CHASE be. gentle.

It started with innocently knocking foreheads. In an attempt to teach him how to Eskimo kiss, my husband inadvertently taught Chase to knock foreheads. He was only trying to give Katelyn kisses, it just so happened that he did that by bumping foreheads.

CHASE stop it.

When Katelyn started sleeping less and spent more time awake she chose to spend that time nestled on my lap. Suddenly Chase was like a lap dog again, whenever she was there he wanted to be there too. It was sweet, he loved cuddling on the couch with us. Looking back there were probably a few times he tried to push her over the arm of the chair.

CHASE please don’t push your sister.

Chase is like a dog in that laying on the floor signals play time. He immediately starts laughing and wants to jump on you. He actually asks to be tackled and tickled. It was really cute until we had a small baby laying on the floor. We had to enact a “baby must be kept above ground level” rule.

CHASE No.

What started as an innocent, although maybe a bit energetic, hug soon turned into a choke hold. Let’s not talk about the actual hands around the throat choking. I just. I don’t even know. He thinks it’s hilarious when she cries.

CHASE you have to be nice to your sissy.

Recently it’s become an all out war. Poor Katelyn can hardly get stood up before Chase runs past and knocks her down. If she reaches for one of his toys it’s a pretty safe bet she’ll get a first class ticket to the floor. Yesterday in the bath he reached up and put a hand to her forehead and pushed her over. He’s not old enough to reason with, logical conversation is just a little above his pay grade. I know, well I’m pretty sure, he’s just trying to emulate how we play with him but I can’t help wondering if I’ve created a monster.

CHASE please for the love of all things holy BE GENTLE.

For right now every time he’s mean to his sister he gets a warning first which I know he understands because the child does not have a good poker face. The next offense earns him a flick to the head and another stern warning. Strike three lands him in his bed. Am I doing this right? Will this eventually get through to him? Am I destined to live in this bizarre child sized version of fight club forever?