[sammiz]

First, I would like to say that two years old is my favorite age. When they are two, they are still in awe at the world around them and are just beginning to articulate well in relation to their world. Having said that, I feel the biggest thing here was that it was a kick. Not squeezing to hard or 'loving' too rough which is to be expected because they don't quite know how to express these things as gently as they need to. BUT.... a kick to anything denotes disrespect, even in a two year old.

I recently babysat for a friend so she and her husband could have a 'date night' and there were four of them. The youngest is two. While I was playing Uno with the older kids, the two year old went after my Sassy under the table. I didn't know this was going on until I heard Sassy yelp. The baby had pulled her hair and that is why she yelped.

It is fortunate that Sassy did not bite her in return for the pain, but this was not done as meanness....more a lack of not knowing how to treat animals as they have none. My reaction was to get under the table with them, give her a very firm NO and say sweetly 'you have to be easy with they puppy so you don't hurt her"....then take her little hands and stroke Sassy with them..."like this"....

If the action had been an abvious mean action, like a kick, then my reaction would have been very different. She would have gotten very strong words from me and put in a time out and NOT allowed out until she made apology to Sassy. Not that Sassy would have understood, but the two year old would have.

I love kids. I also love my Sassy. Respect needs to be taught at an early age and two is most definitely not too soon. Letting it go on will reinforce to the child that it is acceptable. I have rules in my house that apply to everyone...child and adult alike. One is that my animals must be treated with respect and kindness, no matter the age. All the time!