ABSTRACT
My son aged two years has suddenly developed a very vicious tendency which at first I put down to the last big teeth coming through. These tendencies are not becoming less, although his teeth are practically all through he will suddenly approach any person near him and setting his jaw, will strike with whatever toys he has in his hand, or sometimes he will pinch and scratch. On one occasion he nearly injured a young baby I had on my knee. I feel sure it was not jealousy because he was playing quite contentedly with some clothes pegs when he suddenly set his jaw and ran with his arm upraised to strike the baby’s head. Luckily I gave him a push with my spare hand and averted the accident which might have been very serious. I have tried to tackle this difficulty sensibly, but it is not always possible to be placid when I see him inflict scratches and weals on his grandmothers and aunties, who are always kind and gentle with him. Sometimes I take him on my lap and say, “Michael, Granny can’t love you if you are a naughty boy—you mustn’t hit her because it hurts”, and he will laugh and say “Michael— naughty boy”, and take no further notice of anything I might add to this; or alternatively I have sometimes said, “Oh— Michael, look how you’ve hurt Mummy”, and he has put his face against me very sweetly and said, “Love her”.
