DEAR ABBY: My 3-year-old grandson hits almost everyone he associates with, especially his father! His baby brother is now 4 months old, and "Big Brother" has become more abusive since the baby arrived.
My daughter and her husband do not hit him back; they try to reason with him, but they are afraid he will harm another child with a stick, etc., which he likes to have in his hands most of the time.
In my day, I would have sat him in a chair and delivered a firm lecture, and I would have forbidden any "weapons" for him to play with until the hitting stopped. But this advice does not seem to fit into "today's" upbringing.
I live 1,000 miles away from them, so I'm not around enough for my feelings (or any part of my body) to be hurt from my grandson's aggression. But I sure would appreciate a solution. Thank you. -- FLORIDA GRANDMA
DEAR FLORIDA GRANDMA: "Big Brother" is acting out his feelings of jealousy with regard to the new baby, which is only natural. But your daughter and son-in-law should take a lesson from you and nip the child's aggressive behavior before it gets out of control.
And if the aggression persists, the parents should consult a professional for guidance.