My little cherub is 20 months old and has entered a biting phase. He loves to bite—skin. I know, awful right? He is sweet as can be, truly the light of my life, but I’m not going to lie, this phase is pretty miserable right now.
I’m certain he isn’t biting to be malicious as he is smiling and playful when the biting occurs. In consultation with his therapist, I was assured this is often be a typical phase of development for children and there are many reasons the biting may occur,
1) He may be teething
2) He may need additional sensory input
3) He may be trying to communicate something
4) He may be tired, etc.
His therapist told me the key to remedying the problem is to find the underlying issue and meet that need. Discovering the deeper issue may take some time and trial and error, but once we find it the symptoms (biting) will stop.
I love that, “find the underlying need.” What a powerful reminder to be sensitive to the underlying needs of others.
Your husband/wife was short with you—what is going on that caused them to act that way?
Your child is acting out in school—why might s/he being doing that?
Your boss comes down hard on your at work—does s/he have additional stress placed on them in this season?
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
How easy is it to quickly judge someone by his or her initial words/actions? God asks us to be humble, gentle and patient with one another. The hurtful words/actions we experience may be symptoms of a deeper issue.
Let’s all remember the beautiful quote by Ian Maclaren,
“Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”