The parental smack down

Now my kid is officially a toddler and has a right hook to prove it! First it started with general swinging at the air, then banging the coffee table or chair. He even hit himself when he couldn't figure something out or get what he wanted. Then he took it to the next level. SMACK right across my face at close range. Even though he had a grin so wide that I could see all eight of his teeth and every inch of virgin gum in his mouth, this was no love tap. His intention was to get a reaction out of me, but he would get no satisfaction here.

This incident is telling of human nature. We have never hit or even threatened any type of physical punishment. He doesn't watch T.V. , and there is no one else he is exposed to that would have introduced the concept. He is simply a human boy and so it is just in there.

I was told that when a child hits their parent at this age it is a sign that they feel safe with you. Safe enough to express how they really feel. I am not sure if I want him to fee that safe. So I had to derail this train before it got too far down the track.

Because I saw it coming I didn't even blink. Which was his first cue that he had crossed the line. Since we were in my bedroom at the time he immediately found himself sitting on the edge of the bed with daddy's hands firmly around his arms and torso. I went down to my knees so that we could talk eye to eye. Next I went into "unhappy daddy" mode which is a face/voice combination I am still perfecting. Once I briefly explained that hitting is not acceptable. To my surprise when I asked if he understood he said "yeah" with a bit of remorse. Let's see how long this works. I won't be holding by breath. As he decides to test more I a will have to have a plan B, C, .... any suggestions?