Gentle..

AJ is at an age now where he wants to "touch" everything. I say touch, but I really mean HIT! He obviously doesn't know or mean to hit, but he does. Let me tell you- it HURTS!

No matter what is in his hand he hits with it. He'll hit me, Jason, the floor, another toy; pretty much anything. I think he does this for a few reasons. He obviously doesn't know that it's hurting us, but he also likes the sound it makes when he hits. I noticed that he has watched Jason and I pat Buster and so he'll go up to Buster and hit him- meaning to pat. I feel so bad for this dog! I do think that Buster enjoys it though because he's getting attention and he just sits there and takes it; he doesn't usually move. I tell AJ that at one point Buster is going to turn around and hit him back and he'll deserve it! (kidding of course)

Of course I don't want AJ to hit anyone or anything, so we're working on the word "gentle". I can't tell you how many times a day I tell him GENTLE... I pet Buster now, rather than pat; I take AJ's hand and help him pet Buster too. He gets it one time and then next time SMACK!

The last thing I want is MY KID to be the bully at the playground!