and her daughter just sunk her teeth into my friend's shoulder for no reason. It was all she could do to get out of the store and into the car without screaming in pain AND screaming at her daughter!

This too shall pass!

Jacqniel said...

Ah Melanie - another been there done that moment. Mason will be just fine, because he has two parents who will deal with it. You are great parents and this, too, shall pass.

Anonymous said...

All three of mine went through it and it does go a way, it is just a testing and learning to cope phase--unless of course you make a huge fuss everytime it happens and give them tons of attention--THEN you train him that this is when he gets attention and everytime he does it he gets attention. I used to babysit and work in a preschool and THOSE were the worst--the ones who's parents felt guilty about it and made a huge fuss and taught them that THIS was the way to get mommy's attention.

Beck said...

The Baby went through a hitting and biting phase. I would say "No biting" in a firm voice and put her down, but then leave it at that - I also didn't want to give her so much attention for it that she felt REWARDED, you know?
Good luck.

California mom said...

Oh Melanie,
This will pass. Peter never bit, but he did hit. The more he learned to communicate the better it got, but I remember being very upset about it. Now Liam is in preschool for the first time and although he doesn't bite there, he does on occasion bite Peter. Usually it is a result of great frustration. I agree with the others about trying not to give it too much additional attention. Leave it at "NO Biting" and he will grow out of it.

Jenifer said...

He is only one for goodness sakes! Neither of my girls were hitters and Rosebud did bite us once or twice, but only when she was really excited.

I agree with Beck, a firm "no" and not too much attention is probably best. I mean he is so young, my guess once the novelty of the reaction wears off he will stop.

Don't beat yourself up over this...he will stop in good time.

Magpie said...

Nice tutu.

thirtysomething said...

Hehehe. How funny and cute!
Don't fret, this phase will pass, don't waste energy and get stuck here. I have been through 4 kids, who have hit, bit, pushed, kicked, you name it and it finally passes when they have more vocabulary to express what they need and want. Les attention seems to work best, as Beck said, and redirecting his behavior. But hey, don't we all secretly wish we could like just reach out and slap the person who is getting on our nerves once in awhile? I mean, how funny would that be?!

N. said...

Don't ask me. My 5 yo still bites. Only his brother. Yeah, like somehow only biting his near-constant companion makes it better. So while I don't have any advice, I can commiserate.

Michelle said...

He's just so darn cute it's hard to believe he's in that stage! I hope, for your sake, that it is a very short phase!