"We don't hit. Hitting hurts."

Isaac has been unusually violent today. I mean, I know all toddlers contain the essential components of violence -- poor impulse control, zero empathy for others, and no fear of consequences. So it's not uncommon for Izzy to aim a few kicks at me while on the changing table, or to pinch my face, or to pull on the dog's tail. However, violence doesn't hold his interest, and he nearly always stops when I tell him to. Today was different.

Oh, Isaac didn't do anything really serious. It was mostly the frequency that wore me down. Most of his attacks were aimed at the dog -- all day long he kicked, poked, slapped, and tried to crush poor Walt. He also smacked him with a spatula. (Walt has a sweet temperament and remained calm throughout, but I don't want him pushed too far.) I received a few hard kicks and one gentle bite on the ankle, but for whatever reason I escaped the kitchen implements.

Isaac's attitude was also exasperating. None of these attacks were provoked, nor were they committed in anger -- most of them were part of cheerful play. He went about hurting us with an experimental carelessness that was completely unresponsive to expressions of pain, admonitions, or bodily removal from the scene. He didn't exactly smirk, but from his expression I sensed there was some humor involved.

Even when he wasn't trying to turn a somersault right on top of the dog, violence was on his mind. He cried out "Grab!" as he lunged for various forbidden objects (like my camera as it was uploading pictures). He said "hurt" and "bite" as we sat down to nurse, pretending to close his jaws as he watched me slyly out of the corner of his eyes, and I could only say, "Yes, it would hurt Mama if you bit her." (I was nervous for a moment, but I decided to trust him, and I'm glad to report that everything went fine.)

What's going on? Back in December he went through a few days of grabbing roughly at my face, but before I had a chance to worry much about it, it turned out that he had been getting sick. Once he recovered, he returned to being reasonably gentle and obedient. He's getting sick again now (after all, it's been a whole seven weeks since the last time), so maybe that explains it.

Or this could finally be the start of his oppositional phase. He's 19 months old and has been an agreeable toddler so far, but everyone tells me it can't last. And judging by my level of exasperation at just one day of willful misbehavior and violence, I'd better learn some useful strategies fast.